Paragraphs should be short and concise. Executive summaries should make sense even if you haven’t read the original report. Executive summaries should be written in language that is appropriate for the target audience.
Graphics. A well-placed graphic illustrating the precise nature of the client’s problem could drive home the point of the summary. Stimulating the visual sense is often just as effective as their analytical sense. Bullets. Long lists of information can be broken down into more digestible bullets. Headings. Organize the themes of the summary, if necessary, by heading. This will help orient the reader as they dive into the summary. [6] X Research source
Graphics. A well-placed graphic illustrating the precise nature of the client’s problem could drive home the point of the summary. Stimulating the visual sense is often just as effective as their analytical sense. Bullets. Long lists of information can be broken down into more digestible bullets. Headings. Organize the themes of the summary, if necessary, by heading. This will help orient the reader as they dive into the summary. [6] X Research source
Graphics. A well-placed graphic illustrating the precise nature of the client’s problem could drive home the point of the summary. Stimulating the visual sense is often just as effective as their analytical sense. Bullets. Long lists of information can be broken down into more digestible bullets. Headings. Organize the themes of the summary, if necessary, by heading. This will help orient the reader as they dive into the summary. [6] X Research source
Example: “Women World Wide is a not for profit organization that seeks to connect women all around the world with effective solutions to domestic violence, as well as offering a network of support for those suffering from domestic violence. While operating from its headquarters in Alberta, Canada, it has received referrals from women in 170 countries across the globe. "
Maybe you have Michael Jordan as a customer and he has endorsed your product on Twitter for free. Maybe you just signed a partnership agreement with Google. Maybe you were just awarded a patent, or maybe you just made your first big sale.
Example: “Los Angeles is crippled with traffic. Apart from the Metro DC area, Los Angeles has the worst traffic in the nation. It’s not just annoying. The smog and pollution caused from gridlock is reducing worker productivity, increasing rates of asthma, and slowly creating a serious health problem. There are more cars in L. A. than there are people old enough to drive them. "
Example: “Innotech has created a groundbreaking traffic control system that shaves minutes off of commute time by installing patented “smart grids” into stoplight lanes that read the amount of cars in any given lane and direct traffic accordingly. No longer will drivers of America have to stand at a red stoplight for minutes while the green light blinks for no cars in the other direction. "
Example: “Intellilight has the added benefit of being able to detect when no one is home. When a light is left on in an empty room, it automatically shuts off and turns back on again when it detects motion in the room. This saves the customer money on their electrical bill and wastes less energy. "
If your plan is for a group of investors, don’t spend too much time on this section because they know that you have no idea how much money you might make. Investors typically won’t make a go/no-go decision based on your financial projections. They will essentially make their own financial projections.
Have a pair of fresh eyes reread your executive summary, paying special attention to: Clarity. Are the words clear, the ideas clearer, and the summary devoid of jargon? Errors. Grammatical, punctuation, and spelling errors may abound. Having someone fact-check the figures and statistics might be a good ideal as well. Forcefulness. Do the ideas translate into a stirring pitch? Where does the pitch fall flat, if at all? Coherence. What parts don’t fit together? What parts do?
