How to Sell Myself in a Business Presentation

Developing a business presentation that effectively sells you and your abilities begins well before you walk into the room to deliver the presentation; it requires forethought. Learning as much as possible about your audience, developing a presentation that's relevant to them and their needs and possessing a professional, knowledgeable and confident demeanor will aid you in making a memorable impression.

• 1

  Do your homework. Whether you're external -- for example, a business owner presenting your product or service -- or internal -- i.e., a department manager presenting recommendations to senior executives -- demonstrating knowledge about the company will show your sincere interest in the hoped-for result, as well as engage your audience and go a long way toward helping you sell yourself. If you're external, learn as much as you can about the company's history, mission, culture, customers, products and services. You can usually find information of this nature on a company's website, or -- if the company is publicly traded -- in its annual report, which should also be available on the company's website. (If the annual report is not online, you can contact the company's investor relations department to request a copy.) If you're internal, familiarize yourself with your company's strategic objectives and any identified challenges that could hinder its achievement. Ask who will attend the presentation and, if you don't already know, what their roles are within the company. This will help you tailor your presentation to fit your audience. Depending on the nature of the presentation, slides or other visuals may seem appropriate, but ask beforehand whether this is customary and, if so, whether the company has the needed audiovisual equipment -- i.e., an LCD projector -- or whether you'll need to bring your own.

• 2

  Prepare your presentation. Keep your presentation brief, relevant and on message. Plan an outline of the topics you intend to cover, along with several talking points and the amount of time you'll allot for each item. Use your knowledge of the company to demonstrate how you or your recommendations will meet its needs.

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  Be professional. Nothing can tarnish your image as quickly as being late, unprepared or overly social. Be punctual and ready to present at the appointed time. If you will use audiovisual or other equipment that requires setup, arrive early enough to not only set it up, but also to test the equipment and, if necessary, implement "Plan B" in the event of equipment failure. Be polite, but not familiar. Keep small talk appropriate to the circumstances and refrain from using slang or verbal or body language that would be more fitting for interactions with people you know on a personal level.

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  Be confident. Don't slouch; instead, maintain good posture by keeping your shoulders back and head held high. Smile, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact as you greet people. Also, make eye contact with your audience as you present. Practice your presentation over and over beforehand until you can deliver it with assurance and without reading your notes. Try to also anticipate potential questions so you can respond effortlessly and knowledgeably if queried.