Project confidence when pitching your work. But don’t be afraid to deviate from the standard graphs and charts with some color, humor, and personality.
Nailing your pitch is one of the most essential steps in business marketing, because it’s the shortest road to landing new clients, growing your brand, and maximizing profit. Knowing you’ve worked out an ironclad approach to pitching, means that you won’t need to waste time constantly developing and tweaking new ideas and then stressing over whether they’re going to connect.
Additionally, great pitches tend to boost your reputation and build momentum, so they’re a valuable advertising opportunity all their own (whether you wind up chosen or not). This is a chance to create an impression about your brand, make a lasting impact, and show that you’re a real competitor in your field. With time, a reputation for greatness based on an excellent pitch will send your business soaring.
Here are the ABCs of preparing a winning pitch, every time:
- Approach with Authority. Along with confidence, authority is the most vital keyword when it comes to winning pitches. Clients love working with companies that seem to know a lot about their industry or have an area of specialty—and aren’t afraid to show it. Always talk about what sets you apart and how your company came to this unique perspective (in a concise, authentic, and personal way). Part of showcasing your authority is coming thoroughly prepared. That can mean everything from practicing in front of new audiences, reaching out to past prospects to learn what they liked about your pitch (or didn’t), and preparing answers for some of the questions you commonly receive about your business (such as why it’s a good match and how it stands apart from the competition). Preparation might also include learning about the other companies that you’ll be pitching against, if possible, and bringing in solid data and examples to back up all of your claims, creativity, and confidence.
- Bolder is Better. Don’t let nerves, fear of losing, or concern for making a bad impression scare you away from doing your best. More importantly—and this is especially true for both small businesses and start-ups—don’t be afraid that overconfidence will work against you. Remember that many pitches win (or at least move forward) simply because they’re memorable. So, no matter what you might doubt about yourself or your presentation abilities, remember that it’s better to go overboard and make an impression than be the best business, with quality assets, but let your modesty or fear keep you from showing those qualities to the world. Remember that your prospects are just people, too; they want to choose the best match for their company, and they want to share your enthusiasm and confidence.
- Cater to Clients. Though it’s important to have a solid pitch that your team has practiced and feels strong with, you also need to remember the cardinal rule in marketing: Know your audience. Here, that means researching the people who will be receiving your presentation, so you can tweak it slightly to impress those specific prospects. Plus, putting in due diligence ahead of the big day will give your team greater confidence: feeling like you know who you’re pitching to, what you’re getting into, and that your materials will be up to par—all of which will give you an incredible extra boost on the big day.
For help preparing a truly standout business pitch or creating an eye-catching sales deck, don’t hesitate to reach out to the creative team at Mad 4 Marketing.]]>