If you’re reading this, you probably need to build a sales presentation that actually gets people’s attention. Maybe you’re tired of the same old PowerPoints, or you’ve heard about interactive tools but aren’t sure where to start. This is for anyone who wants to make a sales deck that doesn’t put people to sleep—and who wants clear, practical steps.
We’ll walk through how to build an interactive sales presentation using Popcomms, a platform designed to make sales content more engaging and a little less painful for everyone involved. No fluff, no buzzwords—just a real look at what works, what doesn’t, and how to avoid common mistakes.
Step 1: Know What You Actually Need
Before you even open up the software, get clear on what you want the presentation to do. “Interactive” doesn’t mean throwing in every animation or clickable widget you can find. The goal is to make it easier for your audience to follow along, ask questions, and get the info they care about.
Ask yourself: - Who’s going to see this? (Busy execs? Tech folks? Everyone?) - What’s their biggest problem? (And does your product actually solve it?) - What questions do they usually ask? - Do you want to present in-person, via Zoom, or send it as a follow-up?
Pro tip:
Don’t try to cram everything in. Stick to the key points your audience cares about, and leave room for questions.
Step 2: Set Up Your Popcomms Project
Assuming you’ve signed up and logged into Popcomms, you’ll start by creating a new project. Here’s the basic setup:
- Create a new presentation.
- Give it a clear name. “Q3 Widget Sales” is better than “FinalFinal_v2.”
- Pick a template (or don’t).
- Popcomms has templates, but you’re not locked into them. If none fit, start from scratch. Don’t get hung up on design right now.
- Set your slide size/aspect ratio.
- Match your typical presentation format (usually 16:9 for screens).
What to ignore:
Don’t spend an hour picking colors and fonts. You can tweak the look later. Focus on structure first.
Step 3: Map Out the Flow
Interactive presentations aren’t linear by default. Think about how you want conversations to happen.
Start with a simple map: - Home screen or agenda - Problem or challenge - Your solution/offer - Case studies or proof - Pricing/next steps - Links or jump points to FAQs
How to do this in Popcomms: - Use the “navigation” or “menu” widgets to create clickable sections. - Drag and drop slides into a logical order, but expect to jump around.
Tip:
Sketch your flow on paper first. It’ll save you time fighting with the software later.
Step 4: Build Out Core Slides
Now, fill in the main sections. Don’t worry about making it pretty yet—just get the content in.
For each section: - Use concise headlines. People skim. - Keep text minimal. If you can say it, don’t write it. - Use images, charts, or short videos if they actually help (not just for decoration).
Adding interactivity: - Make buttons or hotspots to jump between sections (Popcomms calls these “navigation links”). - Add toggles for FAQs or deeper dives, so you can reveal info only when it’s needed.
What works:
Clickable menus and quick access to case studies or demos. It keeps conversations focused on what the buyer cares about.
What doesn’t:
Auto-playing videos, endless animations, or burying important info three clicks deep. If you wouldn’t want to sit through it, your prospects won’t either.
Step 5: Add Interactive Elements (But Don’t Overdo It)
Popcomms lets you add plenty of interactive features, but resist the urge to use everything just because you can.
Useful features: - Branching navigation: Let users jump to the section they care about, instead of forcing them through every slide. - Embedded media: Drop in videos or demos, but keep them short and make sure they actually load (test them). - Live data or calculators: If your sales process involves quoting or ROI calculations, you can embed simple forms or calculators.
Features to skip (most of the time): - Sound effects or background music - Overly complex animations - Gimmicky transitions
Pro tip:
Test each interactive bit as you add it. There’s nothing worse than a broken button during a pitch.
Step 6: Brand and Polish
Once the structure and core content are solid, tidy up the design.
- Apply your branding: Use your company’s logo, colors, and fonts (Popcomms lets you upload assets).
- Keep it clean: Don’t clutter slides with too many elements.
- Make sure text is readable: High contrast, big enough to read from a distance.
- Check for consistency: Navigation should look and work the same everywhere.
What to skip:
Don’t obsess over pixel-perfect placement. Unless you’re presenting to graphic designers, most people care more about clarity than design flourishes.
Step 7: Test the Presentation (Really Test It)
Don’t skip this. Walk through the whole thing as if you’re a prospect. Click every button. Try it on the device you’ll actually use—laptop, iPad, whatever.
- Check navigation: Are all links working? Any dead ends?
- Media playback: Do videos and animations load without stuttering?
- Offline use: If you’ll present without internet, make sure everything works locally.
- Timing: How long does it actually take to get through? Trim as needed.
Pro tip:
Have a colleague try it who hasn’t seen it before. If they get lost or bored, so will your prospect.
Step 8: Prep for Delivery
Popcomms presentations can be shown live, shared as links, or (sometimes) downloaded for offline use. Decide how you’ll use it:
- In-person: Make sure the device is charged and you’ve tested on the projector/screen.
- Remote/Zoom: Share your screen and check how things look at different resolutions.
- Sending as a link: Test the link on different browsers. Warn recipients if something only works in Chrome or requires a plugin (nobody likes surprises).
Pro tip:
Always have a backup PDF or static version in case tech fails. It’s not glamorous, but it saves you if the internet dies.
Step 9: Iterate Based on Real Feedback
You won’t get it perfect the first time—and that’s fine. After a few real meetings, you’ll notice what people ask about, which sections you skip, and where things bog down.
- After each meeting, jot down:
- Which questions came up?
- Which sections got the most interest?
- Did any part confuse people?
Tweak the presentation every couple of weeks. Drop what’s not working, and add common questions or better examples.
Keep It Simple—and Keep Improving
The best interactive sales presentations don’t show off every feature—they just make it easier for you to have a real conversation. Start with a basic version, test it in the field, and only add complexity if it actually helps. Most of the time, less is more.
Remember: your prospects care about solving their problems, not how many animated menus you can fit on one slide. Build something clear, keep iterating, and you’ll stand out simply by respecting your audience’s time.