A pitch is a short story with which you want to achieve a goal.
That short story may last 2 to 10 minutes and has a structure consisting of an introduction, the story, and a conclusion. In the introduction, you state who or what you are and what you want to offer. The story substantively outlines what you have to offer and what the benefits are. Do this with conviction. You provide information and, if desired, answer questions. The conclusion must be brief and memorable. It must, so to speak, stick in people’s minds.
Types of pitches
There are many types of pitches, all aimed at an individual, group of people, company, media, etc. In principle, all types of pitches have the same structure. After all, you shouldn’t bore the other party with lengthy stories. Several types of pitches are discussed below.
Sales pitch
Also known as a business pitch. This pitch should not last longer than 2 minutes. You need to hold the customer’s attention. The sales pitch is, after all, the start of a dialogue with the customer. This follows when you start asking the customer questions, allowing you to identify their needs and work towards a solution.
Investor pitch
If you are looking for investors, they will want to know more about your company. Within a timeframe of 3 to 10 minutes, you need to provide an overview of your company’s (financial) position and the investment opportunity for investors.
Media pitch
The short story is, of course, passed on orally. For your publicity activities, you seek contacts with
Influencers, journalists, bloggers, etc. It is crucial that you grab their attention within 30 seconds. Very good preparation, especially for the first 30 seconds, is extremely important.
Network pitch
If you are in contact with someone and they ask what kind of work you do, you have the opportunity to profile yourself with the so-called elevator pitch. It lasts no longer than 30 seconds, in which you include the most striking details. Afterwards, you can optionally hand over your business card.
Project pitch
For your project, you also need a short story tailored to the target audience. The pitch should not exceed 2 minutes. After that, you move on to answering questions. And if none are asked, you ensure that questions are asked yourself.
Job application pitch
You prepare for a job interview. You read up on the subject, look online, visit the site, etc. You are prepared for many questions. But just like the psychologist and the recruiter, they come up with a question you probably haven’t prepared for: tell me something about yourself. Prepare a monologue in which you profile yourself with personal traits, education, experiences, and competencies. And it shouldn’t last more than 2 minutes.
Video pitch
Making a video pitch is no longer unusual. It is wildly popular, and employers even ask for them during job interviews. It is not simply a matter of speaking for a few minutes. Pay close attention to your posture, the background, your choice of words, the content of the pitch, and its duration. You know that the first impression lasts the longest.
