Choosing the right type of chart for your sales pitch deck

Aug 4, 2022

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When it comes to making a sales pitch deck, the easiest way to get your audience to understand the data in it is to use charts. Different types of charts in PowerPoint can make data analysis easier and more effective when used correctly. Let’s learn more about what these charts are and how to use them properly in any PowerPoint presentation.

Line Charts

Line charts are a great inclusion in a sales pitch deck. They are a great help when it comes to analyzing multiple data sets or trends, over a long period of time. The continuous data range is plotted on the Y-axis, and the variable range, which is usually time or duration, is over the X-axis. Simple to use and minimalistic in style, there are some ways to make these more noticeable and attractive.

• Use contrasting colors to distinguish between different lines
• Important Individual points must be marked or labeled
• Don’t put in too many details which will lead to multiple lines that will cause confusion

When should you use a line chart?

A line chart is great to use when you need to show continuous data over a number of years. It can help you depict data performance in a neat and organized manner, for a specific time period as well. Examples of places where you can use a line chart in a sales pitch deck are:

• Comparing previous years’ revenue data with the current year to show progress and profits
• Comparing and analyzing your product’s performance and benefits versus those of competitor products

Bar Charts/ Graphs

Want or need to present a comparison of data between two or more value sets? The best and easiest way to do this is to create a bar chart in your sales pitch deck. This chart has two axes, with numerical values on the horizontal axis and the category sets on the vertical axis. If you plot the bars vertically, it becomes a column chart instead. There are a few ways in which you can use a bar chart, in your presentation, to engage your audience.

• Color-coordinate the data to make it easier to discern the variables.
• Stick to standard column (horizontal or vertical) shapes to avoid making your data difficult to understand
• Mark or label the values at the end of the bars or in the middle. This will make it easier for your audience to understand and analyze the data

When should you use a bar chart?

There are so many examples of where and when you should use a bar chart to present data:

• Use it to analyze a product’s monthly revenue
• Track each team’s performance on a quarterly basis
• In project management reports
• Check social media analytics and other engagement

Scatter Plot Charts

The scatter plot is another excellent chart that is used to show the relationship between two data series and determine their correlation. The dots on the graph show how the data intersect and how it correlates, on the X and Y axes. PowerPoint designers use this kind of chart to show data distribution trends and identify deviations. Here’s how to create a scatter plot chart that’s neat and engaging.

• Mark or label your axes clearly
• Each data set should vary in size so that it’s easy to differentiate
• Always set the Y-axis at 0 so that you represent the data correctly
• Make the data easier to understand by using trend lines

When should you use a scatter plot chart?

Scatter plot dots show the values of individual data points along with trends when the data is used as a whole. Scatter plot charts are often used in:

• Business projects which must have a budget analysis done
• Web page traffic analytics
• Distribution of consumers in different locations and regions

Pie Charts

A pie chart is an excellent way to show the composition of data as a whole. It’s best depicted through the use of percentages to break down an entire data set. Here are some things to remember when creating a pie chart in a presentation.

• When you break down the data, always mark it in percentages
• Stick 5 categories of data to avoid cluttering up your pie chart

When should you use a pie chart?

Pie charts are very commonly used in sales pitch decks. They can be used to depict different types of data sets such as:

• Target customer demographics
• Giving a breakdown of sales figures for different locations or regions
• Explaining sales figures for a particular brand and its products
• Showing a breakdown of visitors to an e-commerce website based on their age and location

Which chart works best for you?

Charts are a great way to present your data. They are neat, can be made attractive, and offer a break from chunks and blocks of textual information that are likely to bore your audience. At Deck Sherpa, we know how to work with charts to bring your data to life and keep your audience engaged from start to finish. Check out our work on our website. We’re confident that you’ll like what we’ve done. To book an appointment with us, call 18001215955 or send us an email at [email protected].