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Pitching An Idea

This document provides examples and context for pitching ideas to others. It discusses what pitching an idea means, which is like tossing an idea to someone in hopes they will like it. It then gives examples of describing ideas using adjectives like creative, risky, or sensible. Next, it provides a sample dialogue where one employee pitches a viral video marketing idea to promote blenders by testing if various items will blend. Their co-worker is skeptical at first but ultimately supports giving the unconventional idea a try. Useful expressions are also categorized for suggesting ideas, expressing doubt, believing in ideas, asking for details, and making decisions.

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118 views5 pages

Pitching An Idea

This document provides examples and context for pitching ideas to others. It discusses what pitching an idea means, which is like tossing an idea to someone in hopes they will like it. It then gives examples of describing ideas using adjectives like creative, risky, or sensible. Next, it provides a sample dialogue where one employee pitches a viral video marketing idea to promote blenders by testing if various items will blend. Their co-worker is skeptical at first but ultimately supports giving the unconventional idea a try. Useful expressions are also categorized for suggesting ideas, expressing doubt, believing in ideas, asking for details, and making decisions.

Uploaded by

yelerik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Pitching an idea

Do you sometimes pitch ideas to your boss, colleague, or business associates?

What does pitching an idea mean?

The standard meaning of pitch is to toss something lightly, like a ball. In this
meaning, when you pitch an idea, it is like tossing it. Usually, when you have an
idea you have to pitch it to someone and hope that they like the idea.
Example:
"You have great ideas, you should pitch them to someone who can help you
out."

Describing an idea

1) Choose one or more suitable adjectives to describe each of the ideas


below:

crazy risky radical

creative sensible stupid

1. “Let’s design and sell special gloves for eating ice-cream. “


_________________

2. “Let’s build a search engine to compete with Goggle.”


_________________

3. “We should delegate certain tasks to the secretary in order to focus on the
important issues.” _________________

4. “Let’s completely stop advertising and try to reach new clients through
our company blog.” _________________

5. “Why don’t we borrow $100,000 from the bank and invest in the stock
market.” _________________

6. “Instead of throwing away all this fabric, why don’t we use it to make
handbags for women?” _________________

Listening
2) Howard and Steve work in the marketing department of a manufacturer of
powerful household blenders. Howard has an interesting idea for a
marketing campaign. Listen to the dialogue and answer the questions
below.

1. What problem is the company currently experiencing?

2. What is the company’s current marketing strategy?

3. What is Howard’s idea?

4. Does Steve accept or reject his idea?

Useful expressions

3) Complete the dialogue with the expressions below.

Do you really think it will work? how about …-ing?

I think it’s worth a try


let’s try it What do you mean….

Howar Thank you for meeting me on such short notice. As you all know,
d the director is putting pressure on us to improve sales. And to make
things worse, we have a very limited marketing budget. In fact, we
don’t have any money to spend on new marketing activities.

Steve Yes, I know. It’s awful.

Howar But despite these pressures and frustrations, I see an opportunity


d here to get really creative.

Steve What’s your idea?

Howar Well, so far we’ve been publishing standard blog posts about food
d recipes that involve blending ingredients and stuff like that.
Steve I like those posts.

Howar Yes, they’re interesting and practical, but are they really, really
d cool? I mean, think about it. As a reader, would you want to share
our content with at least ten of your friends?

Steve Hmm...So you’re talking about creating content that will basically
go viral? Now that’s extremely challenging.

Howar Right. Well, my idea is this. Instead of writing about how


d consumers can use our blenders to blend food, 1 showing them how
our blenders can be used to blend other stuff?

Steve ______________ 2, other stuff?

Howar I mean stuff like pens, clothes and even iPhones. We could make a
d series of videos showing how powerful our blenders are and publish
them on YouTube.

Steve An iPhone .... will it blend?

Howar Ah .. ‘Will it blend?’ That’s a great title for the video series. Let’s
d see if it will blend. I’m going to put this iPhone in our most
powerful blender right here ... ready?

Steve Go ahead ... Good job! I hope that was your old iPhone.
Howar Haha...oh yes, that was the first iPhone I ever owned.
d
Steve Well, I see you’re really thinking outside the box, here. That’s
definitely a radical idea. ______________ 3

Howar ______________4. Anyway, it’s not risky at all. To make those


d videos, we won’t need any extra investment. We can simply make
them in our laboratory using a phone camera.

Steve OK, ______________5. It’s a pretty crazy idea, but I like it.

4) Put the expressions into the correct categories.

Suggesting an idea :

Expressing doubt :

Showing you believe in your idea :

Asking for more details :

Making a decision :

5) Add the expressions below to the above categories.

Here’s an idea: Let’s give it a go. I’m not convinced, to be


honest.

Let’s go for it. Why don’t we…? Tell me more about it.

Role play

Think about the company you work in. Do you have any great ideas about a
process that can be improved or a way to cut costs? See if you can make a short
list of a few of these ideas. Choose one idea and then practice a role play with
your partner where you explain and defend your idea. Try to use the language in
this lesson.

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