Last month, I had an interesting video call with Mark, the founder of a growing IT consulting firm that provides managed services. As soon as his face appeared on my screen, I could see him frustrated.
"I'm glad we could connect," Mark began. "We've been using our sales presentation for our managed services offerings, but we've noticed a troubling trend. After just two or three slides, our audience seems to disengage. It feels like we're doing something wrong with our MSP sales presentation, but I can't put my finger on it."
Intrigued, I asked Mark if he could share his current presentation with me. As I reviewed the slides, the issue became clear. The presentation was heavily focused on their company: "Our Services," "Our Team," "Our Capabilities." While this information is important, it wasn't addressing what the audience really wants to hear.
I turned back to the video call. "Mark, I think I see the problem. Your audience wants to hear about their needs, the benefits they'll receive, and the problems you can solve for them. Let's walk through a 7-step process that can transform your MSP sales presentation approach and keep your audience engaged throughout the presentation."
If you’re in the process of creating an MSP sales presentation, we can help.
Note: Sales deck & sales presentations are terms used interchangeably but they mean the same thing. We’ve used both of them in this article so please don’t get confused.
Before we get into the details of how to create an MSP sales presentation, let’s get into a few basics...
Why does an MSP company need a sales deck?
The main objective of an MSP company creating a sales presentation is to convince potential clients to choose their services. Additionally, the sales presentation is an opportunity for the MSP company to…
Showcase the value and benefits of their services to potential clients
Differentiate themselves from competitors
Build trust and establish credibility
Position themselves as experts in their niche
Close deals and secure new business
Now that we’ve answered the basic questions, let’s get down to the actual subject of this article.
How to build the MSP sales presentation?
An MSP sales presentation is different from a regular sales presentation because MSPs often face the challenge of differentiating themselves from competitors that may offer similar services. In a crowded market, it can be difficult for MSPs to stand out and convince potential clients that they are the best choice.
This is the reason why the process of building an MSP sales presentation is different & it involves unique activities. Would you like to learn this process? Read this article till the end.
MSP Sales Presentation step-by-step process
1. Create a prospect persona
A prospect persona is a detailed profile of a typical or ideal potential customer for a business. It is a fictional representation of a specific type of person who is likely to be interested in the business’s products or services.
Here’s an example for better understanding,
Name: Sarah
Demographics: Sarah is a 32-year-old small business owner with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has been in business for 5 years and has 5 employees.
Needs: Sarah is looking for ways to streamline her business operations and reduce costs. She is also interested in finding ways to improve her marketing efforts and attract new customers.
Goals: Sarah’s main goal is to grow her business and increase profits. She is also looking for ways to create a better work-life balance for herself and her employees.
As you can see, prospect personas are typically based on market research and real data about the business’s target audience. They can be helpful for businesses to develop sales presentation strategies that are more likely to be effective.
2. Research your competitors to find factors of differentiation
Make a list of companies that offer services similar to yours & Look for areas where your competitors excel, as well as areas where they may be lacking. For example, are their services of a higher quality than yours? Do they have a larger customer base? Are their prices more competitive?
This can help you identify areas where you have an advantage over your competitors. Now you have the differentiation pointers which you can highlight in your MSP sales presentation.
3. Determine the presentation purpose
Answer questions like…What do you want to achieve with your presentation? Do you want to introduce a new service, persuade the audience to take a specific action, or simply inform them about your company? Having a clear purpose will help you focus your content and make it more effective.
When it comes to an MSP sales presentation or any sales deck, the logical structure is “last thing first”. This means when you decide the purpose, you have to also think of the next step you’d like the prospect to take. Maybe you’d like them to take the next meeting. Maybe you’d like them to close the deal with you. It depends on you!
4. Outline the presentation/ Create a narrative structure
Organize the information you have gathered into a logical structure. This could include an introduction, main points, and a conclusion.
Alternatively, you can be more creative & write your sales presentation in a narrative structure. Organize your content into sections or slides, with each section/slide focusing on a specific topic or idea. Use real-life examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points and make them more relatable to the audience.
5. Write the slide content
When writing content for slides in an MSP sales presentation, it’s important to keep in mind that the purpose of the slides is to support and enhance your message, not to be the main focus of the presentation. Avoid using overly complex or technical language, and aim for brevity. Use bullet points and headings to break up the text and make it easier to read.
Additionally, keep your content short to maintain space for visual design. Writing presentations is much more complex than general content writing. If it were that easy, presentation consulting companies like ours wouldn’t exist.
However, if you follow the thumb rule of constantly thinking about design while writing, you’ll do just fine.
6. Test & Refine
If possible, test your presentation in front of a small group to see how it is received. This will give you an opportunity to make any necessary changes or adjustments before the final presentation design.
7. Design your MSP sales presentation
To visually design an effective MSP sales presentation, there are several factors to consider: First, choose a color scheme that is consistent with your brand guidelines and visually appealing. Use color sparingly and strategically to highlight key points and make the content more engaging. Next, select an appropriate font and font size that is easy to read and visually appealing. Use headings, bullet points, and other formatting elements to break up the text and make the content easier to read and understand. Consider including images, graphics, and other visual aids to illustrate your points and make the content more memorable. When designing each slide, keep the layout simple and uncluttered, and use white space effectively to make the content more readable and visually appealing.
Work with us
If, like Mark, you're looking to elevate your managed services sales presentations and win more clients, we're here to help. As a presentation design agency with experience in the tech and IT services sector, we can work with you to create compelling, conversion-focused sales presentations. Visit the contact section of our website to schedule a consultation or send us a message.
Check out our Sales Deck Development Services.
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