Use The Pitch presentation structure to convince someone that your idea is the best one for solving their problem

1. Problem
You start your pitch by outlining the problem that you are solving. Illustrate this by telling a short story that shows how big the problem is for your target audience.

2. A - Solution
Explain to the audience step by step how you are solving the problem. Link your explanation to the problem. Explain to the audience HOW it works. HOW are you solving the problem?
If there is no explanation and you just say the problem is solved, you have not helped anyone. Instead, your solution becomes a black box of magic.

B - The nice to haves/ extras
After you have explained the main Idea, you can tell what extra benefits your product/idea/solution has. For example if they come in different colors, if it is made from non-toxic material and if it is fair trade. It is important to separate the main solution from the extras! These often get mixed up.

3. Why you / trust
The next chapter you focus on convincing the audience why you are the one to develop this solution further or bring this solution to the market or company. Why should the audience trust you/your team. It is experience that creates trust. So it is time to show the audience what your experience on the matter is.

Another way to create trust is to show user experience. If you have had people use your solution it is good to have them talk about how good it was. recommendations from former users really work in creating trust.

4. Your need
What do you need from the audience to develop the solution further? What are your goals and what do you need to reach these goals?

5. Summarise
This is your punchline, the one sentence that reminds the audience what we were talking about. Think of this as the “paperclip” – it is the one thing that holds everything together.

6. Call to action
Invite your audience to join you. What can the audience do directly after your presentation if they are interested in helping/joining you?
It can be as simple as opening up a Q&A, or asking them to come and meet you afterwards. You could offer them a discount or a free trial version. I could say that I have a paperclip for everybody here and ask that they come and get it. In exchange I would like to have their feedback about the product by email...

The call to action is important because it gives the audience the opportunity to act. You have finished your part; now it is time for them to become active.