Presentation hacks for building trust

Trust isn't complicated. But most people get it wrong. Let me explain. I analyzed 500+ sales conversations and found something shocking: The highest-performing reps weren't using fancy trust-building techniques. They were using these 3 simple triggers that nobody talks about: 1. Real-time validation 🚫 Not customer logos 🚫 Not case studies 🚫 Not testimonials But showing prospects LIVE: → Who's viewing their content right now → Questions others are asking → Active engagement metrics Result? 73% higher meeting show rates. 2. Reverse referrals Instead of asking for referrals, document exactly: → How others found you → Their specific journey → Their exact results I tested this with 50 prospects: ✅ 41% response rate ✅ 28% meeting rate ✅ 19% close rate 3. Ambient reassurance Small, consistent actions that build trust: → Weekly performance updates → Public progress tracking → Regular capability proof My team's results: ✅ Trust scores up 47% ✅ Sales cycle shortened by 31% ✅ Close rates increased 22% Here's what nobody tells you: Trust isn't built through big gestures. It's built through small, consistent actions that prove you're reliable. I implemented these triggers last quarter: → Pipeline increased 52% → Close rate jumped 31% → Average deal size up 27% I’ve broken down this full framework above so you can study it, save it, and start applying it immediately. Remember: While others focus on complex trust-building strategies, these simple triggers consistently outperform. Ready to transform your trust-building approach? Let's connect. #SalesStrategy #TrustBuilding #B2BSales #GrowthHacking #RevenueLeadership

In which of these 2 scenarios, will a sales rep sell more blenders? a) She nails the demo, flawlessly blending a smoothie in front of potential customers b) Same exact pitch, but when she pours the smoothie, she spills it all over the table Dr. Richard Wiseman conducted this exact study. More people bought the blender when she made an absolute mess. This phenomenon is called the "other shoe effect." The underlying principle: We instinctively know people aren’t perfect. So when someone appears too polished in high-stakes moments—job interviews, pitches, first dates—part of our brain asks: “What are they hiding? When does the other shoe drop?” The longer someone appears flawless, the more suspicious we get. This creates a dangerous cycle: • You try to appear perfect in the first impression • The other person's brain gets increasingly distracted wondering about your hidden flaws • When your imperfection finally shows (and it will), it hits much harder than if you'd acknowledged it upfront I learned this the hard way. When I first wrote Captivate, I tried to sound like an academic. My editor called it out: “This doesn’t sound like you.” So I rewrote the intro to be me, very me in a vulnerable way: “Hi, I’m Vanessa. I’m a recovering awkward person.” That vulnerability built instant trust. By dropping my shoe early, I built trust immediately and let readers know they were in good company. This is also how I introduce myself in conversations, and I have noticed everyone laughs and relaxes when I say it. There are a couple situations where you can actively use this effect: • Job interviews: After sharing your strengths, say "One area I’m still growing in is public speaking—which is why this role excites me." • Investor pitches: After a strong open, confess: "One challenge we’re still working through is [X], and here’s how we’re tackling it." • Team meetings: Proactively raise project risks, then offer a solution. Don’t let others discover it first. Rules to remember: • Choose authentic vulnerabilities, not fake ones • Drop your shoe AFTER establishing competence, not before • Pair vulnerability with accountability - show how you're addressing it Remember: The goal isn't to appear perfect. It's to appear trustworthy. And trustworthy people acknowledge their imperfections before others have to discover them.

“How do you do it?” “What do you mean?” “How do you sound so confident speaking in front of people?” I had just finished a workshop for a corporate client when a couple of participants approached me. “When you present, do you rehearse? How long does it take you to practise and know what to say?” one asked. “I listen. I pay attention. I build on other people’s ideas. But most of all, I changed my mindset on how I see public speaking.” Like most people, I was terrified to speak in front of others. In my corporate life, I barely uttered a word in meetings. I was petrified when presenting—I’m guilty of talking to my slides instead of the audience. But that all changed when I embraced storytelling. Suddenly, the audience wasn’t hostile anymore. It was friendly. Now, when I speak in front of people, I share stories. It helps me connect with the audience. How Storytelling Transformed My Public Speaking 1. Engagement: Stories capture attention. People love listening to stories because they are engaging and relatable. 2. Connection: Stories create an emotional connection. They allow you to connect with your audience on a personal level, making your message more memorable. 3. Simplification: Stories simplify complex ideas. They help break down complicated concepts into understandable chunks. 4. Credibility: Sharing personal stories builds trust. When you share your experiences, it shows authenticity and credibility. 5. Structure: Stories provide a natural structure. They give your presentation a clear beginning, middle, and end, making it easier to follow. By changing my mindset and using storytelling techniques, I turned my fear into confidence. And so can you. P.S. What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to public speaking? Let’s discuss in the comments! If you need help crafting your story or building confidence, feel free to reach out. I’m here to help! #whatsyourstory #storytelling #publicspeaking

I hear all the time from my clients that they don’t like networking because it feels insincere or inauthentic. But with the right approach, it doesn’t have to be that way. Transactional approaches to pitching yourself or your business are not how connections are made. Instead, you need a relationship-first approach that prioritizes curiosity, authenticity, and empathy. I call this activating the connection. A successfully activated connection in, let's say, a business meeting environment, is someone who leaves the meeting trusting you, willing to support you, and ultimately comfortable recommending you to others. Here are the 8 steps to activating the connection in a meeting: 1 - Know your intention Clarify the goal of the meeting to yourself before starting. 2 - Warm it up Start by building rapport before getting into the meat n’ potatoes of the meeting. 3 - Elevate your vibe 90% of communication is non-verbal. Make sure your non-verbal communication is on point. 4 - Focus on them, not you Resist the urge to talk solely about yourself, particularly during the rapport-building stage.  5 - Bring questions Prepare ahead of time so you can ask great questions and display thoughtfulness and curiosity. 6 - How can I help? Express, within reason, how you can support the recipient by helping them achieve their goals. 7 - Share your vision with clarity and resonance If the situation calls for it, pitch the person with your vision of how you can help. 8 - Trust and credibility Trust and credibility are an ongoing process that extends beyond the first meeting. End the meeting by clarifying the next steps and following through with your word. That’s it! Remember, your success isn’t just based on what you say, but on how you make others feel. Good luck!

You nailed the presentation. The room stood up, clapping. One day goes by, then two, then a week. No inquiries about your training program. Speakers, here are three common misconceptions: 1) The audience will trust your words after 50 minutes 2) They will recognize your value after seeing 20 slides 3) They will remember how to reach you when they need help No matter what industry you speak in, here's why great presentation doesn't equal clients: • The Problem: You're an expert on stage, not a problem solver in their mind. • What's Happening: They think "Great insights!" not "This person can solve my problem." • The Fix: Bridge three gaps simultaneously - show them you solve real problems (trust), connect your expertise to their pain (value), and give them something concrete to take away (recall). Instead of ending with "Any questions?" try this: "You just heard me talk about [today's presentation topic]. Next Monday when you face [specific problem], download my [specific ultimate guide] so you have it ready.” This builds trust (you're giving value upfront), demonstrates your expertise solves real problems, and keeps you top-of-mind when they need help. Now they see you as the painkiller person, not just the entertainment on stage. ❓ What's the most memorable closing you've seen at a speaking event? ~ ~ ~ 👋 Hi, I'm Angeline. I help speakers turn audiences into engaged leads with mini-courses and automated emails. 🎯 Lead generation strategist (not a speechwriter). Certified CliftonStrengths Coach.

Want to go farther in your career? You need to instill trust. And in any high-stakes room (pitch, board, interview, deal) trust builds in three stages: • Be present (Can we feel you?) • Show who you are (Are you built for this?) • Stay open under pressure (Can you adapt?) Now that I’m in VC, this feels even more critical b/c every conversation is a new relationship. Here are 3 signals that can’t be crammed into slides: 1️⃣ Presence > performance, every time Before we evaluate your idea, we’re reading your energy, attention, composure. The people who instill confidence don’t do it by being the loudest. They don’t just present. They’re present. And everyone feels it. 👉 Drop the script. Make eye contact. Listen like it matters. Before you speak, feel the room. Presence starts with attention. 2️⃣ The product matters — but not as much as your passion Once we feel you’re real, we start asking: Are you built for this? Your resilience, not just your brilliance. Your relationship to the problem, not just your market size. We’re listening for founder-market fit, not just in your resume, but in how you carry yourself. 👉 Don’t just pitch the company, tell us why you had to build it, and how it’s changed you, tell use how you've changed. That’s who we’re backing. 3️⃣ Talking fast and pivoting back doesn’t show strength — it shows closure Then comes the test: can you stay open when challenged? We’ve all done it — listening just long enough to redirect. But curiosity and openness is more powerful than certainty. 👉 Slow down. Say: “That’s a good question. Let me think out loud.” Or “Interesting — I hadn’t considered that.” Show us you’re learning, not just defending. The takeaway: VCs aren’t betting on the story. They’re betting on whether you’ll still be standing when the story inevitably falls apart.

Empathy Over Information ...My Presentation Shift that Earned Trust I was preparing for an important client presentation. At first, I created 25 slides with every detail about our services. I wanted to showcase everything we could offer. But then I paused and thought about it. Was I really focusing on what the client needed? I decided to simplify. I cut down the presentation to only the key points. I focused on how we could solve their specific problems. This small change made a big impact. The client appreciated the clear and focused approach. "This was exactly what we needed. You didn't just present, you understood us. The solutions you focused on were aligned with our core challenges. We appreciate the clarity and your customer-first approach." Their feedback showed that empathy and understanding matter more than information overload. 📚 Key Lessons Learned ✅ Empathy reshapes communication ✅ Less is more , cut the clutter ✅ Active reflection improves outcomes ✅ Customer success = business success #Customerorientation #Businesspresentation #LessonsLearned

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝗿: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 Most sales calls or presentations start with a slide deck. A market overview. A timeline. A promise. However, a key point to remember is that before people believe in your product or service, they need to believe in you. And that belief? It doesn’t come from a feature list, forecast, or a demo. It comes from a powerful story. ☑️ A story that reveals why you care. ☑️ A story that shows what you’ve overcome. ☑️ A story that mirrors the values your audience holds dear. When founders and leaders open up about their personal journey—why they started the business, what problems they couldn’t ignore, and what they still believe in it changes the room. Suddenly, it’s not just a 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵. It’s a 𝗺𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. And that connection builds credibility, shortens the distance between you and your audience, and earns you permission to go deeper. In my 20+ years helping entrepreneurs and executives shape compelling and unforgettable stories, I’ve seen it time and again: ☑️ The most successful sales presentations aren’t the most polished. ☑️ They’re the most personal. Story-first sellers win not because they have the best slides, but because they lead with something human and real. It’s about alignment. And alignment builds trust, and that’s the foundation of every “yes” you seek. So, the next time you prep for a sales meeting, ask yourself: 𝘈𝘮 𝘐 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵? ☑️ People don’t just buy products or services. ☑️ They buy 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳. Want to know how to craft a story that builds instant trust with your audience? Kindly message me. I’ll show you how to make your story your most powerful sales tool.   #SalesStrategy #BusinessStorytelling