Pitch Perfect - putting it all together

In the third instalment in this series you should by now have an idea of why you want to create the perfect pitch and also the content you want to include. Now its time to look at putting it all together.

Write down the most important things you want to get across about

• Yourself
• Your company
• Your service
• Your product
• What you do
• What you have achieved
• Your goals
• Who you serve and why

Focus on the most interesting or memorable facts—the ones that really make you stand out from others

EDIT

• Eliminate redundant, unnecessary or unclear information
• Get rid of jargon
• Polish the good stuff – “I’ve exceeded my sales goals every quarter for the last two years” sounds a lot better than “I’m great at sales.”
• Order
• Create 5 headings “Who I Am,” “What I Do,” “How I Do It,” “Why I Do It,” and “Who I Do It For.”
• Add each item from the list you’ve created under the heading it fits best
• Put the five headings into a logical order – most important information first – If you get cut off mid pitch what would you want them to walk away remembering?

SHORT IS SWEET

• Keep your elevator pitch between 30 and 60 seconds. A short pitch is most effective in holding the listener’s attention.

KEEP IT SIMPLE

• Use short sentences and straightforward language.
• Albert Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it simply, then you don’t understand it well enough.”

PRACTICE

• Take every opportunity to practice your pitch – for friends, family, and colleagues.
• Ask for constructive feedback from an outside observer and use it to hone your pitch.
• Video and audio record your pitch – listen to your tone—make sure it’s friendly, non-threatening, and that you’re not talking a mile a minute. Make sure you’re not repeating words and that you’re sending the message you really want to convey.

In the next and last post of this short series we’ll look at some tips for presenting your pitch and also pitching etiquette.