Pitching is a fundamental skill to acquire during your entrepreneurial journey . Indeed, to evolve you will sometimes need outside help. Whether financial (grants, loans, etc.), skills or partnership, for example, you will have to win over your audience to obtain this precious help.
But pitching also means being able to sell your project at any time and in a laconic way . You will have more ease in making contacts which will allow you by domino effect to widen your network. You will have understood that it is not only necessary to sell your company to your (future) customers, but also to people who will be key players in your success.
Discover in this article all the advice provided by ESCadrille allowing you to charm your interlocutors .
Pitcher is a good thing, give a definition too
Shortening of its full name, elevator pitch , it must be able to be pronounced the time spent in an elevator. A pitch should not exceed 2/3 minutes in this context. However, during a sale (to investors for example) this duration can be multiplied by five.
This time should allow you to quickly convey your ideas by getting to the point. It is therefore a short presentation of an activity, a project or a company . Today, the pitch is ubiquitous because it is useful in several situations: meeting with investors, job interview, afterwork, prospecting…
To sum up, you have to be powerful to convince your audience, whoever it is .
How to pitch well?
To pitch effectively, it is essential to be prepared. At first, it is necessary to determine its target audience because the argument will not be the same since the expectations of this one will be different. Indeed, trying to receive a fundraiser is not about offering your offer to consumers.
With this in mind, you must define the purpose of your oral presentation , as specified above, conciseness is in order because your time is limited. In fact, you must choose precisely what you say since every word is worth gold. Thus, it is essential to prepare several formulations in order to deal with any eventuality.
A pitch is intended to sell, you will have to highlight what is a guarantee of differentiation for your project. Performing an introspection will help you identify your strengths and present the opportunities in your market . The objective is to show why your project is essential.
And concretely what does it give?
- Take care of your first impression
It is important to make a good impression to capture attention. This is probably the easiest to set up, but it is undoubtedly a crucial point. The first 10 seconds are decisive.
Obviously, you need to pay attention to how you dress . Yes, contrary to what we can say, the habit makes the monk. So do not lose points on such a futile and easy to implement detail. Our clothes say a lot about us because they send social signals. They not only have a protective function, but are a real tool of influence . Like your text, adapt to your environment so as not to denote and get noticed (to qualify because this can become an asset but it is advisable to remain discreet).
- Pay attention to your body language
Symbol of non-verbal communication , body language allows us to communicate through our gestures, our posture or our facial expressions. The non-verbal takes precedence over the spoken word because it generally betrays what is said. This form of communication plays a major role in human relationships. It should help you convince more effectively.
The smile , a way to relax and encourage people to listen to you. Creating a positive environment will help you feel more comfortable presenting your project.
Remember to look your interlocutors in the eye so that they can follow your speech more easily. Failing to look into each other’s eyes is a sign of insecurity. The look is essential to reassure, but also to follow the reactions of the public. It is strongly advised not to speak with notes because you know your subject by heart, which will encourage you not to read them and focus your attention on your audience.
The hands, a very powerful tool . Indeed, it is important not to hide them because it would be perceived as deception. Your interlocutors will thank you because it helps them follow your speech.
Maintaining good posture , beyond the benefits it gives your body, helps you breathe better, project your voice and show that you are confident.
- 1 – Introduce your argument well
After a short presentation of your person, the following sentence is decisive, it is called in English “The Hook” . It corresponds to the subject of an email, it must arouse interest and understand why your speech deserves to be listened to.
- 2 – State the problem
Your project responds to an observation or a problem, so you must immediately after your introduction raise a problem . The Hook allows you to contextualize the subject and make the link with the problem so as not to make it too raw.
- 3 – Present your solution to this problem
Briefly explain how your proposal addresses the identified need. It is at this moment that we must say that your solution has potential.
- 4 – Reassure
This is where it all happens. Indeed, this is where your target can project themselves. It is also at this moment that your argument will adapt because you must not insist on the same things. A consumer will want to perceive the advantages he has of consuming your offer while an investor wants to obtain the economic viability of the project with indicators such as the selling price, the potential margin, the future prospects or any other resources (your company if it already exists, your teams…)
- 5 – Conclude with flying colors
Like your hook, the fall of your pitch will require special attention . It should recall the key idea of your project and its benefits. Then, ideally, it should open to the rest of the project to show that your project has been designed for a more or less near future.
The need to support his words
In order to make your project realistic and achievable, you need to back up your claims with tangible evidence . The latter are all the more convincing when they are proposed by a neutral actor.
What if a Junior-Enterprise allowed you to obtain your fundraising ?
Being independent players, the Junior-Enterprises are able to provide certified proof which will be able to participate in obtaining your financing. ESCadrille Toulouse Junior Conseil carries out various services, in particular market studies to identify the potential of your project and business plans attesting to financial viability .
Pitching with ESCadrille!