Learn how to perfectly pitch online with these tips
In the era of COVID-19, how we do business has changed for the foreseeable future. Given the uncertainty of tomorrow, attracting new business has never mattered more (or been harder) for many businesses.
Stuck inside and working from home, we’re all very comfortable with virtual meetings (or, at least, used to them). Whether it’s Zoom, Google Hangouts, Microsoft Teams or whatever trendy new platform you may be trying, businesses and salespeople have been forced to drastically change the manner in which they pitch new business.
So, how do you effectively run a virtual sales meeting that gets your key selling points across without your potential clients clicking into other windows or checking email while you speak?
Persuaders Founder, Jacqui O’Brien, has three super easy and practical tips to nail your next virtual pitch presentation:
#1 Revisit Your Existing Pitch Presentation
Revising your existing pitch for maximum effectiveness in an online environment is a must. This could mean adding memorable stories, using tighter sentences or cutting slides out completely.
Things you can do today:
- Include a slide with photos of the team instead of introducing everyone individually on the call. This will save time and the awkwardness of virtual introductions.
- Number slides in case you need to guide clients through on their own computers. If you’re happy to share the files with them, send a copy just before the meeting starts. This can help you if there are lags or other tech issues.
- Adapt your branding to only use system fonts (Times New Roman, Helvetica, and Courier) as it will reduce the risk of display issues. Custom fonts look lovely, but they can cause some major formatting issues if the person on the other end doesn’t have them installed!
- Spread out your slide content across slides to avoid anything being too text heavy. Frankly, you should already be doing that. Text heavy slides are so 1995. Plus, spacing it out allows you to maximise your use of visuals, which attract more attention and are proven to be 55% more effective than words alone.
#2 Stand Up
Even the most experienced and confident presenters have found the shift to virtual difficult. As if the technical and logistical issues don’t make it painful enough (if I had a dollar for every time someone said ‘Can you hear me?’ or ‘whoops! You’re frozen’…).
Beyond that, one of the biggest challenges for professionals and all levels has been how to exude charisma and demonstrate authority when you’re not directly in front of the audience.
The best thing to do: Stand up!
When you’re at home, you’re comfortable and being in that environment can actually change how you interact, often in subtle ways. Do your best to avoid sitting down and make sure you dress as you would for an in-person meeting (the whole outfit, not just the top).
By giving a presentation while standing up, you can ensure professional delivery and achieve authority as a presenter. Physiologically speaking, it can also help you feel more confident, and that authority will shine through.
Standing up also taps into the full range of body language that is constrained or restricted when sitting down – encouraging the use of hand motions and vocal variety that will keep your audience engaged.
#3 Leverage Video Call Recordings
Sometimes, important stakeholders who are invited to your pitch presentation aren’t able to attend, or want to refer back to your presentation later. When you give an in-person pitch presentation, it’s not common to have the session filmed.
As a result, many salespeople find themselves delivering the same presentation multiple times or relying on others to share information with their colleagues. However, recording video calls is commonplace and can be leveraged to your advantage.
Once the presentation is done, you can send the recording in a follow-up email to stakeholders that attended, to help them reflect on the questions answered and the discussions that happened during the pitch session. It’s also beneficial to those who were unable to attend the presentation, as they can watch in their own time.
Just make sure you ask for permission from the audience first and explain why you’d like to record.
In addition to the recording, you can send other digital documents like the slide pitch deck, links to marketing content, or any other assets you think will seal the deal. Make sure to think about what they really need. Don’t overwhelm anyone with too much information! #contentoverloadisreal
Looking for a little more help with your next pitch?
We got you – get in touch with our team for help with pitch strategy, design and/or delivery.