Profitable Sales Presentations With Stories

You’ve heard the advice to open with a story. But you can do so much more.

Image by Jason Goodman on Unsplash.

When you give any presentation for your business, you probably recall the advice to “Open with a story.”

You open with a story to engage the audience, set the mood, and gain their attention.

Over the course of your professional life, you’ll hear opening stories that can be inspirational, moving, hilarious…or just plain cringeworthy.

But there are at least 3 other ways to use stories in your presentation…and they don’t have to come at the beginning.

BTW, a presentation doesn’t necessarily mean standing up in front of a live audience (or talking to them on a Zoom call).

You’re making a presentation when you’re invited to be a podcast guest, when you introduce yourself at a networking event, and whenever you’re defined clearly as a presenter — the center of attention — rather than an audience member as you speak.

You can use stories to

A — design your presentation. Each part of the story expands into a point you want to make.

B — demonstrate your understanding of a problem you solve. Maybe you talk about a client who struggled. You describe her struggles meaningfully, without judgment. You…