five disastrous moves that will botch your pitch
DESCRIPTION
Most of us have something to pitch--your startup to VCs, yourself for a new job, or your product to customers. In any situation, one rule applies: The better the pitch, the better the results. Here are five rookie mistakes that will sink even the best ideas. This is a stylization of an artile by Josh LinknerTRANSCRIPT
Most of us have something to pitch
You may be pitching your startup to a VC to secure funding
Or perhaps you’re pitching your product or service to
potential customers
Whether you are pitching your case
to a jury
your hypothesis for a research grant
yourself for a new job
or your best friend for a
date with that cute guy
a simple rule applies
The better the pitch,
the better the results
REMEMBER
In this highly competitive environment
a strong pitch can be the difference-maker between
securing millions in funding and completely
missing the mark
“
There are
many obvious cliché moves
a firm handshake
communicate with passion
make strong
eye contact
AND
try to relate with
your audience
good pitch
Yet there are approaches that
constantly sabotage an otherwise
To significantly
improve your batting average
avoid these disaster moves when pitching
just about anything
THE GREAT GATSBY
Grandiose braggarts may
entertain at cocktail parties
but they rarely win the battle of the pitch
Keep it authentic and real
Your startup with 11 beta customers isn’t a billion-dollar company
just yet !
Think
But Stay
THE FACT LEAP
Anyone who is being pitched has turned on their highly developed BS detector to full tilt
We are questioning everything you say and trying to poke holes in your story
“
So the minute you exaggerate a stat, make an outrageous claim, or state a fact that can be challenged, your credibility crumbles
“
THE OVERSELL
If you make a strong point once
It resonates
If you feel the need to make the same point several times you end up diluting the power of the message
If you keep pushing a point, you transform before our eyes from a
passionate world-changer to a used-car salesperson or infomercial
pitchman
If what you are pitching is that special, you don’t need to oversell it
THE S.A.T.
When responding to a question, just answer it directly!
If you tell a four-minute story that includes 73 data points, the listener feels like they are taking a college-
entrance exam in which they need to sift through all the irrelevant stuff in
order to get the answer
This does not help you shine or get your message heard
THE RUN-ON SENTENCE
One of my pet peeves is listening to someone drone on for a 45-minute monologue
“
In your big moment, your instinct is to
communicate everything you know, the entire
history of your idea, and endless
amusing anecdotes
Avoid this Urge
Your pitch will be 100 times more powerful if you
can make it
concise
Make
every word count
Always
Remember
Hone your pitch to stand out from the hapless masses that continue to
fall into the same traps
you’ll land the job
get the girl
win the capital
seize your full potential
Credits
Content by Josh Linkner
5 Disastrous Moves That Will Botch Your Pitch
Source of Content http://www.fastcompany.com/1799088/5-
disaster-moves-to-botch-your-pitch
