"I need a presentation that sparks curiosity and compels people to reach out to us," said Marc, the founder of an L&D company, during a conversation with one of our Creative Directors. The Creative Director responded, "I think you need a teaser deck."
"What's that?" Marc asked, intrigued.
"As the name suggests, it’s the art of teasing, the presentation is just a medium. It gives just enough information to make people eager for more," the Creative Director explained.
Marc replied, "You understand perfectly! This is exactly what I was looking for. How do we move forward?"
As a presentation design agency, our blogs draw inspiration from real client interactions. In this post, we’ll explore how to leverage the art of teasing to create a short presentation that encourages your audience to take action. Let’s start with the basics.
What's a Teaser Deck?
A teaser deck is a condensed and strategically crafted document designed to pique the interest of potential investors, partners, or acquirers. It's a concise introduction to your business, offering a tantalizing glimpse into what makes your venture compelling.
Can a short presentation be called a teaser deck?
The answer is no! People encounter countless presentations every day. Nowadays, it's common knowledge that "shorter is better," leading to a proliferation of brief presentations. Yet, most of them are ineffective.
Why?
Because length of the presentation was never the issue; it was always how well the narrative is crafted. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking, "If I make a short presentation, I can call it a teaser deck." It doesn't work that way.
Creating a successful teaser deck requires a solid grasp of "the art of teasing". Without this understanding, you shouldn't even attempt to make one. And if you're planning to put in half-hearted effort, it might be better to just send a well-crafted informational email instead. But if you're committed to creating a teaser deck, do it right by mastering the art of teasing.
How to make a teaser deck [Step By Step]
This approach comes from one of our Creative Directors, who has crafted some of the most impactful teaser decks at Ink Narrates. We're sharing this practical guidance based on our deep expertise, hoping it empowers you to create a compelling teaser deck with your team.
And remember, if you’re considering outsourcing this task, we’re here to help—just visit the contact section on our website to reach out.
Step 1: Gather and Organize Your Information
By now, if you’re reading this, you likely have a vast amount of information on hand. Most of our clients do, and it’s often one of the biggest challenges they face. If you haven’t done so already, put down everything you feel inclined to include in the presentation. Go beyond the surface-level information and jot down all the points you think convey your message, product, or solution’s value. Often, our clients feel that every detail is important, but that’s rarely the case.
The goal here is to get a big-picture view of all the material you could potentially use. This includes product benefits, market insights, success stories, and any unique approaches your company takes. Resist the temptation to start editing at this stage; you want all the raw content laid out first. Once you have a complete view, you’ll be ready to take on the real challenge of sorting and selecting the right elements for your teaser deck.
Step 2: Sort with a “Teaser” and “Deep Dive” Approach
Here’s where we find many teams struggle: turning that wealth of information into a concise, enticing teaser deck that holds back just enough. This phase is about filtering out the details that won’t immediately capture attention. To do this, use a "Teaser" and "Deep Dive" approach:
Teaser: Think of this as the “hook” content—the details that spark curiosity and prompt your audience to say, “That’s interesting! I want to know more.” Teaser information is carefully selected to inspire statements like, “Oh really? How did they do that?” or “This sounds impressive, but I need to see it for myself.” It should be benefit-driven, highlighting unique outcomes, impactful results, or fresh insights that make people lean in and want more.
Deep Dive: This is where you provide detailed answers to the questions raised by the teaser content. These could be processing specifics, in-depth case study analyses, or technical explanations. Think of it as the “why” and “how” behind the teaser statements. Deep Dive information is meant for later discussion or Q&A, so keep it on hand but out of the core deck content.
We often see clients try to cram both types of content into the initial deck, diluting the impact of their message. By sticking primarily to teaser information, you’re positioning your deck to be lean, focused, and powerful. Deep Dive content is still useful, but keep it for when your audience is engaged and asking questions—it will have a far greater impact in response to curiosity than if included upfront.
Step 3: Start Writing
Once you’ve sorted your information, it’s time to bring in your best copywriters and start crafting the deck. From our experience, creating a teaser deck requires a unique writing approach that’s quite different from traditional presentation storytelling. You don’t need to follow a rigid narrative structure; instead, focus on presenting high-impact, teaser content in a way that flows naturally and keeps your audience’s attention.
Look for a copywriter who understands not just the language, but also how to “read the room.” They should be able to imagine the audience’s thoughts, anticipate what will hook them, and write accordingly. It’s crucial to keep the language crisp, clear, and direct. Avoid jargon or overly complex explanations. Remember, this is a teaser, so leave out the technical deep-dive information and focus on conveying value in a straightforward, accessible way.
As you draft each slide, ask yourself: Does this add to the intrigue? Does it bring out the “wow” factor without giving too much away? This ensures each slide is purposeful, drawing the viewer in and making them eager to learn more.
Step 4: Seek Feedback and Finalize Content
Before moving to the design phase, take time to review the content with fresh eyes or get input from colleagues or trusted advisors. Feedback is incredibly valuable—it allows you to gauge if your teaser deck hits the mark, or if there are areas that could be refined for clarity and impact. A different perspective often provides insights that you may have missed and can highlight if any information comes across as confusing or overly detailed.
If you don’t have anyone in-house to review, feel free to reach out to us. We’ll be happy to provide a second opinion and offer suggestions for improvement.
Step 5: Design the Deck
Finally, it’s time to visually design your deck. Here’s where you want to make a strong impact. For a teaser deck, we recommend going for a bold, eye-catching design that still aligns with your industry’s aesthetic. While minimalist designs have their place, they’re often too subtle for teaser decks, which should aim to grab attention and keep it.
Choose visuals that enhance your message, rather than distract from it. Effective teaser decks balance strong imagery with focused typography, which directs attention to the core message of each slide. Invest in high-quality visuals and graphics that highlight your teaser points without overpowering the information.
Good typography is needed here—it should be clear and readable, drawing focus to the key ideas. By using contrast and hierarchy in your design, you can make sure the audience’s eyes go exactly where you want them. The right design elements keep attention on the message while making it easy for viewers to absorb and remember the highlights.
Get us involved
And remember, if you’d like expert guidance or need someone to take it off your hands, Ink Narrates is here to help. Reach out through our contact section to discuss your project and see how we can support you.
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