How can you tailor your pitch to different educational backgrounds?

2 How to research education

Before you pitch to a prospect, you should do some research on their educational background. You can use various sources of information, such as LinkedIn, company websites, industry publications, or referrals. You can also ask questions during your initial contact or discovery call to learn more about their education. For example, you can ask them where they went to school, what they studied, how long they studied, or what they enjoyed most about their education. You can also use open-ended questions to gauge their level of knowledge and interest in your industry, such as "What are some of the trends or challenges that you see in your field?" or "How do you keep up with the latest developments or innovations in your area?"

3 How to adjust your language

One of the ways to tailor your pitch to different educational backgrounds is to adjust your language. You should use words and phrases that are appropriate for your prospects' level and field of education, and avoid jargon, acronyms, or technical terms that they may not understand or relate to. You should also use examples, analogies, or metaphors that are relevant and familiar to your prospects' education. For example, if you are selling a software solution to a prospect with a background in biology, you can use a biological analogy to explain how your solution works, such as "Our software is like the DNA of your business, it contains all the information and instructions that you need to run your operations smoothly and efficiently."

4 How to adjust your tone

Another way to tailor your pitch to different educational backgrounds is to adjust your tone. You should use a tone that is respectful, confident, and friendly, but also suitable for your prospects' level and field of education. You should avoid being too formal or informal, too authoritative or submissive, too technical or simplistic, or too emotional or rational. You should also pay attention to your prospects' verbal and non-verbal cues, such as their voice, facial expressions, body language, or feedback, and adapt your tone accordingly. For example, if you notice that your prospect with a PhD is bored or impatient with your pitch, you can increase your pace, add more data or evidence, or ask more challenging questions. If you notice that your prospect with a high school diploma is confused or overwhelmed by your pitch, you can slow down, simplify your message, or use more visuals or demonstrations.

5 How to adjust your style

A third way to tailor your pitch to different educational backgrounds is to adjust your style. You should use a style that is engaging, persuasive, and memorable, but also aligned with your prospects' level and field of education. You should consider the length, structure, and format of your pitch, and how you deliver it. You should also use different tools and techniques to enhance your presentation, such as slides, videos, testimonials, stories, or case studies. For example, if you are pitching to a prospect with a background in mathematics, you can use a short, logical, and numerical pitch, with graphs, charts, and statistics to support your claims. If you are pitching to a prospect with a background in literature, you can use a longer, narrative, and descriptive pitch, with stories, quotes, and metaphors to illustrate your points.

6 How to test and improve your pitch

The final step to tailor your pitch to different educational backgrounds is to test and improve your pitch. You should always seek feedback from your prospects, colleagues, or mentors, and measure the results of your pitch, such as the response rate, conversion rate, or customer satisfaction. You should also experiment with different variations of your pitch, and see what works best for different educational backgrounds. You should also keep learning and updating your pitch, as your prospects' education may change over time, or as new trends or innovations emerge in your industry. By testing and improving your pitch, you can ensure that you are always delivering the best value proposition to your prospects, regardless of their education.