The Thirty-Second Pitch
Eighteen easy tips for a thirty-second pitch, so you can share more without losing anyone.
Thirty seconds is a story. Clear, warm, short.
27 tips that really help
These ideas come from Never Eat Alone (Keith Ferrazzi), How to Talk to Anyone (Leil Lowndes), The Charisma Myth (Olivia Fox Cabane), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.
Why thirty seconds
Sometimes ten seconds is not enough. A person asks, what exactly do you do, and you want to say a little more. Thirty seconds is the sweet spot. It is long enough to tell a small story, and short enough that nobody gets bored. A thirty-second pitch is a short, warm talk that makes someone say, tell me more.
Set a timer for thirty seconds, and speak about your work aloud. Notice how much you can say.
Use a four-part shape
A good pitch has a shape, just like a good story. A simple four-part shape works well. First, the problem people face. Second, how you help. Third, a small result. Fourth, an open door for the other person to step in. When you follow this shape, your words feel natural and complete.
Write one sentence for each part of the four-part shape. Say them aloud in order.
Open with the problem you solve
The best pitches begin with a problem that the listener knows. Not with your name, and not with your title. Many small shops lose money because they do not know which products sell. When people hear a problem they recognise, they lean in. The problem is the doorway into their world.
Write the biggest problem that your work solves, in one friendly sentence. Say it aloud.
Explain how you help in plain words
After the problem, say how you help. Use plain words, and keep it simple. I help them to see their numbers clearly. I teach them to speak up. I fix the broken part. This is the middle of your pitch, and it should feel easy. You are not explaining every detail. You are giving a picture of your way.
Finish the sentence, I help by, using plain words. Read it aloud to a friend.
Share a result
A result is the happy ending of your pitch. It shows what changes when you help. A shop doubled its orders. A team cut its meeting time in half. A family slept better. Results turn your pitch from talk into proof. One clear result is enough.
Write one true result from your work in one sentence. Practise saying it aloud.
Add a mini story
A mini story brings your pitch to life. It might be a customer who had a problem, and what changed after you helped. A story takes only a few sentences, but it makes your pitch feel warm and real. People remember stories far longer than facts.
Write a three-sentence story about someone you helped. Read it aloud to a friend.
Aim for about ninety words
Thirty seconds of speech is about ninety words. That is the size of a short paragraph. It is a good target for your pitch. Longer pitches become speeches, and shorter ones may leave out the heart. Ninety words is the size of a friendly chat.
Count the words in your pitch. Trim it to about ninety, and time it.
End with an open door
A good pitch ends with an invitation, not a demand. An open door. If you know anyone who struggles with this, I would be happy to chat. Or, I would love to hear how you handle it. It leaves the choice with the listener. An open door is gentle, and it works.
Write a gentle ending for your pitch. Say it aloud, with a smile.
Script: the problem
Here is a script for the opening of your pitch. Many people feel stuck when they have to speak in front of others. You can replace the problem with the one that you solve. The script starts with a feeling that the listener knows. It sounds like a friend who understands.
Write your own, many people feel, sentence. Say it aloud once.
Script: the result
Here is a script for the middle of your pitch. Last spring, a small bakery doubled its online orders in three months. You can replace the bakery with your own example. The script shows a clear result, with a time frame. It makes your claim real.
Write your own result sentence with a time and a change. Practise it aloud.
Script: the invitation
Here is a script for the end of your pitch. If you know someone who feels this way, I would be happy to chat. It is a warm, gentle invitation that leaves the other person free. You can use it almost anywhere. It does not ask for anything. It only offers.
Write your own invitation sentence. Say it to a friend, and ask how it sounds.
Mistake: reading it like a speech
A pitch is a conversation, not a speech. When we read our words in a formal voice, we sound stiff and distant. Listeners feel that they are being talked at. A natural, relaxed voice is far better. Speak as if you were telling a friend over tea.
Tell your pitch to a friend as a story, without memorising it. Notice how natural it feels.
Mistake: packing in every detail
It is tempting to put everything into your pitch. Every skill, every project and every detail. But a pitch is like a suitcase for a short trip. If you pack too much, you cannot carry it. Choose the few things that matter most.
Cut your pitch down to three ideas. Read it aloud, and notice how much clearer it feels.
Mistake: forgetting the other person
A pitch is not only about you. If you talk and talk and never ask about the other person, they may feel unseen. A good pitch includes the listener, with a question, a pause or a kind interest in their world. Remember, you are speaking with a person, not at an audience.
Add a question for the other person at the end of your pitch. Practise it aloud.
Troubleshoot: when you run over time
Sometimes your pitch grows longer than thirty seconds. You add one more detail, and then another. It happens to many people. The fix is gentle. Cut, and practise with a timer. Running over time is a sign that you care, and that you have much to share.
Time your pitch aloud. Cut one sentence, and time it again.
Troubleshoot: when you feel too salesy
Many kind people worry that a pitch will make them sound like a salesperson. They fear sounding pushy. The cure is simple. Be helpful, be honest and be curious. A pitch that offers help is not pushy. It is a gift. Think of yourself as a friendly guide, not a seller.
Picture one person you would love to help, and speak your pitch to them. Notice how your tone changes.
Drill: record it on your phone
A very good way to improve your pitch is to record it on your phone. Then listen. You will hear the speed, the pauses and the places where you ramble. It may feel odd at first, but it is one of the best teachers. Your own ears will tell you what to fix.
Record your pitch on your phone, and listen once. Write down one thing to improve.
Drill: three listeners
Test your pitch on three different listeners. A friend, a family member and someone who does not know your work. Ask each of them what they understood, and what they remember. Three listeners give you three views. Together, they will show you what works.
Say your pitch to three people this week. Write down what each one remembers.
Tell the story of one customer
If you only have thirty seconds, tell the story of one customer. Not a list, not a promise, but one person and what changed for them. A real customer story is the most powerful part of any pitch. People forget lists, but they remember a face.
Write a three-sentence story about one person you helped. Practise telling it aloud.
Use the rule of three
Three is a magic number in speaking. Three points are easy to remember, and they have a pleasant rhythm. Stop, listen, learn. Problem, help, result. When you organise your pitch in threes, it flows. Try to give three examples, three steps or three benefits.
Choose three key points about your work. Say them aloud in a smooth rhythm.
Place the key line in the middle
People remember the start and the end best, so put your core idea early and repeat it at the close.
Mark your key line.
Time yourself with a phone timer
Thirty seconds is shorter than it feels. Practise until you finish just under the time.
Time it now.
Example: the teacher turned trainer
For ten years I taught children. Now I train adults to speak with confidence. Last month one shy man gave a toast.
Write a similar story.
Example: the freelance designer
I design simple logos for small businesses. One client said it doubled her sales. I enjoy helping people feel proud.
Write yours.
Mistake: reading it off your phone
Reading kills warmth. Know the key points and speak to the person.
Look up as you speak.
Troubleshoot: when someone interrupts
Smile and say, let me finish this one thought. It is polite and firm.
Use the line.
Drill: record three versions
Record three different thirty-second pitches and pick the one that sounds most like you.
Record three.
Easy things to say
When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many networking and career moments.
“Let me tell you what I do.”
“I help people like this.”
“I do it by doing this.”
“They get this result.”
“For example, one client did this.”
“I would love to hear about you.”
Your first week
One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.
Write the four parts
Cut to ninety words
Add an example
Practise with a timer
Record yourself
Get feedback
Update it
Further reading
- Never Eat Alone (Keith Ferrazzi)
- How to Talk to Anyone (Leil Lowndes)
- The Charisma Myth (Olivia Fox Cabane)
The tips above are written in our own words and are general guidance. The books are suggestions for further reading.
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Start freeThese lessons share general learning and everyday ideas. They are not medical or mental health advice. If you feel very anxious, low or unwell, please talk to a doctor or a qualified professional.
More lessons in “Your Personal Introduction”
Keep going. Small steps every day make a big change.
← Previous: The Ten-Second IntroductionNext: Start With a Hook, Not Your Job Title →
- Know Your Story in One Line
- What Makes You Worth Remembering
- Choose Words Anyone Can Understand
- The Ten-Second Introduction
- The Thirty-Second Pitch
- Start With a Hook, Not Your Job Title
- Practise Until It Sounds Like You
- Smile, Slow Down and Look Up
- Answer "What Do You Do?" Calmly
- Introduce Yourself at Events
- Introduce Yourself Online
- Update Your Pitch Every Six Months
