At some point in your life you will likely have the opportunity to pitch an idea and it may be one that changed your life. It may be in your role as an aspiring entrepreneur, youth sports club director or community advocate. While everyone has their own opinion or idea about what makes a great pitch, certain elements for success I recommend are: professionalism, time and score (knowing your audience) and being true to your brand. Be sure to avoid trying to cram in every detail, too soon, because keeping your audience engaged and informed should be your primary goals.
Here are some tips for you on how to make a great pitch:
1.Proper Prep
Prepare notes on your idea, but don’t rely on them too much if you plan to pitch in person. Make sure you’re prepared to answer questions about everything from what inspired your business idea to the details of your product, service and target market. If possible, think about how you can wrap up your presentation in 10 minutes or less—this will help make your pitch more concise than a 30-minute monologue.
2. Have a quick hitter ready!
Traditionally known as an elevator pitch, having a “Quick Hitter” for every idea will be beneficial. Having a short, condensed version of your concept in one to three sentences can help keep things short and simple. It takes some time to get used to, but it can be helpful in the long run. You never know when you may run into someone you can pitch to so having a “Quick Hitter” that you can present on the spot is important.
3. Practice your pitch
Practice with friends or family before you pitch to someone who would be interested in what you’re doing. Make sure you’re comfortable with the material and that it’s short enough for people to understand. It needs to be interesting enough to keep your audience engaged while providing them with the information that they need. Find the balance.
4. K.I.S.S.
In sports, K.I.S.S, is an acronym for Keep it Simple Steve. On occasion, many of us get over zealous when pitching our new idea that we leave out the fundamentals of the concept. As much as it can be tempting, do not skip over the basics. The higher value of an idea may be missed if the audience starts to lose interest in your pitch because they don’t understand your purpose or aren’t clear on what you’re trying to sell them.
5. Keep the energy flowing
If someone is bored by a presentation, they will give it less than their full attention. If you want to keep your listeners engaged, do not make a slideshow and then simply read through it. Your earlier pitch preparation should allow you to interact with your audience without losing track of your flow. Being able to add in personal anecdotes to connect with the audience is a must. Find ways to keep it interesting. Make sure you are dressed to make the impression you are going for. If you have any physical materials, use them. Ask questions and also ask for questions. Remember we all prefer to be in a two way conversation.
6. Use words that matter
It’s critical to find the balance between using terminology from your industry and also sounding like you are on an episode of Shark Tank. Keep the use of buzzwords and jargon to a minimum. Do your best to use words that accurately demonstrate your expertise and experience but that also allow your audience to keep up with your presentation. Traditionally, a clear and simple explanation of your concept will be much easier to understand and will result in a higher probability of success.
7. Excitement is contagious
When trying to make a good impression, your level of enthusiasm can be a considerable factor. If you’re excited about what you are selling, it will show in your body language and attitude. You may get people to follow along right away or even join you in your excitement.
Good Luck