This one mistake can cost you and your business funding.

Of the hundreds of pitches, I have seen over the years, over 75% suffer from TMI.

Chances are, if potential investors aren’t receptive to your pitches, you have Too Much Information stuffed into your pitch.

What’s the problem?

You are an expert. You know too much! You are enthusiastic about your business and want to tell your story. I get it.

But if you cram in lots of details, the message goes by in a blur. Your listeners will not remember it. Think about presentations that you heard recently. How much content do you remember? The most typical answer I hear is 15%. Only 15%!

An impactful pitch needs a clear message that your listeners find compelling.

So how do you fix it?

Let’s be clear about the goal of a pitch:

Generate enough interest to start a conversation that will lead to the next step!

Investment decisions are not made during the first pitch. Therefore, make sure that the main ideas are clear, concise, and save the details for later.

Be clear about your main ideas. It’s not easy! Conveying your big idea, passion, and product details into a short pitch is hard. The key is to focus on what your listeners need to know.

Schedule some time this week to brainstorm about what you do, the mission of your business, the problem you solve, your unique solutions.

Next, narrow all of these ideas into an elevator pitch. Focus on the most important messages that you want investors to remember. This will help you keep it concise. Then, expand your message to a 3-minute pitch and later a 10-minute pitch.

Make it easy for your listeners to remember your message. Don’t let them get lost in TMI!

Noticing TMI is the fastest way to improve your pitch. It takes a little time to correct, but you will be glad you did. So will your listeners.

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