VIRTUAL PITCHING IN A NUTSHELL. TOP TIPS.

  1. The principles are the same  but the execution is  more difficult     
  2. Zoom fatigue calls for more effort to connect with your audience by engaging in persuasive conversation rather than a lecture.  

 

3. Attention levels are low. Duration should be less than half that of real. Each speaker must talk more concisely , more clearly. Sound quality is often a problem. 

4. In absence of ‘meet and greet’ rapport moments, the vital first impressions count more. You never get a second chance to make a first impression.

5. The first glimpse of the team, the gallery faces, matters. They should look ‘present’, alert, likeable, radiating energy. And stay that way throughout. 

 6. Warm-up your audience by sending ‘overture’ email in advance, reminding of aim of meeting, duration and participants, enabling positive start on click to join.                                                                                                                                                                                                       7. Make sure all are well lit, similar scale on screen, no distracting backgrounds, agree ‘costumes’ for the performance. It’s showtime.                                                                                                                                8. Pitch leader role is more demanding, calls for constant ‘listening’  responding to unseen cues, and loss of interest while ‘orchestrating’ everyone in the meeting. 

9. Audience often distracted making a clear structure even more essential. Ensure your core promise or proposition, powerfully delivered, is argued with classic ‘rule of three’ supports. 

10. Visuals to be used sparingly and only as an essential aid, with minimum words or essential graphic. Hold on screen briefly. Smiling faces on screen are much more engaging than charts. 

11. Practise eye contact, looking at the camera, not your face, looking ‘through’ the camera, not down at notes, dismissing the viewer.

12. Pausing while presenting is vital. Pause…for thought. pause…to reflect, looking away from the camera, pause …for effect, pause … to appear and feel confident. ……. Pause.

13. On screen, as on stage, the way you talk, your expression, your voice, your body language have more impact than your words. Remember people act on emotion!                                                                                                                                                                         14. Give them something to remember you by. You must standout and avoid being just another fatiguing zoom event in a long day. This is a pitch, build it around an idea.                                                                                                                                                                                            15. And if you have no idea, tell a story. Nothing is as powerful as a story. Particularly for a more distracted audience, stories are memorable, make connections and tap into emotion.                                                                                                                                                                                                        16. Use a virtual preparation rehearsal to ensure all things technical work, to rehearse the hosting, switching screens and introducing visuals.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              17. A performance rehearsal is essential. Ask a viewer to judge how you come across as a team. Clear, persuasive, pausing, reassuring and  likeable? Did you seem to be hungry! 

    18.  Attention levels always drop off, especially when virtual. Aim to captivate with your promise and your passion in first five minutes. Win at the start!  

For a reminder of the principles read my book: 

“It’s Not What You Say, It’s The Way You Say It!”