How to Pitch

Posted on 4/28/2023, 5:34:45 PM

Pitching to stakeholders can be a crucial moment for a product manager. Whether it's pitching to your boss, investors, or other key stakeholders, it's important to craft a compelling pitch that effectively communicates your idea and its potential value. Here are some more detailed tips and examples for how to pitch to stakeholders:

Understand your audience.

Before you start preparing your pitch, take the time to understand your audience. Who are they, what do they care about, and what are their goals? Tailor your pitch to address their specific concerns and interests.

For example, if you're pitching to investors, they may be primarily interested in the potential return on investment (ROI) of your idea. In this case, you should focus on the financial benefits of your proposal, such as projected revenue growth or cost savings.

Define the problem.

Start your pitch by clearly defining the problem your idea or proposal solves. Explain why this problem is important, who is affected by it, and what the current solutions or alternatives are.

For example, if you're pitching a new feature for your company's app, you might start by explaining that users have been experiencing frustration with the current checkout process, resulting in abandoned shopping carts and lost revenue.

Offer a unique solution.

Once you've defined the problem, present your idea or proposal as a unique solution to that problem. Explain how it works, how it addresses the key pain points, and what makes it different from existing solutions or alternatives.

For example, if you're proposing a new checkout process for the app, you might explain how it simplifies the process and reduces the number of steps required to complete a purchase. You could also highlight any unique features that set it apart from competitors' checkout processes.

Highlight the benefits.

Make sure to highlight the benefits of your idea or proposal. Explain how it adds value, saves time or money, improves efficiency, or meets other key goals or objectives. Use data and examples to support your claims.

For example, if you're pitching the new checkout process, you might explain how it can increase conversion rates and reduce shopping cart abandonment, resulting in increased revenue for the company. You could also provide data from similar companies that have implemented similar checkout processes and experienced success.

Address potential concerns.

Anticipate potential concerns or objections from your audience and address them upfront. Show that you've considered different perspectives and provide evidence or reasoning to support your claims.

For example, if your boss expresses concerns about the development timeline for the new feature, you could explain how you've already begun development and have a plan in place to meet the deadline. You could also provide data on the potential ROI of the feature to show that the investment is worth the time and resources required.

Use visuals.

Visual aids can be powerful tools for communicating complex ideas or data. Use graphs, charts, diagrams, or other visuals to help illustrate your point and make your pitch more engaging.

For example, you could create a mockup of the new checkout process to demonstrate how it works and highlight its key features. You could also provide a graph showing the projected revenue growth resulting from the new feature.

Practice and prepare.

Practice your pitch multiple times before presenting it to stakeholders. Rehearse your delivery, anticipate questions, and make sure you can effectively communicate your idea or proposal in a clear and concise manner.

For example, you could practice your pitch in front of a trusted colleague or mentor and ask for their feedback. You could also anticipate potential questions and prepare responses to ensure that you're able to address any concerns or objections.

Follow up.

After your pitch, follow up with stakeholders to answer any additional questions or provide more information. Show that you're committed to the success of your idea or proposal and open to feedback and suggestions.

For example, if an investor expresses interest in your idea but has concerns about the market size or competition, you could follow up with additional research or data to address their concerns. You could also offer to schedule a follow-up meeting to discuss the idea further or to provide updates on progress.

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In conclusion, pitching to stakeholders can be a nerve-wracking experience, but by following these tips and examples, you can increase your chances of success. Remember to understand your audience, define the problem, offer a unique solution, highlight the benefits, address potential concerns, use visuals, practice and prepare, and follow up. By doing so, you can effectively communicate your idea or proposal and gain the support you need to bring it to fruition. Good luck!