Four ways to pitch better than an elevator speech: distill your idea to one word, use rhyme for persuasiveness, ask a question instead of declaring, or tell it as a story with Pixar's narrative structure. Each technique makes your pitch stick.
If you want to grab attention and enlist an ally, try one of these 4 pitch techniques instead. Technique number 1: the one-word pitch. Think of a brand like Google. What comes to mind? Search. Pick one word that captures the essence of your message. When people think of it, they think of you. When people think of you, they think of this word. Second technique: the rhyming pitch. Want people to remember you? Rhyme it. Science shows that rhyming phrases often are more believable and persuasive because our brains process them easier. Third technique: the question pitch. Instead of making a statement, ask a question. When facts are on your side, questions engage and persuade better than statements. And finally, number 4, the Pixar pitch. Structure your pitch like a story. Once upon a time, every day, one day, because of that, until finally. This narrative format pulls people in and makes your pitch feel effortless. Next time you pitch, ditch the robotic elevator speech. Use these techniques to grab attention, spark interest, and close the deal.
