This recap blog was written by Laura Heyman of Green Apple Lane, a  Greater Arlington Chamber of Commerce member, as part of our Coaching Hour Series.

Perfecting Your Pitch

In this Coaching Hour, we focused on 30-second elevator pitches for BOB because it’s very different than networking functions with a one-on-one conversation; it can be intimidating, and preparation builds confidence.

Basically, a successful pitch boils down to:

• Who are you?
• What do you do?
• And most importantly, your call to action (what do you want)?

The main point we focused on today was to define everyone’s call to action – the rest of the pitch can be tailored around it.

Some common options:

• You want to expand your network/meet new people/join a committee/get involved
• You are directly seeking new business/customers (B2C or B2B)
• You are seeking donations of time or money (nonprofit)

Your pitch will be very different, depending on your type of of business and the outcome you’re aiming for: B2C, B2B, nonprofit, community outreach/events.

Tips:

• Practice, but try not to sound too formal or robotic
• In general, slow down, but especially don’t rush through your name and company name – be super clear
• Relax & keep it conversational
• Keep it short, with a clearly defined call to action
• Use common language everyone understands, not industry terms (assume no one has ever heard of you or your company and knows nothing about your industry)
• If you have a B2C business, please mention your location (cross streets, not address)
• Watch where others are holding the microphone for optimal volume and clarity
• ENUNCIATE
• Ask for help – I’m always happy to listen and provide feedback, we can schedule a call or zoom, just reach out at info@greenapplelane.com