Your pitch is the single thing that could either get your business off the ground or plunge your idea into eternal oblivion. It matters. The rule of thumb for investors is that for every 100 investments they make, only 10 will go big. Here are few tips on how to deliver a pitch that investors simply can’t turn down

1. Take only 10 minutes.
Timing is critical. The less time your pitch takes, the better. A brilliant idea means nothing unless you can distill it to a few moments of sheer power.

The more concise you can be, the more effective you will be. Here are a few timing pointers:
-     If you say that you’ll take “only X minutes,” then take at least one minute less.
-    If you are told, “You only have X minutes to pitch,” then take at least five minutes less.
-    If you say, “One last thing” or something similar, then make sure it’s truly the one last thing.
-    Move at a good pace. Don’t rush at the end.

    If you’re using slides, don’t get stuck on one slide for more than three minutes.
Here’s the great thing about taking ten minutes. If the investors are really interested, they’ll ask questions. If they’re not interested, then you will have saved them (and yourself) some time.

2. Turn your pitch into a story.
Storytelling is a scientifically-proven way to capture a listener’s attention and hold it. Besides, it makes your pitch unforgettable. Investors are bored with spreadsheets, valuations and numbers. If they want that information, they can get it.

What you can offer that no term sheet can convey is the story and pathos behind your startup. Everyone loves a good story, even the most data-driven investor. So, tell your story and tell it right. You’re bound to gain attention, and the funding will follow.

3. Be laser-focused.
Investors’ time is their most valuable asset. If you convey a respect for their time, they will interpret that respect as your ability to treat their funding with respect. Because time is important, you need to develop an absolute focus on the core components of your pitch. What are those core components? They’re detailed in the following tips.

4. Explain exactly what your product or service is.
Show your potential investors a picture of, or give them the actual product to handle. Be careful not to drone endlessly on about your product. Honestly, investors don’t really care about your product as much as they care about the money that your product will make. The sooner you get to the good stuff -- the money -- the better.

5. Explain exactly what is unique about your product or service.
If you are not producing or providing anything different from the run-of-the-mill widget, don’t even go to the meeting. Go back to your drawing board, and design something better.

6. Explain exactly who your target audience is.
Use demographic and psychographic features to pinpoint your customers. Show investors a picture of a customer along with relevant data points.

7. Explain exactly how you intend to acquire these customers.
Business success comes down to marketing. If you have a marketing idea, method, technique or process, this is your chance to showcase it. Contrary to pithy maxims, great products don’t sell themselves. You sell the product.

To be persuaded, investors have to see an airtight strategy for getting the product to market. Most VCs are well aware of the advantages of digital marketing and won’t take a second glance at a product that isn’t backed by a tactical plan for online marketing.

8. Explain your revenue model.
Investors invest because they want to make a return on that investment. An investor will care about your pitch if you can answer this question: How will my company make you rich? The answer, in investor-speak, is your revenue model. Specifically identify which type of revenue model you are embracing, and how you intend to apply it.

9. Be wildly enthusiastic.
Whatever you think of Shark Tank or Barbara Corcoran, you can’t argue with her insightful gem regarding pitching a business idea, “My whole focus is on trying to size up the entrepreneur. I am looking at how much wild enthusiasm do they genuinely have for their product.

You can’t fake passion.” A good technique for increasing your energy level is to add about 50 percent more energy than you feel comfortable with. Entrepreneurs must crawl out of their comfort zone. Wild enthusiasm will not obscure your sophistication, insight, integrity and realism. It will only enhance it.

10. Dress to kill.
You can judge a person by the way he or she looks. That may be unfair, and you may resent it, but you’re not going to overcome this natural human tendency. The thousand bucks you spend on a new suit will pay for itself a thousand times over when you secure the funding you need. So, don’t skimp.