When you get your big chance in the real world to deliver your brilliant pitch for your business, you better nail it! Who knows if you’ll ever have an opportunity again to make a positive impression on that would-be investor.

That’s why it’s so important that you have complete mastery of your pitch. You must practice, practice, practice and be able to deliver the pitch with no hesitation in a very quick, concise and compelling manner.

For real-world effectiveness—as in the videos for this contest—we recommend that you do a fair number of dry runs. You might,

• Practice in front of the mirror
• Practice in front of the video camera
• Even better, test out your pitch and polish it to perfection by asking discerning friends, family members and business associates to give a listen. Their critiques could prove invaluable in helping you hone what you ultimately include and the way you present the information.

At the end of this process, you’ll have an elevator-ready pitch that’s smooth and full of sizzle. Your goal? To get the potential investor to ask, “How can I learn more?” If you achieve that, you’re on your way.

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