Negosentro| The Ultimate Guide to Pitching Your Idea to Investors |You’ve had an idea; now you simply need to pitch it to some investors or commissioners to make it happen. It can be hard to know what strategy to take: is it a laid back, easy-going pitch, or a serious, stern presentation?
Whichever is necessary, following a few basic principles will stand you in good stead for getting the result you want. Before planning your pitch, it is essential you understand the art of pitching and determine whether your presentation will be via email or as part of a conference meeting.
The art of pitching
Pitching is an art and takes both preparation and practice. Use a housemate, family member or even the mirror to perfect your gestures, intonation and speed of speech — if it is a spoken pitch. If it is a written pitch, create drafts and tweak them to suit the investor. If you have some form of business mentor or university tutor who can proofread it and provide you with feedback that is an added bonus.
Email pitching
An email pitch is a very different prospect to a conference pitch. Often, you will be sending emails blind — that is, not knowing whether the recipient will be interested or not — as you have been given their contact through networking or have found it on their LinkedIn profile, for example. This makes it a different proposition to standing in front of a group of investors or editors that you know have agreed to listen to you.
Get the subject line of your email spot on.It should not be boring and, if possible, you should promote a sense of urgency to encourage a response. Your emails should also be sent at targeted times; pitching right before the weekend, for example, is unlikely to stick.
Pitching at a conference
One of the essentials of pitching in person is ensuring you have all the necessary props and equipment to effectively sell your product or idea. If you need to rent a projector on a short-term basis to display your presentation, then look for solutions at smart.uk.com. If you need printouts or leaflets, always print more than you need in case you lose some or if more people turn upthan you expected.
Whether you are pitching a new TV show, an invention, or a story for a newspaper, you have to know your idea inside out. In comparison to email pitching, where you have time to think about your responses and get your facts in order, you will be put on the spot there and then when pitching in person. Predict questions and plan their answers, and most importantly, never lie or make a fact up on the spot.
Mentality and confidence
Much of pitching is down to mentality and confidence. Before walking into a room of potential investors or hitting send on a speculative email, many writers and entrepreneurs have the same thought: “Why are they going to care about this, or me?”
Sometimes, it can stop the email being sent or give the pitcher stage fright during their presentation. Take a moment to remember that you believe in your idea and that those you are pitching to should as well.
