Not many people enjoy presenting in front of an audience, and even less people can do it effectively! Fortunately we have the the 7 best tips to nail your pitch.
1) Have a Goal: EVERY pitch should have a goal behind it, if it doesn’t maybe you shouldn’t be pitching. Goals could include raising awareness, getting funding, convincing someone to work for you, or even just validating your idea. No matter what the goal of your pitch is, stick to it and cater everything else in your pitch to that goal.
One example of focusing your pitch toward your goal could include explaining the marketing plan, product development, and need for your product/business in order to convince a potential investor that they should invest in you. If your goal is simply to validate your product, try focusing on the need it meets and the HOW of meeting that need (no need to go into detail on marketing plan). Pick a goal, and stick with it!
2) Know Your Audience: This goes hand in hand with knowing your goal. If your audience is a group of investors who would potentially help fund your idea, your pitch would look different than if your audience was a group of web developers who would potentially help build/develop your idea.
It is also to remember and be cautious to what type of speech or jargon you use around different audiences. Potential buyers of your product/business might not understand the same terms as someone who wants to work for you. As a general rule, it is usually best to keep it simple and “dumb things down” so that most people could understand your pitch no matter who is listening. However be careful not so sound too “dumbed down” when talking to important people who need to know that you are capable.
3) Include an Engaging Story: Even though your pitch should not take too much time, it is still easy for some people to lose interest if they are not being engaged. The last thing you want to happen is your audience of potential investors to fall asleep on you when you were trying to ask for funding! Storytelling is one of the easiest ways to add relevant information to your pitch that is exciting. Stories let the audience picture things in their mind, let them see a different perspective, or make something more relatable to them. Perhaps, instead of just explaining how your business/product fills a certain need, tell a story of how it really did!
4) Use Numbers: Numbers are a great way not only to give information more simply, but numbers also add credibility to your pitch. Numbers indicate that research, surveys, or studies has gone into generating them which assures licterners that your aren’t just making stuff up. Numbers can be very powerful. For example, in your pitch your could say that “a lot of people have said they would want to buy my service” or your could say, “According to my survey, 75% of participants stated that they believed this was a good service, and 3 out of 4 people stated they would use it if they had pets”. Numbers are powerful, but do not overuse them!
5) Only Use 3-5 Main Points: This one is hard to follow, but will help your audience stay engaged and focused. Even though you probably have so much to share, you need to cut it down to only the most vital information. Limiting your pitch to only having 3-5 main points will help your audience stay organized and better remember your entire pitch. It may also be a good idea to start your pitch by introducing your main points, so they know what to look for throughout your presentation and understand the flow.
In creating your main pitch points, it is a good idea to show gradual progress. For example your three main points could be 1) problem, 2) action, and 3) solution. The more progression and flow your main points are, the better the idea will “click” in the heads of your audience.
6) Add A Call to Action: We already know from point #1 that your pitch has a purpose, now is the time to share that purpose with the audience. If your goal was to receive funding, you could directly ask who would be willing to fund your project, or your call to action could be more subtle while still being powerful. You could tell your audience of investors that you are seeking funding but their call to action is simple to contact you with any questions they may have. You can state that you are looking for investors, but don’t make them feel like they are being pressured into it.
7) Make It Memorable: There are many ways that you can make your pitch memorable. If your pitch is memorable, it’s more likely your desired goal will come to fruition. Along with methods we have already discussed such as keeping it short, telling a story, using key numbers, etc.. you can also be creative. Try involving your audience by asking them questions, bring in visuals or samples. You can include sound, video, or ANYTHING that is relevant and adds to your pitch! The sky’s the limit.
Hopefully these tips will help you nail your next pitch! You can get even more help on your pitch or pitching skills at the UVU Entrepreneurship Institute. Not only will the UVUEI help you with your pitch, but can tell your when the next pitching event/opportunity is! Practice your pitch in front of judges and your could even win some cash!