The Art of “The Pitch”: 5 Key Elements to Get Your Pitch to the Top of the Inbox

Captivating your audience and leaving a lasting impression requires far more than a well-crafted speech or keynote address.

You’ve got to get your foot in the door in the first place.

When working to land the speaking opportunities you know will elevate your brand’s visibility, patience and experimentation must be part of your approach.

Send out your first five pitches.

(Yes! We know! This is scary! But you won’t die!)?

Now, wait a few days. (Equally hard, we know!)

If you don’t get any nibbles, it’s time to change up your lure.

Whether you're vying for a conference keynote, plenary session, panel, or retreat speaker role, nailing your pitch is crucial. Resisting the temptation to make this a ten-part blog post series, here are the high-level strategies we suggest trying out right away.

Speaker pitch tip #1: Craft and share your story.

If you speak in generalizations and abstracts, your pitch is likely to go over the reader’s head. First, dial in your messaging and your “WHY” to nail exactly what you want your prospective audience to feel, know, and do.?

In other words, Show–don’t tell–why you are the right person for the gig.

(Not the story of that one time in high school…unless it’s relevant to your message, of course.)

?Your goal here is to paint a picture of who you are in just a few short phrases. In your next sentence, be sure to showcase why your perspective and expertise are unique and valuable.

Speaker pitch tip #2: Demonstrate your shared values.

Is your prospective audience seeking a new program for mindfulness–that you happen to deliver with your keynote? Do you help organizations choose the best-fit hires for leadership roles? Are you focused on growing the philanthropic efforts of Fortune 500 companies? Spell it out.

Craft your messaging to demonstrate the shared values between you and the event organizers, creating a strong connection from the start. Highlight how your talk aligns with the event's goals while you address the pain points of your prospective audience and offer solutions that reflect your mission.

Speaker pitch tip #3: Clearly Communicate Your value proposition.

This may seem similar to #2, but it takes your messaging one step further.

In this part of your pitch, you’re highlighting the specific benefits and outcomes your talk will provide for the audience.?

What will they walk away ready to do?

Share case study information (but keep it brief!). Avoid jargon, be relatable, and stick to the audience. Emphasize how you can provide value to the event organizers and the attendees.

Speaker pitch tip #4: Link your Speaker Reel.

While content is essential, nothing speaks louder than video evidence of your unique delivery and the response of an engaged audience. If you don’t have a speaker reel, it may be appropriate (again, if you can keep it brief!) to share audience feedback, testimonials, or techniques that were well-received by past attendees.

And hey, if you don’t have either to share, simply speak from a place of confidence and personality about your value proposition!

Speaker pitch tip #5: Keep it brief.

Seriously.

No organizer will read the novella you send, no matter how eloquent, persuasive, and perfectly worded it might be.

• Use bullet points.
• Highlight or bold relevant information.
• Include your contact information (you’d be surprised how often this one is left to chance!)
• Vary your sentence lengths.
• Keep your paragraphs short and skimmable.

Bonus tip: Make your subject line and first sentence the MEAT of your pitch. Everything else is supportive documentation.

A successful pitch has the potential not only to get you on stage, but also to open doors for new connections, collaborations, and opportunities for you and your brand to grow both personally and professionally.?

So go forth! Give that first pitch draft a whirl and get ready to leave your audience inspired, motivated, and ready for action!

P.S. You guessed it: If you need more guidance or even direct feedback on your pitch, The Whitter Group has the container for you! And guess what, it’s low-cost, low-risk, MEGA-value. Seriously, y’all. It’s a no-brainer. The Standing Ovation Society is now open for members who desire more collaboration and expertise when it comes to finding and nailing visibility opportunities. Learn more at www.standingovationsociety.com.