Tips to deliver a perfect pitch!
The working world is constantly about pitching something to somebody whether that be an idea, a service, or product or even yourself. A pitch can be delivered by a manager, entrepreneur, student, almost anyone! While confidence and communication are the key areas while presenting a pitch, you should also have knowledge about the topic in question. Here are a few tips you can keep in mind while delivering your pitch:
- Pitch from the customer’s perspective, not your own!
Understand the needs of the person you are pitching to first. Remember the most successful pitch is not about you, it’s about them! You need to get into the mind of the person you are pitching to, focus more on the benefits it delivers to the customer. Keep it crisp and relevant and avoid unnecessary information. This will help you build a relationship first and eventually close the partnership or sale you are working towards!
- Watch your body language
According to researchers, the visual impact of a “pitch” has the greatest influence on the client (55%), followed by tone of voice (38%) and finally the text and content of pitch (7%), which gives us a whole new meaning to the art of influencing and pitching! Gestures and proper posture can reinforce sales. Make sure you stand tall in front of the customer and maintain eye contact with a welcoming smile!
- Conquer your nerves by doing your pre-work!
Many people get worried and nervous before delivering a pitch which is not surprising. The best tried and trusted “remedy” is prior preparation. Make sure you have run through the pitch by somebody experienced, made changes as per the feedback, rehearsed the key points a couple of times, and double checked all the materials needed for the day. You can create a presentation, video or brochure to give the client a better picture about the idea. Another simple way of feeling comfortable is coming in early and giving yourself enough time before the pitch.
So what next if things do not work out the way you imagined? Sometimes your pitch may get rejected. Turn the rejection into a valuable learning experience – one that leaves you with a stronger presentation for the next time. Make sure you ask for feedback from your client and work on the insights they provide. You should also take this positively and recognize that you need to keep trying. With enough practice, you will be able to perfect your pitch and see it convert into results.
