A pitch refers to a persuasive message or presentation that is designed to convince someone to buy a product or service, invest in a project or take some other desired action. A pitch is typically given by a salesperson, marketer, advocate, lobbyist or business owner to a potential customer, investor, funder, decision-maker or other interested party.
The goal of a pitch is to communicate the benefits and value of a product, service or idea in a clear and compelling way, while also addressing any potential objections or concerns that the other party may have. A successful pitch will typically include a strong opening, a clear explanation of the problem or need being addressed, a demonstration of the product or service’s unique features or benefits, and a clear call to action.
Effective pitches often require research, planning and practice to refine the messaging and delivery. Marketers and salespeople may also use a variety of techniques and tools to enhance their pitch, such as storytelling, visual aids or testimonials.
Tips for effective presentations and pitches
- Show your passion and knowledge
- Start with an attention grabbing point (a shocking fact, a surprising insight, a story)
- Keep it simple: what is the key message that you want to get across?
- Smile and make eye contact to build a connection
- Be a storyteller, the audience will engage and remember your points more easily
- Use visuals to help tell your story and explain your issue
- Practice with a strong voice and in front of peers or family members
- Use your body: make gestures and move around if at all possible
- Engage your audience: pose a question, ask for opinions
- If you aren’t sure how to answer a question from the audience, acknowledge it and state that you don’t have the answer, but will look more into it (and actually get back to them when you find out)
- Relax and breathe
If you are using presentation aids:
- Ensure the text is clear
- Ensure pictures, graphs and charts are easy to read
- Be consistent with a readable font and colouring
- Keep it neutral
- Avoid too much animation
- Don’t read off of the aid: expand on the text to your audience
Resources:
Top Tips for Effective Presentations
10 ways to improve your presentation skills