6 tips for the perfect pitch
To get clients or possible partners interested in your company or idea, you need to convince them with a clear pitch: a short blitz speech or just a long presentation in which you explain the strengths of your business. Pitching is the perfect way to quickly find out if people are willing to support you. Lined up for you: the ultimate tips for a custom pitch.
WHAT IS A PITCH?
A pitch is an inspired presentation through which an entrepreneur tries to convince other people or organizations of his or her company, start-up or idea. Pitches can vary in length: from an “elevator pitch” that lasts no longer than 30 seconds, as long as an elevator ride, to an elaborate sixty-minute powerpoint presentation. You choose the length of the pitch, but a good pitch is always clear and convincing. This is the only way to emphasize the value of the product or service you are promoting. Sounds obvious, but finding the right words that also stick is not so easy.
WHAT SHOULD IT CONTAIN?
Provide the right information
A pitch lasts between 30 seconds and one hour. A tight margin to convince someone of your potential. So you have to carefully weigh your words so that you can fit all the information into that time frame. What should definitely be in there? Your value proposition, in it you describe the benefits your product or service offers and what needs you meet with potential customers. If you have more time, you can include additional details in your pitch, such as sales strategy, revenue model and funding requirements.
Tell a story
A good pitch is constructed as a story that inspires the listener. Use your own experience or come up with a hypothetical situation involving a fictional character. Clearly explain how your case or idea will fix the problem.
Create pitches for different situations
Pitch not only at formal meetings, but also during spontaneous meetings at the coffee shop or at the gym. So you would have to set up several variations tailored to a variety of situations and audiences. Write at least three pitches: an elevator pitch, a 10-minute pitch and a pitch that takes an hour. To avoid remaining silent and not asking questions after your pitch, it is smart to end your story with a question or invitation. For example, very simply ask for your conversation partner’s contact information or card and whether you can contact them soon to make an appointment.
Be accessible
Even the best pitch will fall short if the listener does not know how to contact you afterwards. Make sure your audience can quickly find more info about you and your business. This can be done through a simple business card or a URL of your website on the slides.
Email or message your audience within 24 hours of your pitch to ask if they have any additional thoughts or feedback. That way they know you’re serious and the step of getting involved with you is again a little smaller.
TRAIN YOURSELF
Become more confident by practicing
Work off your nerves by practicing your pitch a few times beforehand. Practice in front of the mirror, film yourself or explain your pitch to friends or family.
The more you practice your pitch, the calmer you become. Also pay attention to your breathing: inhale deeply and exhale slowly. If you do lose north for a moment, feel free to cheat on summary cards or the slides of your presentation. Thanks to those tools, you know you’ll never really black out. Consequence? Your confidence increases and you show your audience that you have things under control.
Evaluate your pitch
After each pitch, examine what sits well and what could be better. Does your audience always ask questions of the same slides? Then add the answers to your presentation. By constantly fine-tuning your pitch, you will naturally create the ideal version.