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How to make your business pitch perfect

Written by Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce | 14 Apr 2022

Every business owner will need to deliver a short pitch at some point, which sums up the basics of your business in under a minute. It is a powerful tool and here are our top 5 tips to make sure your pitch hits the right note.

  1. Get the basics right and quickly

There are a few basic details which you should always include in your pitch. It should tell people:

  • Who you are
  • What you do
  • Why someone should choose you
  • What you’re looking for

You should cover all of this within a maximum of 60 seconds to ensure your pitch is short, snappy, and memorable. A well-crafted pitch will intrigue people and set you apart. 

  1. Make it memorable

You want to ensure people remember you, so your opening sentence should always capture attention. There are many ways in which you can do this but piquing an audience’s interest with a question or an attention-grabbing sentence are effective ways, as they actively involves the listener in your pitch and builds rapport. 

  1. Make sure everybody knows your name

The pitch is as much about you as it is your business, so always introduce yourself by name and repeat this and your business name at the start of your pitch.

  1. Give a solution to a problem

Most business owners will be familiar with the concept that you don’t sell features, you sell benefits: a solution to a problem. However, it’s common to get weighed down in the details of various problems the product or service solves. An effective pitch is concise in identifying the main pain point and presenting the key solution and outcome. Remember, this need only be a sentence or two. For example, a Financial Advisor might say, “I help business owners to sleep at night, knowing that they are financially secure, and able to retire early.”

  1. Leave them with a reason to talk to you

Finally, make sure you leave your audience with a reason to continue the conversation with you. This will look different depending on the scenario. If you’re pitching for investment, you need to ensure that you’ve presented an enticing opportunity. This means including the reason your business is the right investment. 

If you’re crafting a pitch for networking, then again, it can help to include why people should be interested in what you offer. You should consider ways in which you can get people interested in having a conversation with you. For example, you might include a story in your pitch, but hold back on the ending. Or you could end your pitch with a statement that if they want to know the answer to something, then they should come and have a chat with you. Most successful networking is based on having conversations and building solid relationships. 

How Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce can help with crafting the right pitch

An effective pitch is a powerful tool in your business. However, it is not always easy to craft. Often, it's difficult to decipher the important details because you are too close to your business. But help is at hand. 

Here at the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, we support our members with all aspects of their business, from local networking and pitching through to global expansion.  If you would like to join us, simply visit https://www.chamber-business.com/become-a-member-of-bedfordshire-chamber-of-commerce and complete the online form or call us on 01582 522 448 – we are always on hand to help and advise.

 

 

Topics: business, marketing, pitch

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