If you’re building your business, trying to get more clients, or looking for investments, you need to nail your pitch.
A good pitch is one of the most, if not THE most essential tools an entrepreneur needs.
Now, you may think “Yeah, but I’m not getting up on a stage to pitch to a big audience.”
Me neither!
That’s what I secretly call “The Circus Pitch”. Because you prepare it, you practice it to get it perfect, and then you get on stage to perform your circus act.
This is the kind of thing you see on shows like Shark Tank (USA), Dragon’s Den (UK), or Qui Veut Être Mon Associé (France). Unless you’re doing a pitch contest or a TV show, you don’t need this kind of pitch.
The entrepreneur journey is a journey of a thousand pitches. You may not be on stage, but you will pitch. A LOT.
But not all pitches are created equal, and from my experience, there are 2 types of pitches that we “mere mortal” entrepreneurs need in our toolbox.
- The Social Pitch
- The Scheduled Pitch
Pitch #1: The Social Pitch – Spark conversations, spark ideas
Imagine you’re at a networking event, someone asks, “So, what do you do?”
If you have a great social pitch, you will stand out! It’s a concise, conversation-starting explanation of your business or idea that goes far beyond your job title and company.
The goal of the social pitch is to plant the seed of an idea, pique interest, and get people to want to know more. Think of it as igniting a spark that leaves a lasting impression.
Here’s what makes a winning social pitch:
Focus on the “why”: Don’t just explain what you do, explain the problem you solve and the impact you create. People connect with purpose-driven ideas.
Be clear and concise: Aim for under 2-3 sentences. You want to make a strong impression immediately, so keep it short and snappy.
Spark curiosity: Frame your idea as a new way of thinking or doing something.
Instead of : “I design websites”
Try this: “My web design agency creates sites for non-fiction authors. We can turn a book into a business, and our work typically leads to more sales, consulting work and speaking opportunities for our clients.”
See the difference?
(Psst! Want help creating your social pitch? I’m leading a masterclass on the topic, on Monday May 20. If you’re interested, save your spot here!)
Pitch #2: The Scheduled Pitch: Your heavy artillery
This is a prepared presentation, typically with a slide deck, that you deliver to a specific audience like investors, potential partners, or clients.
Sure, it may be on stage, but you’re more likely to be in a meeting room or over Zoom.
No matter where you are, the goal of your Planned Pitch is to get the audience to take a specific action. Maybe that’s investing in your company, or becoming your next client.
Crafting a compelling scheduled pitch requires a strategic approach. For this, think of the word CAPSTONE.
A great Scheduled Pitch should include the following elements:
- C, for Clarity
Make sure your message is clear. If your audience can’t understand and remember you, your pitch will be a failure.
- A, for Authority
The time, money, and attention of your audience is valuable. Why should they listen to you? What credibility and authority do you have in your field?
- P, for Problem
Define a problem your customers have, or a problem that exists in the world and needs solving.
- S, for Solution
Next, explain how your product or service solves that problem.
- T, for The ‘why’
Why do you care enough about this problem to dedicate your work to it? What’s your story?
- O, for Opportunity
How can your audience get involved? What will be the immediate benefit for them?
- N, for Next steps
What is the next thing you want your audience to do after listening to this pitch? Is it buy your product, join a wait list, invest in your company? Say it clearly.
- E, for Essence & emotion
The end of your pitch is a powerful moment. Use it to inspire the feeling you want to leave your audience with. Don’t kill the energy of your pitch by ending with “Any questions?”
Do your work on these 2 types of pitches, and you’ll be able to persuade more people more easily to do business with you, taking from the social pitch to the scheduled pitch to signing the contract.
If you need help with either of these, let’s talk about it.
New & Announcements
Still looking for a cool name for this section… if you have a suggestion, let me know!
- Upcoming Masterclass: “How to answer ‘What do you do?’ with a game-changing social pitch?” Click here for details, and to save your spot. It’s on Monday May 20, right before VivaTech. So if you’ll be at that event, you definitely want to come to the masterclass!
- Enrollments into my English Conversation Club will open for a few days at the end of the month. If you need to become confident speaking English, get on the waitlist today so you don’t miss your chance.
- Check out my latest podcast episodes:
- If you’ll be at VivaTech later this month, let me know and we can meet up! Email me or DM me on Linkedin
