Pitching online? Here's how to get your hands on it

Remember? Those days when Klaas Knot gave the Dutch economy a 9? That you walked into a company mouthless and shook hands with your appointment? To then discuss in a packed conference room how you could create something beautiful together.

Those days are gone for now. Companies are cautious, budgets cut back, meetings online.

That makes it a lot harder to make deals. But what if you can still virtually sit down with a client or the board to pitch something new?

Think of the pitch primarily as an opportunity to start the conversation. Here are four tips to make your online pitch a success.

1. Start your pitch with a question

In a Zoom of Teams meeting, it's hard to keep your audience engaged. By starting with a question, you immediately make it clear that it's not going to be a broadcast, but that they can join in.

If you are addressing a larger group, you can also work with questions you don't expect answers to: "Imagine...", "Do you know how much...", "Have you also noticed that...".

Watch here how Healthy Hearts Institute founder Chris Redlitz engages his audience with the problem with a question.

2. Outline the problem as quickly as possible

Within the first minute, it should become clear why it's worth staying focused. Or as Steve Jobs put it: answer the question "Why should I care?". If you know how to outline a recognizable and relevant problem, we will gladly stay to listen to hear the solution.

Startup TruckIn doesn't mince words either.

3. Keep it short

Online is even more important than 'normal'. Think of your pitch as the starting signal to get into the conversation as soon as possible. Keep it under five minutes, visualize it with simple visuals and close with a focused question to move directly from sending to interaction.

Lazarus 3D does a 1-minute pitch by the book.

4. Prepare questions

People often prepare the pitch themselves ad nauseam, but forget to think about the questions they might get. While that is the most important thing for your client. So prepare at least three questions you can expect. These also give you the opportunity to give information that was not in your pitch.

Need help with pitching? We will help you win!

Contact Janneke: Janneke@speaktoinspire.nl