7 reasons why your agency pitch doesn't work

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You have no point of view

Whether or not a client has asked for it, it's always valuable to demonstrate some real thinking about their business, and to posit some ideas for discussion that relate specifically to their challenges. Ultimately, you are being hired to provide thought and solutions to brand issues. There is no better way to convey your thinking abilities than to show them in a pitch.

One of the prime reasons why clients choose to consider new agencies is that their current resources have stopped challenging their thinking and aren't delivering powerful new ideas. A pitch is your opportunity to show your strategic and creative chops.

Your POV needn't be entirely correct, by the way. It's possible that greater information sharing would bring you to new conclusions. Clients understand this -- what they appreciate is your well reasoned arguments, and your demonstration of concern for their business. It's important, though, that you listen as much as you talk when the conversation moves into the POV stage. You need to be committed but show flexibility and a collaborative nature.

The agency does all the talking

When you are assigned 60 or 90 minutes for a pitch meeting, don't fill 57 or 87 minutes of that time with presentation. You best outcome in a pitch meeting is to foster a real discussion between your team and the prospect company. Discussion allows for greater information sharing and provides real time experience of the strength and "fit" of your team.

Explore pitch formats that drive collaborative, business related conversation. Come in with a point of view that begs for their reaction. Communicate the essentials of the RFP, but work to change the tenor of the time from a lecture to a conversation.

 

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