Ever want to knock someone off his or her feet with your brilliant idea? Trying to get a job, woo investors, or simply persuade someone about a venture that you have in mind? One Perfect Pitch provides particular techniques of communication, including verbal, nonverbal and writing skills, that can help you achieve your laudable goals.
- Elevator pitches are about building relationships. Speak to your audience's needs (whether it be students, investors, potential employers, etc.) What do they need and want from you?
- Explain how your business idea can solve a problem and help clients, investors, customers, students, etc. understand how you can help them.
- Deliver a compelling story. Make it relevant and to the point (Be memorable; most people remember only 10% of what they hear.)
- Be succinct and cognizant of the value of people's time, which is not always easy. (For example, it is much more difficult to write a good abstract than a research article.)
- Be aware of your nonverbal behavior during a speech or pitch. (Look at your audience, walk, and do not hide behind a podium.) It is a good idea to practice in front of family and friends or a video camera.
- Give a demonstration as a small portion of your pitch. (This will help the audience visualize what you can do for them.)
- Get creative. Someone who had a product idea that he thought would be the death of Rolodexes dropped one on the floor at the beginning of his presentation.
- Let people know what your achievements have been, both in quantitative and qualitative form.
- Provide a timeline of your goals so that your audience can know when to expect what from you.
Above all, have fun, let the ideas flow freely, and learn how to market the ones that you want to go all-out for. Good luck!
One Perfect Pitch: How to Sell Your Idea, Your Product, Your Business - Or Yourself by Marie Perruchet, 2016
This book will be useful to anyone who wishes to improve his or her public speaking skills.