5 types of business pitches and must-have slides

Creating a pitch deck has become an essential part of business, especially in the startup sector. Every entrepreneur or business person will likely have to deliver a pitch at some point, regardless of what type of business they're in. There are several types of business pitches to choose from, depending on your purpose, audience, method of delivery, and goals.

In this blog post, we will offer a guide to creating an effective business pitch and outline all of the key elements, including different types of pitches, best practices, and must-have slides.

What is a business pitch? 

A pitch is a concise and compelling presentation delivered to potential investors, partners, or customers to persuade them to support your business. The slides you use should outline key information about your product or service, including the main concept, market opportunity, competitive advantages, financial projections, and the team that will make it all happen. The goal is to generate interest and enthusiasm and to secure investment, partnerships, or customers.

Types of business pitches 

Before you begin creating your own business presentation, you'll need to identify:

• Who is the pitch intended for?

• What is the purpose of the pitch?

• Is the pitch happening face-to-face or remotely?

Once you have answered these questions, it will be easier to identify your pitch type.

 1. The investor pitch 

Most essential in the startup sector, an investor pitch occurs in the initial stage of raising money with a potential investor. Your slide deck should convey your business idea and persuade your investors to invest in your business. It should also include your business's value proposition, the revenue plan, and a financial breakdown.

 2. The elevator pitch 

As the name implies, an elevator pitch can be delivered within the duration of an elevator ride. It's a one-minute session to talk about your business, your product or service, and even your skill sets as an entrepreneur. This type of pitch must be concise, clear, and persuasive and include a compelling call to action.

3. The sales pitch 

The main objective here is to pitch the value of your product or service to the audience and persuade them to take the desired action. These pitches may vary in length and style depending on your target audience and objective. Elements of a sales deck include an introduction to your product or service, a value proposition, business case studies, and a clear call to action.

4. The product pitch 

Similar to a sales pitch, this focuses more on a specific product. A product pitch deck usually contains a brief introduction about the product, the market opportunity, a competitor analysis, and potential revenue. It should then go into more detail on identifying a problem, introducing your product's features, and explaining how the product will solve your customer's problem.

5. The Twitter pitch 

In the latest trend, the Twitter pitch summarizes your business idea in one or two phrases. Writing a pitch in 280 characters has become popular in the age of social media. A modern twist on the elevator pitch, the Twitter pitch is even faster and more concise.

Tips to create an effective business pitch

1. Know your audience: Identifying and analyzing your audience is the first step to creating a pitch. Do your research to understand their demographics and interests. This will help you tailor your pitch for maximum effectiveness.

2. Highlight the benefits: The purpose of a pitch is to solve a problem or a challenge. Instead of listing features, focus on the key benefits that your product or service can offer. This will help your audience understand your offering and make your pitch more persuasive.

3. Keep it concise: The attention span of audience generally lasts about 7 to 10 minutes. It is important to hook them at the beginning of your presentation, keep your pitch short, and avoid overwhelming them with too much information or technical jargon.

4. Leverage storytelling: People are more likely to remember and engage with stories than facts and figures alone. Use storytelling to make your pitch more engaging and relatable. This will also evoke your audience's emotions and help them feel connected with your business.

5. Support with statistics: Back up your pitch with supporting data and statistics. This will not only strengthen your pitch but also provide evidence-backed insights on how your product can be of use to your audience.

6. Use visuals: Visuals can help simplify your content and make your pitch more appealing. Using relevant images to support your pitch will strengthen your storytelling and help you convey your message effectively.

7. Visualize data: Support your pitch with data and statistics. Charts and graphs can be some of the most efficient visuals to use in a presentation. This enables your audience to comprehend and understand your data at a single glance.

8. Show social proof: People are more likely to trust a product or service if they see that other users have had a positive experience with it. Include customer testimonials, case studies, or survey results to provide social proof and build credibility.

9. Practice and improve: Practice is the key to successfully delivering it to your audience. This will assist you in identifying any weak points and refining your pitch for maximum impact.

10. Address questions: Anticipate and address any questions or concerns your audience may have. This will help position your product or service as a potential solution to their business challenges.  

What slides should you include in a business pitch deck? 

1. Overview, vision and mission: Your pitch should start with an introduction to the company, including your organization's vision and mission.

2. Problem statement and solution: Outline the problem and how your product or service can be the solution. The main objective of every pitch is to solve a customer's problem or propose ideas on how to meet a customer's challenge.

3. Market research: Talk about marketing opportunities, your go-to-market strategy, and the marketing plan for reaching potential customers.

4. Competitor analysis: Provide an overview of your competitors and your company's competitive advantage. Include key differentiators that can establish how your company differs from your competitors.

5. Revenue or business model: Now that you've talked about your business and the market opportunity, the next step is to talk about the revenue and finances involved. Include your roadmap to generating revenue, the pricing model, customer acquisition channels, and costs.

6. Financials: Showcase your company's financial health for at least three to five years. In the case of startups, these forecasts will provide a clear understanding of the milestones your business is heading toward and possible results.

7. Team: This is an essential slide as your investors, clients, and customers need to know the brains behind the company. Use head shots of your team, highlight key team members, and talk about their work experiences to establish their expertise.

8. Contact information: It's essential to tell your audience how they can contact you. Add your email address and contact details so your audience can get in touch with you. Include your company's website and social channels on the header of your pitch deck to increase visibility.

9. Call to action: The most critical part of a pitch is to tell your audience the action that must be taken after the presentation. Remember, the key to a successful pitch is convincing your audience to take a specific action, whether it's to purchase your product, schedule a meeting, or sign up for a free trial.

Every business deck has a unique framework depending on the objective, industry, and target audience. The slides we discussed above will help you create a compelling presentation for nearly every type of business pitch. Just remember that every deck will need to have its own style and format based on the goal and desired outcome.

Preparing for your next business pitch?

You can also read our blogs on tips for creating a winning pitch deck and ways to enhance your sales presentations with Zoho Show.