A sales pitch can make or break a deal - which is why you must ensure yours are as effective as they can be.
In this blog, we’ll show you how to craft irresistible sales pitches that leave jaws dropping, wallets opening, and deals sealed with a smile 🙂
Scroll 👇 to master the art of the effective sales pitch!
What is a sales pitch?
A sales pitch is a persuasive presentation or communication; it aims to convince potential customers to buy a product, service, or idea.
It’s an essential tool for B2B sales professionals and businesses to communicate the value and benefits of their offerings and ultimately drive sales.
Why are sales pitches important?
They capture attention
A well-crafted sales pitch must capture the attention of your target audience. It should grab their interest and compel them to listen to what you have to say.
In a competitive marketplace, a strong sales pitch helps you stand out from the crowd and pique your prospects’ curiosity.
They communicate value
A sales pitch allows you to effectively communicate your product or service’s unique value/benefits. It highlights how your offering solves a problem, addresses a need, or fulfils a desire.
By clearly articulating the value proposition, you’ll differentiate yourself from your competitors and make a compelling case for why your audience should choose you.
They build trust and credibility
An effective pitch builds trust and credibility with your audience. It showcases your expertise, knowledge, and understanding of their needs and pain points.
By presenting a well-researched and tailored pitch, you demonstrate that you’re a reliable and trustworthy source of solutions.
They overcome objections
One of the key purposes of a sales pitch is to address potential objections that your audience may have. By anticipating and addressing these objections, you’ll alleviate concerns and build confidence in your offering.
This removes barriers that might prevent your prospects from making a purchase decision.
They guide the buying process
A sales pitch serves as a guide throughout the buying process. It educates buyers about your offering, presents compelling reasons to take action, and helps them understand how your product or service can meet their needs.
A well-structured sales pitch provides the information and motivation to move prospects closer to buying decisions.
They maximise sales opportunities
With an effective sales pitch, you can maximise sales opportunities by delivering a persuasive message that resonates with your audience.
By clearly communicating the benefits and value of your offering, you increase the likelihood of converting leads into customers and closing deals.
They’re versatile and adaptable
A sales pitch can be adapted to different situations, whether it’s a face-to-face meeting, a phone call, an email, or a presentation. It provides a framework that you can customise based on the audience, context, and medium of communication.
This adaptability allows you to tailor your message to different individuals and address their needs and preferences.
Sales pitch vs presentation: what’s the difference?
Sales pitches and presentations involve conveying information to an audience, but the two have some key differences.
A sales pitch is a focused and persuasive message delivered to prospects, with the goal of selling a product or service. Its objective is to convince the audience to take an action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a service, or entering into a business agreement.
A presentation, on the other hand, is a broader communication tool used to convey information, ideas, or concepts to an audience. Presentations can serve many purposes aside from getting an audience to take action, such as informing, educating, or entertaining.
When creating a presentation, using a slideshow template to ensure a professional and effective delivery can be helpful.
How to create an effective sales pitch
Developing a successful sales pitch requires careful planning.
Here are some steps to help you create a compelling sales pitch 👇
1. Understand your audience
Take the time to identify and research your ideal customer. Determine their needs, pain points, and preferences.
You must tailor your pitch to address their concerns and show how your product or service can solve the problems keeping them up at night.
Aaron Ross, sales growth coach, said this about understanding your audience:
“As humans, we keep going back to ‘I’m an abc, and my company does this, and I do xyz’.”
“But what we should be focusing on as salespeople is how we translate this message into something that is meaningful to someone else.”
In other words, a good sales pitch doesn’t focus on the seller; it focuses on the individual buyer.
2. Define your objective
Clearly define the purpose of your sales pitch. Is it to generate leads, close a sale, or secure a partnership?
Having a goal in mind will help you structure your pitch and focus on the most relevant points.
3. Craft a compelling opening
The best sales pitches grab the audience’s attention from the start!
Begin with a powerful opening statement or a thought-provoking question that either:
- Addresses a prospect’s pain point.
- Captures their interest.
Don’t be vague! Make it clear why they should continue listening to your pitch.
4. Clearly communicate your value proposition
Articulate the unique value and benefits your product or service offers. Explain how it solves a problem or will improve your prospects’ lives.
Top tip:
Use real-world examples and case studies to demonstrate the positive outcomes you talk about.
5. Keep it concise and focused
A sales pitch should be succinct and to the point. Never overwhelm your buyers with excessive information or technical jargon!
Instead, focus on the key features, benefits, and results that matter most to your audience.
Aaron Ross shared his advice:
“In a perfect world, a sales pitch sounds simple and human.”
“No one cares if you have the most scalable product or that you’re a software company. Tell them about the stuff that impacts them.”
6. Use storytelling techniques
A winning sales pitch isn’t just a list of benefits and features; it should tell a story about your company, your brand and why a partnership with your prospect’s organisation makes sense.
Bringing storytelling techniques into your pitch will make it more engaging and relatable - here’s how to do it 👇
Share success stories, customer testimonials, or personal experiences that illustrate your product’s value and impact. You want to connect emotionally with your audience - remember in SaaS sales, people still buy from people!
7. Address objections proactively
Anticipate potential objections and address them proactively in your pitch. Show that you understand any concerns raised and provide clear and compelling responses.
This demonstrates that you’ve thought through your buyers’ hesitations and have solutions at the ready.
8. Use visuals and demonstrations
Whenever possible, use visual aids, such as slides or product demonstrations; these will enhance your pitch.
Visuals can make complex information easier to understand and help your audience imagine how your product will work for them.
9. Craft a compelling closing
Just as important as having a compelling opening is having a compelling close!
Our advice is to end your pitch with a strong call to action. Clearly communicate the next steps you want your audience to take, whether it’s scheduling a meeting, making a purchase, or signing up for a trial.
10. Practice and refine
Practice your sales pitch to ensure you deliver it confidently and smoothly. Seek feedback from colleagues or mentors and make the necessary refinements.
How long should a sales pitch be?
A sales pitch’s ideal length depends on the context, audience and method of communication.
However, we advise you to keep your sales pitch concise. You want to maintain your audience’s attention and deliver your key messages in a short time frame.
Here are some other guidelines for the length of a sales pitch 👇
Elevator pitch
An elevator pitch is a brief overview of your product, service, or idea. It’s called an elevator pitch because it should be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator!
It typically ranges from 30 seconds to 2 minutes in length.
In-person presentations
If you have a dedicated time slot for a sales presentation, such as in a meeting or at a conference, it’s best to aim for a length of around 10 to 20 minutes.
This gives you enough time to engage your audience without overwhelming them with excessive details.
Phone or virtual pitches
When delivering a sales pitch over the phone or in a virtual meeting, you need to be mindful of your audience’s attention span. Zoom brain is a real thing!
Aim for a pitch length of around 5 to 10 minutes. Focus on your product’s most impactful/relevant aspects.
Written pitches
For written sales pitches, such as emails or proposals, we recommend keeping them short and to the point. Aim for a length of one to two pages or a few paragraphs, depending on your product’s complexity.
What are the stages of a sales pitch?
A well-structured sales pitch follows these nine stages 👇
1. Opening
Having a great opening is crucial for grabbing your prospects’ attention!
Start with a compelling hook, such as:
- A thought-provoking question.
- A startling statistic.
- An intriguing statement.
Your goal is to engage your audience right from the start and make them want to hear more.
2. Introduction
After capturing their attention, introduce yourself, your company, and your role.
Establish credibility and expertise by highlighting your relevant experience, achievements, or industry recognition. Make a personal connection by finding common ground or demonstrating your understanding of their needs.
3. Value proposition
In this stage, clearly state your product’s unique value and benefits. Try the following:
- Explain how your product solves the problems plaguing your audience.
- Highlight the key features, advantages, and outcomes that set your offering apart from competitors.
- Use specific examples or case studies to demonstrate the value in action.
4. Address pain points
Show your understanding of your audience’s pain points and challenges. Discuss the problems they face and explain how your offering alleviates those issues.
By addressing their pain points directly, you demonstrate empathy and establish yourself as a valuable solution provider.
5. Differentiation
In this stage, you need to show how your product or service differs from the competition.
Highlight what makes your offering unique; this could be something like proprietary technology, superior usability, a unique approach, or exceptional customer service.
Clearly express the advantages your audience will gain from signing up with you.
6. Social proof
This is an extremely powerful way to build trust. If you’ve got testimonials or case studies from satisfied customers, share them!
Social proof validates your claims and creates confidence in your prospects that your product or service delivers results.
Top tip:
Use real-world examples that are relatable to the prospect’s situation or industry.
7. Call to action
We’re getting close to the end of your sales pitch now!
In this stage, state the next steps you want your audience to take.
Whether it’s booking a meeting, signing up for a trial, making a purchase, or moving forward with a partnership, you must provide a clear and compelling call to action.
Top tip:
Creating a sense of urgency or scarcity can motivate people to take prompt action.
8. Closing
It’s time for the grand finale!
End your sales pitch with a strong and memorable conclusion. Follow these steps:
- Summarise the key points of your pitch and restate the value proposition.
- Reinforce the benefits your audience will gain by choosing your offering.
- Express your enthusiasm and confidence in helping them achieve their goals.
These phrases can be particularly effective in closing off a sales pitch 👇
- “Based on what we’ve discussed, I believe this solution perfectly aligns with your needs and goals.”
- “Imagine the positive impact this will have on your business.”
- “I can offer you a special deal if you commit today.”
- “Our existing customers have achieved remarkable results with our solution.”
- “I understand your concerns, and here’s how we can address them.”
- “Here are some steps we can take to move forward.”
- “I’m confident this is the right choice for you.”
- “I’m here to support you every step of the way.”
9. Follow-up
The final stage is about providing reassurance for the future.
Tell your prospect you’re willing to answer any additional questions or handle any urgent objections. Don’t forget to provide them with your contact details or any resources that’ll help them decide.
And that’s it! You reached the end of your sales pitch.
How to close a sales pitch
The closing stage is the most important part of any sales pitch, so here are some more strategies to help you close 👇
Ask for the sale
Seems obvious but many sales reps forget to do this! All you need to do is:
Clearly and confidently ask the prospect if they’re ready to move forward with the purchase.
Offer multiple options
Presenting the prospect with multiple options can increase the likelihood of closing a sale. You can try offering some of the following:
- Bespoke packages.
- Unique pricing.
- Variations of your product or service that cater to different needs and budgets.
This empowers the prospect to choose an option that best suits their requirements.
Address any remaining concerns
If the prospect still has concerns or objections, address them directly and provide additional information or clarification. Reiterate your product’s benefits and especially focus on ROI.
Addressing concerns head-on removes barriers and creates a more favourable environment to close the sale.
Create a sense of urgency
Instil a sense of urgency in the prospect by highlighting time-limited offers, exclusive deals, or upcoming deadlines. Communicate the potential benefits or consequences of making a timely decision.
By creating a sense of urgency, you encourage the prospect to take action and make a decision sooner rather than later.
Offer trial periods or guarantees
This is a good tactic to win over commitment-phobes!
Tell the prospect that they can try your product or service risk-free, and if they’re unsatisfied, they have the option to cancel or get a refund.
This reduces the perceived risk and encourages the prospect to move forward with the purchase.
Offer incentives or bonuses
Sweeten the deal by offering additional incentives or bonuses for making a purchase. You could propose:
- A limited-time discount.
- A free upgrade.
- Exclusive access to additional resources or services.
These incentives can create a sense of added value and provide an extra push for the prospect to sign up.
Secure commitment for the next steps
Even if the prospect isn’t ready to make an immediate purchase, secure commitment for the next steps in the sales process.
This could involve:
- Scheduling a follow-up meeting
- Setting a timeline to provide more information.
- Arranging a product demonstration.
Keeping the sales process moving forward maintains momentum and increases the likelihood of eventual closure.
How to improve your sales pitching skills
Improving your sales pitching skills is an ongoing process that involves practice, self-reflection, and continuous learning.
Here are some tips to help you enhance your sales pitch efforts 👇
Study successful sales pitches
Analyse and study successful sales pitches from experienced professionals or companies in your industry. Observe their techniques, storytelling methods, use of language, and overall structure.
Learn from their examples and adopt their ideas to improve your own pitch.
Know your product/service inside out
Develop a deep understanding of your product or service, its features, benefits, and unique selling points.
Be knowledgeable about how it solves customer problems and improves their lives. The more you know about your offering, the more confidently and convincingly you’ll present it to others.
Practice and rehearse
Regularly practice your sales pitch to improve your delivery and refine your message. Try some or all of these:
- Practice in front of a mirror.
- Record yourself delivering your pitch.
- Role-play with a colleague.
Focus on your tone of voice, body language, and the clarity of your message.
Seek feedback
Ask for feedback from mentors, colleagues, or peers. Seek their opinions on your delivery, content and effectiveness in persuading others.
Take on board their suggestions and then implement the necessary improvements.
Aaron Ross follows this process for gathering feedback 👇
“Choose someone (ideally several!) who don’t understand your business or your product. Pitch to them and afterwards ask them these questions…”
- What stood out to them from your pitch?
- What do they think your business is/does?
- Where does it fit in the market/who is it for?
- What information would they need before purchasing?
- What parts perked up their ears, and in what parts did you lose their attention?
- Ultimately, was it compelling?
Learn from rejections
Don’t be discouraged by rejections or unsuccessful pitches. Even elite salespeople occasionally botch a sales pitch! Instead, view them as opportunities to learn and grow.
After the pitch is over, take stock. Reflect on what you could’ve done differently or better. List the objections or concerns your prospects raised. Then, develop messaging to handle them better in future.
Stay updated with industry trends
Modern selling is an ever-changing landscape! Keep yourself informed about industry trends, market changes, and customer needs.
Follow relevant people/news sources on social media or subscribe to industry newsletters. These will keep you updated about your industry’s challenges and competitive landscape.
Attend sales training or workshops
Participate in sales training programs, workshops, or seminars that focus on improving sales pitch skills.
These opportunities can provide you with valuable insights, techniques, and tools to enhance your sales abilities. Networking with other sales pros can also offer new perspectives and best practices.
Read books and sales resources
Books, articles, blogs, and podcasts are all great places to discover new sales techniques. Seek out resources from renowned sales experts or recommendations from your network.
Check out Cognism’s list of the best sales podcasts.
What are the common mistakes to avoid in a sales pitch?
When delivering a sales pitch, it’s vital to be aware of common mistakes that can turn your prospects away.
Here are some common mistakes to avoid 👇
- Focusing too much on features, not benefits - don’t list your product’s features; instead, explain the benefits they provide.
- Going into too much detail - avoid information overload by not giving your prospects too much! Only focus on the things that matter to your audience.
- Neglecting to research your audience - failing to investigate your prospects, their pain points and their industry can lead to a generic pitch that falls flat.
- Lack of clarity - don’t use jargon or technical terms that may confuse your audience. Use simple and concise language that’ll convey your message effectively.
- Poor storytelling or lack of engagement - provide an overarching narrative to your pitch, but don’t be long-winded or waffly.
- Failing to address objections - failure to handle sales objections can leave doubts in your prospects’ minds and makes it difficult for them to fully buy into your brand.
- Lack of personalisation - generic pitches that don’t address your buyers’ needs or challenges can come across as impersonal and less convincing.
- Lack of enthusiasm or confidence - never deliver your pitch in a monotone or disinterested manner. Show genuine excitement for your product or service!
- Ignoring non-verbal cues - pay attention to the non-verbal cues your audience displays during your pitch. Lack of eye contact, yawning, or talking among themselves indicates a loss of engagement.
- Neglecting to follow up - failing to do so can give the impression you’re not committed or interested.
Aaron Ross told us about the common mistake he often sees in sales pitches:
“A lot of people fall into the trap of making their pitches sound too elaborate and complicated in an attempt to make themselves sound smart.”
“But that actually goes against what you’re trying to do, which is to allow understanding. This isn’t about puffing out your chest.”
“A sexy, fancy or grandiose message that doesn’t click with people is useless.”
Examples of successful sales pitches
These three sales pitches were wildly successful in garnering attention 👇
Apple’s iPhone Launch Presentation
Apple is known for its striking product launches, and the unveiling of the original iPhone in 2007 is a prime example.
Steve Jobs, the late co-founder of Apple, introduced the iPhone with a compelling pitch that highlighted its revolutionary features, such as the multi-touch screen, internet capabilities, and integration of music, phone, and internet functions.
Jobs’ presentation emphasised the iPhone’s unique benefits and showcased its user-friendly interface, captivating the audience and generating massive interest and sales.
Dollar Shave Club’s Launch Video
Dollar Shave Club’s launch video in 2012 became a viral sensation, attracting millions of views and propelling the company’s growth.
The video featured the company’s CEO, Michael Dubin, delivering a humorous and engaging pitch that highlighted the convenience and affordability of their subscription-based razor service.
The video’s witty script, combined with Dubin’s charismatic delivery, effectively conveyed Dollar Shave Club’s value prop and resonated with viewers.
Slack’s Product Launch
Slack, a popular team communication tool, delivered a successful sales pitch during its product launch.
The presentation emphasised the pain points of traditional workplace communication and showcased how Slack streamlines collaboration, boosts productivity, and improves team dynamics. It captured the attention of professionals seeking efficient communication solutions.
Sales pitches: the last word
We’ll leave the last word on sales pitches to Aaron Ross:
“Your sales pitch is never done. It’s a constant evolution.”
“And they do take time to get right. A famous French philosopher once wrote: I would have written a shorter letter, but I did not have the time.”
“And that’s because it takes time to craft the perfect concise message. Being clear is hard.”
