In this post I share three game-changing strategies to level up your sales pitches and presentations. The best part? These tips will help you sidestep the traps most people fall into and land more deals.
Here's the twist: these aren’t just theoretical hacks. This is exactly how we've been sharpening our opening statements and closing arguments at the law firm for years. And trust me, if these methods can make or break a case in court (they've helped us win million dollar cases), they'll work wonders for your presentations too.
Video yourself giving your presentation
First, hit record. Capture yourself giving a 5-10 minute run of your pitch. Don't hold back—this is your raw rehearsal, your unscripted truth.
Now, resist the urge to watch it immediately. Let it marinate for a day. Why? Because immediate playback invites a hypercritical voice that kills your objectivity. You want fresh eyes and an open mind when it's time for review.
When you’re ready to dive in the next day, dissect it in three targeted ways:
Listen, don’t watch. Crank up the volume, then put your phone face down or turn away from your desktop screen. This is all about the sound. Listen to the cadence, tone, and pacing of your voice. What resonates? What needs tweaking?
Watch, don’t listen. Mute the video and focus solely on your visual presence. Take in your body language, facial expressions, even your posture. Are you exuding confidence or are you telegraphing doubt? This is where your physical presence tells a story all on its own.
Transcribe and read. Get that video transcribed—warts and all. Don’t sanitize the 'ums' and 'ahs'; let them stand. Read through your words and see how they play out on paper. Does your pitch read with power and clarity, or does it meander? This step is where the magic happens.
Now you can do all this with AI
Recently, we started using AI to do all of this better and faster. Here’s how:
1/ Go to https://aistudio.google.com (it's free)
2/ Where it says “Type Something” copy and paste the below prompt (or modify w/your version).
3/ Using the “+” sign to upload your video.
4/ Select "Gemini 1.5 Pro" mode (top right).
5/ Hit the “Run” button once your upload is finished processing.
6/ Look at the feedback and take action.
[Note: While we still value the “old school” manual 3-step process for reviewing our test video presentations, this AI-driven feedback approach is fast and precise.]
Review the uploaded presentation from three different perspectives.
The first perspective (Perspective #1) involves just listening to the audio and disregarding what’s happening on the video. The second perspective (Perspective #2) entails evaluating the video without the audio. The third perspective (Perspective #3) involves analyzing the transcribed text.
For each of these perspectives, evaluate the speaker’s overall effectiveness in delivering their message, focusing on key aspects such as clarity, tone, body language, and word choice. Assess how well the speaker engages the audience, conveys passion, demonstrates expertise, and builds trust. Identify the strengths of the communication and persuasive techniques, and provide specific, actionable feedback on areas for improvement to enhance impact and credibility.
Provide me with a detailed summary for Perspective #1, Perspective #2, and Perspective #3.
And there you have it. Three steps to iron out the wrinkles in your presentation and make your next pitch a knockout. Because at the end of the day, you don’t just want to speak—you want to be heard, remembered, and trusted. Now, go on and make your message matter.
What are your thoughts on these AI-powered techniques for mastering your pitch? Do any of them resonate with your current approach?
Are there any tweaks or additional steps you would recommend adding to this process? What changes would make this approach more effective for you?
That's it for today. Make it a masterpiece!
Mitch https://bsky.app/profile/mitch.social
More posts here https://whtwnd.com/mitch.social
