Most of the presentations I’ve seen start the same way: who we are.

The typical slide (if you’re lucky, just one) shows the year of the foundation, offices worldwide, number of employees, revenue, products, etc.

Every time I see a presentation start like this, I think: who cares! And not just me, everyone feels the same way.

I’m not downplaying the importance of a company’s history, on the contrary, I always find it interesting to know how a business started, but it’s a curiosity that I satisfy by researching the information on my own. In a presentation context (especially for sales), there are better ways to start than history.

Your past is irrelevant to the audience (those who are supposed to buy your product/service). Most people are not particularly interested in a company’s history or background. Starting a presentation with a dry recitation of facts and figures will likely bore your audience and make them tune out before you’ve even gotten to the meat of your presentation.

Moreover, you don’t establish credibility: while your corporate story may be important to you, it doesn’t necessarily establish your credibility with your audience. Instead, focus on proving your expertise and authority on the subject matter of your presentation.

They are much more interested in knowing why your company was founded, what problem it wants to solve, and what its purpose is today.