One of the best ways to learn what works--and what doesn't--in pitching your ideas is to watch other people doing it. That way you can learn from their skills and their mistakes. The problem is that we seldom get the chance to do this.
I've found a GREAT site for watching pitches: www.meettheauthor.com. Authors or publishers pay to be videotaped doing a 90-second promo--essentially, a pitch--for their book. The tape is then put on this site and also is available via various other sites, such as those of book chains.
Frankly, I have no idea whether this is worth the cost as a promotional tool, but it does give us an excellent chance to watch pitches! As you'll see, some authors are better than others. Watch for eye contact, twitches, and the rate of speech (people who talk too fast are either nervous or just from New York).
The ending is another thing that determines how good the pitch is. Some authors just kind of run out of steam and say "uh, that's it." Not good. The ideal pitch starts strong and finishes strong.
The good-looking people start with an advantage, but it's passion and story-telling skill that win the day. Have fun watching.
