The difference between an ordinary deck and a pitch deck

We often encounter the word “deck” daily, conjuring images of different scenarios, from playing cards to even the top floor of a cruise ship. Yet, in the dynamic world of business and entrepreneurship, the term takes on a whole new meaning. Whether you are talking of an ordinary presentation deck or a pitch deck.

While both types of decks share the same basic structure – a collection of organized information – their purposes, structures, and audiences couldn’t be more different. So, when it comes to crafting your next presentation, knowing the difference between an ordinary deck and a pitch deck becomes crucial.

If you are a business owner, an entrepreneur, or a professional who needs to present your ideas, products, or services to an audience, you will likely need to create a deck. A deck is a collection of slides that contains information, images, graphs, and other visual elements to support your message. However, not all decks are the same. Depending on your purpose and goals, you may need to use different types of decks to achieve the best results.

In this article, we will explore the difference between an ordinary deck and a pitch deck, two common types of decks used for different purposes. We will also provide some examples of successful pitch decks and ordinary decks, and highlight the benefits and challenges of using each type of deck. Finally, we will give you some tips and best practices for creating a pitch deck and an ordinary deck to help you impress your audience and achieve your objectives.

What is a pitch deck and an ordinary deck?

A pitch deck is a type of deck that is designed to persuade and engage potential investors, clients, partners, or other stakeholders to support your business idea, product, or service. A pitch deck usually consists of 10 to 20 slides that tell a compelling story about your business, such as the problem you are solving, the market opportunity, your solution, your traction, your team, your competition, your financials, and your use of funds. A pitch deck aims to spark interest and curiosity in your audience and to convince them to take the next step with you, such as scheduling a meeting, requesting a demo, or signing a contract.

An ordinary deck, on the other hand, is a type of deck that is used to inform, educate, or update your audience on a specific topic, such as a project status, a research report, a case study, or a product launch. An ordinary deck usually consists of more slides than a pitch deck and contains more details and data to support your message. An ordinary deck aims to provide clarity and understanding to your audience and to answer any questions they may have about your topic.

What are the main features and elements of a pitch deck and an ordinary deck?

The main features and elements of a pitch deck and an ordinary deck vary depending on the audience, the content, the design, and the delivery of each type of deck. Here are some of the key differences between a pitch deck and an ordinary deck in terms of these four aspects:

1. Audience

The audience of a pitch deck is usually a group of people who have the power and the resources to support your business, such as investors, clients, partners, or media. They are usually busy, impatient, and skeptical, and have seen many pitches before. They are looking for a clear and compelling value proposition, a strong market potential, a unique and scalable solution, a proven track record, a competitive advantage, and a realistic and attractive return on investment. They are also looking for a personal connection and a trusting relationship with you and your team.

The audience of an ordinary deck is usually a group of people who are interested in or involved in your topic, such as colleagues, managers, customers, or students. They are usually curious, attentive, and receptive, and have some background knowledge or experience on your topic. They are looking for a clear and informative overview, a logical and coherent structure, relevant and reliable data, practical and actionable insight, and a meaningful and memorable takeaway. They are also looking for a professional and credible presentation and a respectful and engaging interaction with you.

2. Content

The content of a pitch deck is usually concise, simple, and impactful. It focuses on the big picture, the key points, and the main benefits of your business. It uses storytelling techniques, such as hook, problem, solution, proof, and call to action, to capture the attention, emotion, and interest of your audience. It also uses data, facts, and testimonials to back up your claims and to show your credibility and validation. It avoids jargon, technicalities, and unnecessary details that may confuse or bore your audience.

The content of an ordinary deck is usually comprehensive, detailed, and informative. It focuses on the specific topic, the main arguments, and the supporting evidence of your message. It uses analytical techniques, such as introduction, body, conclusion, and recommendation, to organize, explain, and summarize your information. It also uses charts, graphs, tables, and images to visualize and illustrate your data and to show your analysis and interpretation. It avoids ambiguity, inconsistency, and irrelevance that may mislead or distract your audience.

3. Design

The design of a pitch deck is usually attractive, consistent, and professional. It uses a simple and clean layout, a bright and contrasting color scheme, a legible and elegant font, and a minimal and relevant graphic element to create a visually appealing and engaging deck. It also uses a clear and catchy title, a bullet point and a number format, a logo and contact information, and a thank you and a question slide to create a memorable and effective deck. It avoids clutter, distraction, and inconsistency that may reduce the impact and quality of your deck.

The design of an ordinary deck is usually functional, clear, and standard. It uses a simple and organized layout, a neutral and harmonious color scheme, a legible and standard font, and a minimal and informative graphic element to create a visually clear and understandable deck. It also uses a clear and descriptive title, a table of contents and an agenda, a source and a citation, and a summary and a feedback slide to create a comprehensive and useful deck. It avoids confusion, complexity, and deviation that may reduce the clarity and accuracy of your deck.

4. Delivery

The delivery of a pitch deck is usually passionate, confident, and persuasive. It uses a conversational and enthusiastic tone, clear and concise language, a positive and assertive attitude, and natural and expressive body language to communicate your message and to connect with your audience. It also uses a hook and a question, a story and a metaphor, a pause, and a gesture, and a smile and eye contact to engage your audience and to make your pitch memorable. It avoids monotony, hesitation, and negativity that may reduce your enthusiasm and confidence.

The delivery of an ordinary deck is usually informative, professional, and respectful. It uses a formal and polite tone, clear and precise language, a neutral and objective attitude, and natural and calm body language to communicate your message and to inform your audience. It also uses a greeting and an introduction, a transition and a signpost, a summary and a recommendation, and a thank you and a Q&A to structure your presentation and to make your deck informative. It avoids informality, vagueness, and subjectivity that may reduce your professionalism and credibility.

What are the benefits and challenges of using a pitch deck and an ordinary deck?

Using a pitch deck and an ordinary deck can have different benefits and challenges depending on your purpose and goals. Here are some of the pros and cons of using each type of deck:

Benefits of using a pitch deck

1. A pitch deck can help you attract attention and interest from potential investors, clients, partners, or other stakeholders who can support your business.
2. A pitch deck can help you showcase your value proposition, your market opportunity, your solution, your traction, your team, your competition, your financials, and your use of funds clearly and compellingly.
3. A pitch deck can help you spark curiosity and excitement in your audience, and convince them to take the next step with you, such as scheduling a meeting, requesting a demo, or signing a contract.

Challenges of using a pitch deck

1. A pitch deck can be difficult to create, as you need to condense a lot of information into a few slides and tell a compelling story that appeals to your audience’s emotions and interests.
2. A pitch deck can be difficult to deliver, as you need to present your business confidently and persuasively and handle any questions or objections that may arise from your audience.
3. A pitch deck can be difficult to update, as you need to monitor and measure your progress and performance constantly and adjust your pitch according to the feedback and the market changes.

Benefits of using an ordinary deck

1. An ordinary deck can help you inform, educate, or update your audience on a specific topic, such as a project status, a research report, a case study, or a product launch.
2. An ordinary deck can help you provide clarity and understanding to your audience, and answer any questions they may have about your topic.
3. An ordinary deck can help you demonstrate your knowledge, expertise, and credibility on your topic, and to provide practical and actionable insights to your audience.

Challenges of using an ordinary deck

1. An ordinary deck can be difficult to create, as you need to research and analyze a lot of data and organize and structure your information logically and coherently.
2. An ordinary deck can be difficult to deliver, as you need to explain and summarize your information clearly and precisely to keep your audience’s attention and interest throughout your presentation.
3. An ordinary deck can be difficult to update, as you need to constantly review and verify your data and sources, and to reflect the latest findings and developments on your topic.

Related Topic: 7 Ultimate Steps To Turn Your Pitch Deck Into An Investment Landing Machine

How to create a pitch deck and an ordinary deck: tips and best practices

Creating a pitch deck and an ordinary deck can be challenging, but not impossible. Here are some tips and best practices to help you create a pitch deck and an ordinary deck that can impress your audience and achieve your objectives:

• Know your audience: Before you create your deck, you need to understand who your audience is. This is one of the most important factors in determining what kind of deck you should create. If you’re presenting to a group of investors, for example, your pitch deck should be focused on the financials and business model of your company. On the other hand, if you’re presenting to a group of potential customers or partners, your deck should be more focused on the benefits and features of your product or service.
• Know your purpose: Before you create your deck, you need to define what you want to achieve with your deck, such as to persuade, inform, educate, or update your audience. This will help you decide what type of deck to use, what content to include, and what tone and style to adopt.
• Know your topic: Before you create your deck, you need to research and analyze your topic, such as the problem, the solution, the market, the competition, the data, or the insight. This will help you provide relevant and reliable information, and to show your knowledge and expertise.
• Know your story: Before you create your deck, you need to craft a compelling story that connects your purpose, your topic, and your audience. This will help you capture the attention, emotion, and interest of your audience, and to make your deck memorable and impactful.
• Keep it simple: When you create your deck, you must keep your content, design, and delivery simple and clear. This will help you avoid confusion, complexity, and distraction, and enhance clarity, understanding, and engagement.
• Keep it short: When you create your deck, you must keep your content, design, and delivery concise. This will help you avoid boredom, impatience, and repetition, and to enhance impact, quality, and effectiveness.
• Keep it consistent: When you create your deck, you must keep your content, design, and delivery consistent and coherent. This will help you avoid inconsistency, deviation, and contradiction, and enhance logic, structure, and credibility.
• Keep it relevant: When you create your deck, you need to keep your content, your design, and your delivery relevant and tailored to your audience, your purpose, and your topic. This will help you avoid irrelevance, genericness, and inaccuracy, and to enhance value, personalization, and accuracy.
• Keep it updated: When you create your deck, you must keep your content, design, and delivery updated and current to reflect the latest findings, developments, and feedback on your topic. This will help you avoid outdatedness, obsolescence, and error, and to enhance freshness, innovation, and correctness.

Examples of successful pitch decks and ordinary decks

To illustrate the difference between a pitch deck and an ordinary deck, let’s look at some examples from successful companies and startups.

Pitch deck example: Airbnb

Airbnb is a well-known platform that connects travelers with hosts who offer unique accommodations around the world. In 2009, Airbnb raised $600,000 in seed funding from Sequoia Capital and Y Combinator with this pitch deck.

Some of the key features of Airbnb’s pitch deck are:

• It starts with a catchy tagline: “Book rooms with locals, rather than hotels.”
• It clearly defines the problem and the solution and shows the market size and potential.
• It showcases the product features and benefits and provides screenshots and testimonials.
• It demonstrates the traction and growth and highlights the key metrics and milestones.
• It introduces the team and their backgrounds and shows their passion and vision.
• It ends with a call to action: “Join us.”

Ordinary deck example: TEDx Talk

TEDx talks are a great way to share your ideas and get people excited about them. They’re also a good opportunity to practice public speaking skills, which can be helpful in many other areas of life. But if you want to give a TEDx talk, you’ll need to create an amazing presentation deck that will help you pass your information to your audience. Here’s how:

Some of the key features of the TEDx deck are:

• It starts with a clear and descriptive title: “Ending world hunger once and for all.”
• It provides a table of contents and an agenda and follows a logical and coherent structure.
• It provides a comprehensive and detailed overview of the company, the industry, the strategy, the financials, and the outlook.
• It uses charts, graphs, tables, and images to visualize and illustrate the data and the analysis.
• It summarizes the main points and takeaways and provides a source and a citation for the data.
• It ends with a thank you and a Q&A.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a pitch deck and an ordinary deck are two different types of decks that are used for different purposes and audiences. A pitch deck is designed to persuade and engage potential investors, clients, partners, or other stakeholders to support your business idea, product, or service. An ordinary deck is used to inform, educate, or update your audience on a specific topic, such as a project status, a research report, a case study, or a product launch. The main features and elements of a pitch deck and an ordinary deck vary depending on the audience, the content, the design, and the delivery of each type of deck. Using a pitch deck and an ordinary deck can have different benefits and challenges depending on your purpose and goals. To create a pitch deck and an ordinary deck effectively, you need to follow some tips and best practices, such as knowing your audience, your purpose, your topic, and your story, and keeping your deck simple, short, consistent, relevant, and updated.