What makes an amazing elevator pitch? Recently, I attended one of those MeetUp entrepreneur events in the East End of London. The reception area was overflowing with budding entrepreneurs and wantrapreneurs, an orchestra of voices all vying to elevator pitch and tell amid the clatter of glasses. Scanning the room, I noticed a pair of tall guys in conversation. One spoke excitedly, cradling an iPad on his arm like a puppy and pushing up his glasses every so often. His conversation partner, … [Read more...]
How NOT to pitch investors
How NOT to pitch investors Here's a Jimmy Kimmel Shark Tank comedy sketch, on how not to pitch investors, we can learn a lot from because I've seen this happen for real. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opNiKBP7hQo Two biggest mistakes 1. Company valuation based on delusion With no customers, how can investors put a value on your company? I came across a startup who told me their company was worth £20million. Only later I realised they didn't have a paying customer. How on earth can you … [Read more...]
How to persuade prospects to meet with you without pitching them
When you make a statement, people receive it passively. However when you ask a question, people are compelled to answer it. When you ask a question, it requires the recipient to make a degree of effort to process the content and then respond. And when people come up with their own answer, they endorse the belief more than if you just out right told them. But asking questions requires a suspension of ego; that is, a shift from needing to be the smartest person in the room, and let me tell you … [Read more...]
Tips on crafting an effective sales pitch
In this Forbes article on 7 tips for crafting an effective sales pitch something caught my eye which I completely agree with. A sales pitch is such an antiquated term. If you pitch you're either going to get a yes or a no. A pitch typically conjures up the images of a one-way presentation, with the salesperson talking at the prospect. [...] If you are pitched at, you either swing to bat it way or duck to avoid it. A pitch suggests you're talking at someone, but what you actually need to do … [Read more...]
The biggest irony of sales pitches
If you look up the word pitch in the dictionary, it says to present or advertise especially in a high-pressure way; plug, promote; to attempt to persuade I came across this article that explains the importance of listening. Steve Yastrow, author of the book Ditch the Pitch, is quoted: To be a better persuader, you need to be an active listener and ask questions to determine what a person cares about right now. You should show that you care then craft your pitch around how you can help solve a … [Read more...]
