Ask HN: How to pitch an idea through email

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2477494

by hansy • 15 years ago

9 5 15 years ago

news.ycombinator.com

I absolutely hate pitching my ideas through email, but sometimes it's necessary to establish that initial contact.

What are some tips to successfully doing so?

coryl• 15 years ago

- Keep it short and sweet, most people are email overloaded and don't have time to read the details

- Tell an amazing, interesting story about yourself and your idea

- Your email "Subject:" must be optimized for a click through, especially if you're hustling a CEO or busy exec. Make it attractive and craft it: it can't sound spammy, but it has to be out of the ordinary.

- Know your target; mention relevant facts and how they can help you

- Lead them to an actionable conclusion (call me, skype me, lets meet for coffee)

The ultimate objective of an email pitch isn't a the end goal (such as a hire, or investment) - it's getting that next-step phone call or meeting. Keep that in mind and you should be good!

ConceitedCode• 15 years ago

Lots of emphasis on "know your target". Any person that you are pitching to probably gets many other emails. That person can easily tell if you just copy and pasted this email to other people.

Herwig• 15 years ago

Couldn't agree more. Number one thing is show them how its valuable to them. Make sure your pitch answers the question: Is it worth their time?

petervandijck• 15 years ago

- Keep it really, really short.

- Provide links, ... so they can easily learn more.

- Provide some kind of contact that they know (ie. "X said I should talk to you.")

- Keep it really, really short. No buzzwords/marketese whatsoever.

- Ask for something (what's the reason you're contacting them?)

namank• 15 years ago

Can you fit your idea in one phrase? expedia but for dates, trade show type booth but in retail stores, recommendation engine for everything

You should start with that and then explain it on the next paragraph, which is 5 lines at the most.

Start and/or end the email with why you are emailing them; ending should include action items, as people here have said

Ask HN: How to pitch an idea through email

Related Stories