How to Pitch. Part One.

Ever wonder just how to pitch your concept, idea, product or service? You see people pretty much calling out to you directly to sell them, but you really have no idea how? Or you pitch like mad, but you get nowhere?

This begins a series on pitching. A "3.3" series. Three points, three posts.

1. Pitch on topic. Don't waste people's time. They're busy enough, they don't need additional emails and various other correspondence that are off base and off topic. And they'll black list you. And they'll tell their friends. Trust me.

2. K.I.S.S. Yes, it should go without saying, except it never does. Keep It Simple Stupid. End of story. Don't drone on and on. Save that for later! Write a nice and precise paragraph on why your concept/idea/product is bang on with what they're looking for. Or with what they don't know they're looking for yet! A few sentences on what your brainwave is. A few sentences on why they need it, or better yet, why they will WANT it and why they must HAVE it.

3. Talk the Talk. Speak their language. Don't go overboard with industry acronyms and jargon, that's just plain ridiculous. But do get to know them before pitching. Know their market. Know what they're after, or, what they don't know they're after yet. I was pitching a hot PR firm out of LA not long ago. I used totally different languaging than when I pitch corporations. More relaxed. More funky. More targeted. And it worked. It was a smashing success.

Coming up next in the series: Jump in, the water's fine!

Check back regularly for updates and new pointers. Feel free to leave comments with ideas and suggestions. What's worked for you? What hasn't worked for you? Fill me in!