Whether you’re a business owner or employee, chances are at some point you will have attended a networking event.
And there’s one part of the meeting that strikes fear into the heart of attendees…
The 60-second pitch.
When you do it right, a 60-second pitch will leave a lasting impression on everyone in the room. They will have absolute certainty over what you do, who you work with, and most importantly – how you help your clients or customers.
Due to nerves, many people tend to crash and burn during their 60-second pitch. But it doesn’t need to be this way.
In this blog, I will cover the exact steps you need to follow to create an engaging and memorable 60-second pitch – by splitting it into three distinct parts.
Step #1 – The Last 20 Seconds
It might seem counterproductive, but one of the key secrets of a great 60-second pitch is to start with the end in mind.
Specifically, your Call-to-Action – which should take up the final 10-20 seconds of your pitch.
Before you even think about the content of your pitch, you need to ask yourself two questions:
- What product or service do I want people to engage with after this event?
- What action do I need them to take?
Often, this will depend on who is in the room, so be strategic with your choices.
Once you understand what you want to get out of your pitch, you can start putting together the content that your audience will resonate with most.
Remember: what is said last, lasts with your audience. So, choose the right message to end your pitch most effectively.
Step #2 - The First 20 Seconds
Now you understand your end destination, it’s time to go back to the start and create a clear path to get there.
You need to make a great first impression within seconds to keep everyone’s attention. Typically, you’ll notice a lot of people start by saying “My name is…” – which isn’t exactly the most engaging opening.
Instead, here are three alternative ways to start your 60-second pitch:
1. Begin with a hook to reel people in. The word “imagine” is a great one to try out, for example, if you are a life coach, you could say: “Imagine you could live a life without stress and worry.”
2. Make a bold statement: Say something that is going to challenge people’s beliefs or goes against the traditional viewpoint…as long as it’s relevant to your business!
3. Share a fact or statistic: I use this one in my own pitches, sharing that the #1 fear of adults worldwide is Glossophobia – the fear of public speaking.
The ultimate goal is to create the context for where your pitch is going and generate curiosity to learn more.
Once you’ve done this and you have people’s attention, THEN you can introduce yourself.
One big ‘No’ in your first 20 seconds. Don’t start your pitch by telling your audience that you hate public speaking, or talking about how nervous you are.
Not only is this a waste of time, but you are convincing yourself that the pitch is going to go badly before it’s even started and you’re trying to make your audience lower their expectations.
Start your pitch with enthusiasm and confidence. Your audience will be much more engaged as a result, and you’ll feel much better about your performance too!
Step #3 – The Middle 20 Seconds
The middle section of your 60-second pitch is the meat.
This is where you build on the intrigue with the concrete information your audience needs so they are compelled to follow the action you will lay out in the final section of your pitch.
Instead of talking about your profession and what you do in technical terms, the best way to illustrate the work you do and the benefits it has is to share a story.
This can take many forms, including:
- A client testimonial
- A client’s journey
- Your own story
No matter which avenue you choose, describe the story in as much detail as you can without rushing. I know you only have around 20 seconds but get across the key information: the problem, the solution, and the transformation.
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There you have it – the secrets of a great 60-second pitch!
Ultimately, the key to delivering a compelling and engaging 60-second pitch comes from preparation. If you understand what you want to achieve in your minute and can describe what you do in a way that resonates with your audience, you are one step closer to blowing the room away.
If you would like to learn about successfully pitching your business in even more detail, you should check out my Webinar Library.
With over 25 different seminars centred around public speaking, this is your best opportunity to access the resources you need to become the great public speaker you were always destined to be – anytime, anywhere, on your own schedule.
New content is regularly added to the library, and recent topics have included:
- Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking
- The 5 Cs of Compelling Storytelling
- Improvise with Style
Think Netflix – but for public speaking!
You can find out more about how to access the Webinar Library on my website.