Presentation's Call to Action [Slide that Closes]

Our client Jamie asked us a question while we were working on their investor pitch deck:

"How do we make investors actually do something after the presentation instead of just nodding and leaving?"

So, our Creative Director answered, "Tell them exactly what to do, like a GPS for their wallet."

As a presentation design agency, we work on dozens of investor pitch decks every year, and we’ve observed a common challenge: People put in months crafting the perfect pitch, but when it’s time to seal the deal, their Call to Action (CTA) is as weak as hotel coffee.

They either mumble through a vague “Let’s connect,” or they slap a generic “Visit our website” on the last slide and hope for the best. Spoiler alert: That never works.

A great CTA doesn’t just invite action, it demands it. And if your audience isn’t clear on what to do next, they’ll do nothing.

Why Most Presentation CTAs Don’t Work

Let’s be honest—most presentation CTAs fall flat.

You’ve probably seen them before:

“Let’s stay in touch.” (How? Why?)
“Visit our website for more info.” (And then what?)
“Follow us on LinkedIn.” (For what purpose?)

These aren’t CTAs. They’re open-ended suggestions that people will likely forget the moment they leave the room.

Here’s why most CTAs don’t work:

They’re too vague.
If your audience has to ask, “What exactly am I supposed to do?”—you’ve lost them.
They lack urgency.
There’s no clear reason to act now instead of later (or never).
They don’t highlight a benefit.
People don’t take action just because you asked. They take action because it serves their needs.

A weak CTA dilutes the impact of an otherwise strong presentation. You might have delivered a compelling message, impressed your audience, and built excitement—but if you don’t guide them toward a specific next step, all that effort goes to waste.

So, how do you create a CTA that actually works?

How to Craft a Presentation Call to Action That Works

1. Be Specific: Tell Them Exactly What to Do

Vague CTAs confuse people. If your audience has to guess what their next step is, they’ll do nothing. Instead of generic phrases like “Let’s connect” or “Reach out if you’re interested,” spell it out clearly.

For example, if you’re pitching to investors, don’t say, “We’d love to discuss this further.” That’s too open-ended. Instead, say something like:

“We are raising $2M this quarter, and we’re scheduling one-on-one meetings next week. Let’s book a 15-minute call to discuss your interest.”

See the difference? It’s direct. The investor knows exactly what you’re asking for and when. If your CTA is too broad, people won’t know what’s expected of them, and they’ll move on.

2. Create a Sense of Urgency

If your CTA doesn’t give people a reason to act now, they’ll put it off—and putting it off often means never doing it at all. Urgency doesn’t mean being pushy; it means helping your audience understand why they should act sooner rather than later.

Compare these two CTAs:

“We’re accepting partnerships.” (No urgency, no clear action.)
“We have five partnership slots left this quarter. Let’s set up a call this week.” (Clear, specific, and time-sensitive.)

People are far more likely to take action when they know that opportunities are limited or that timing matters. Without urgency, your CTA becomes just another task on their never-ending to-do list.

3. Make It About Them, Not You

A common mistake is framing the CTA around what you want, rather than what your audience will gain. People don’t take action just because you need funding, customers, or engagement. They take action when they see a clear benefit to them.

Let’s say you’re giving a sales presentation. Instead of saying:

“Sign up for our service today.”

Try this:

“Join 500+ businesses that have cut costs by 30% with our solution. Let’s get you started with a free trial.”

This shift makes the CTA more compelling because it highlights the outcome for the audience. If your call to action only benefits you, people won’t feel motivated to respond.

4. Reduce Friction: Make It Easy to Take Action

The harder it is to follow your CTA, the fewer people will do it. If your next step involves too many steps, unclear instructions, or unnecessary complexity, people will drop off.

For example, if your CTA is “Visit our website to learn more,” you’re asking for effort without direction. Where should they go? What should they do when they get there? Instead, make it seamless by removing obstacles.

Here’s a better approach:

Instead of “Schedule a call with us,” say, “Scan this QR code to book a 15-minute meeting.”
Instead of “Check out our services online,” say, “Click this link to see a 2-minute demo.”

By reducing effort and making the next step obvious, you increase the likelihood of action. The easier you make it, the better your results.

5. Align Your CTA With the Presentation’s Flow

Your CTA shouldn’t feel like a last-minute addition. It needs to be naturally integrated into your presentation’s narrative. If you spend 20 minutes talking about a problem and solution, but your CTA jumps to an unrelated action, it creates a disconnect.

For example, if you just gave a presentation on how your AI software streamlines hiring, your CTA shouldn’t be something generic like “Visit our website for more details.” That’s not connected to the story you just told.

Instead, it should be something like:

“Let’s get your team hiring 3x faster. We’re offering free trials this month—sign up now to see it in action.”

When your CTA feels like the natural next step, your audience is far more likely to follow through.

6. Reinforce Your CTA With Visuals

Many presentations make the mistake of treating the CTA slide as an afterthought—just a simple slide with a phone number or email. But the way you visually present your CTA can make a big difference.

If your CTA is hidden in a block of text, buried in the middle of a slide, or overshadowed by other content, people won’t notice it. Your CTA should stand out and be impossible to miss.

Here are a few ways to do this:

Use large, bold text for the key action.
Highlight a single, clear action—don’t clutter the slide with multiple asks.
Include a button, QR code, or link that people can act on immediately.

For example, if your CTA is about booking a demo, show a screenshot of the scheduling page or a QR code to book instantly. If your CTA is about contacting you, make your email and phone number big and clear.

The goal is simple: Make your CTA visually compelling and easy to follow.

7. Test and Iterate Your CTA

Not all CTAs work equally well. The way you phrase and present your CTA can dramatically impact response rates. That’s why it’s important to test and refine your approach.

If you’re giving multiple presentations, try tweaking your CTA and see which version gets the best response. Some things to experiment with:

Wording: Does “Schedule a call” work better than “Book a demo”?
Urgency: Does adding a deadline increase conversions?
Format: Does a QR code work better than a phone number?

Small changes can lead to big improvements. The key is to pay attention to what works and refine accordingly.

8. Deliver Your CTA With Confidence

Even the best CTA won’t work if you sound unsure when delivering it. If you mumble through it, rush past it, or sound hesitant, your audience will pick up on that uncertainty.

Your CTA should be delivered clearly and confidently. Say it with conviction so your audience knows you mean it.

For example, don’t end your presentation with:

"So, yeah, if you’re interested, maybe we can chat later..."

Instead, say something like:

"We’re taking on five new clients this quarter. If you’re ready to transform your business, let’s set up a call this week."

Your confidence will make people more likely to take action.

9. Follow Up If Necessary

Sometimes, even the best CTA won’t get an immediate response. That’s why follow-up matters.

If you gave a strong CTA but didn’t get commitments right away, don’t assume the opportunity is lost. Follow up with a short, direct message referencing the action you discussed.

For example:

"Hi [Name], I wanted to follow up on our conversation from [event/presentation]. We’re still scheduling demos for this month—would you like to book a slot?"

People are busy, and they might need that extra nudge. A great CTA doesn’t just end at the presentation—it extends into follow-up where needed.

Why Hire Us to Build your Presentation?

If you're reading this, you're probably working on a presentation right now. You could do it all yourself. But the reality is - that’s not going to give you the high-impact presentation you need. It’s a lot of guesswork, a lot of trial and error. And at the end of the day, you’ll be left with a presentation that’s “good enough,” not one that gets results. On the other hand, we’ve spent years crafting thousands of presentations, mastering both storytelling and design. Let us handle this for you, so you can focus on what you do best.

Explore Case Studies | Get to Know Us | Start A Project