ESL Basics

A pitch can mean the act of throwing a baseball from the pitcher's mound to home plate for a batter to hit, but it gets a whole new meaning in business. A pitch generally is a presentation or petition to someone else for their support, mostly financial support. Formal pitches are usually made standing in front of others with the use of a visual aid, but can be made informally just in conversation.

The type and length of pitch will vary depending on your audience and your aim, or goal for the meeting. If you want a $5 gift card to give away at a local school fundraiser, your pitch will be much less formal and professional than if you were pitching to venture capitalists to borrow $5 million. My point is simply that a pitch can take shape in many different ways.

In my opinion, when making a pitch it is important clearly present or explain "the big picture." By this, I mean that you want your audience to understand why you are doing what you are doing and what your plans are for the future. By giving a big picture of your plan, it is easier for your audience to understand your motivation and see if your motives align with their motives.

The important thing to keep in mind is that you are trying to convince your audience that they should care about what you are doing. That is easier said than done, but when in doubt, let your passion and desire show in your pitch. Get excited and your audience will be inspired by your passion.

This post was inspired by the video below, which I found on this post. You can also read my post about pitching an idea to your boss or co-workers.