Say It in 30 Seconds
Craft a Media Pitch That Opens Doors
Learn It. Build It. Practice It. Be Ready When the Door Opens.
Welcome, sister. You already carry the work: the book, the keynote, the expertise, the show, the podcast, the film, the documentary, the song, the message. This guide helps you give it words, so that when the door opens you're ready, and you sound like yourself.
Instructor: Karon Smedley
A stakeholder is not your viewer.
Your viewer watches. A stakeholder can give you something: a slot, a stage, a sponsor, a premiere, a publisher meeting, a mentor coffee, a guest seat, or a distribution door. Most of us were taught to share with everyone. This step helps you share with the one person who can say yes.
Find your one.
Jesus told one woman at the well who He was (John 4:26), and many in her town believed because of her testimony (John 4:39). He didn't start with the whole town. He told the right one, and she carried the message to many. You're not pitching everyone. You're pitching the booker, programmer, or pastor who can carry your work to her whole audience.
The DOORS™ pitch: five letters. Five lines. That's the whole pitch. (Then stop talking.)
Every line has one job. Read the weak version, then the strong one. Don't worry if your first draft sounds like the weak one. Everyone's does.
“Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.”Habakkuk 2:2 (NLT)
“You are not the hero who will save the audience; the audience is your hero.”Nancy Duarte, presentation expert
Three pitches, read in real time.
Press Read along and the words light up at a natural speaking pace (about 160 words a minute). Then ask yourself one question: what was the ask?
“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken at the right time.”Proverbs 25:11 (AMP)
Poor pitch, excellent pitch.
Same woman, same project, about the same length. One gets a polite "thank you." The other gets a date.
Read the poor pitch first. Would you say yes to it? What would you change?
Coaching by project type
Tap each tip to open it.
These unfold as the class goes. Open each one as Karon teaches it, then come back to all seven before you send your pitch.
1Say it in 30 seconds. Then stop talking.
2Pitch the one who can say yes, not the viewer.
3Start narrow. Find your one.
4Open with who you serve, not your name or your calling.
5Lead with her problem, not your résumé.
6Ask for something she can say yes or no to.
7Make line 5 about her, not you.
Build your pitch.
This is your space, and there's no wrong first draft. Pick one project that's ready this month and write short. The counter on the right shows how long it takes to say out loud. Your draft saves in this browser only.
“If you can't explain your big idea in 140 characters or less, keep working your message.”Carmine Gallo, Talk Like TED
Change the stakeholder. Keep lines 1–3.
Your work doesn't change. You're just knocking on a different door. Here is Example A pitched first to a programmer and then to a sponsor. Only lines 4 and 5 move.
Two doors to try, by project type
Now rewrite yours for a second door
Tailor it, then get it in front of her.
Every stakeholder is measured on something. Lines 4 and 5 should speak to that.
| Stakeholder | What she needs | Shape lines 4 and 5 |
|---|
Send it three ways this week.
Go find your one this week. You came with a calling, and now you have the words. Put them to work this week, one small step at a time. We're cheering for you.
Lord, we will not hide the work You gave us. Give these women a clean ask and a favored door. Amen.
Karon Smedley
Former Global Executive | Media Founder, Executive Producer & Content Creator | Kingdom Influencer
- 30 years leading in the boardroom, including a $14B global company
- 200+ broadcast programs produced and filmed
- Co-founder of IBTV Faith Network and host of Boardroom to Altar
- CEO of i360 Consulting, where the DOORS™ pitch method was built and taught to clients
Hear these principles in action on the Boardroom to Altar podcast and IBTV Faith Network.
Watch IBTV Faith Network“Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.”PSALM 81:10 (NLT)
Shared withThe DOORS™ pitch method and the Boardroom to Altar Pitch Toolkit were created by Karon Smedley, founder of i360 Consulting and Boardroom to Altar, for her media and consulting clients. She is sharing them with the Christian Women in Media Association (CWIMA) for its Media Mastery Academy. © 2026 Karon Smedley. All rights reserved.
This interactive guide is part of the Boardroom to Altar Pitch Toolkit, available at www.BoardroomtoAltar.com.
Your drafts are saved only in this browser.