With sunshine and blue skies above me, it was wonderful weather for my first PR pitch with Target. Having only been with the agency for six months, fresh out of uni, today was a big milestone; contributing my two pence piece to the most important stage of gaining a new client...no pressure then.
I would always describe myself as an outgoing and confident individual but this is the first presentation where it felt like the outcome really, really mattered. And when you have a desired outcome that you’ve heavily invested your time and effort in, it’s only natural to be a little nervous (right?!), especially considering this was my first pitch in front of decision makers, not just the client but my CEO and Director also!
Although I’ve a fair experience of presenting, for the first time in a long while the experience felt a little daunting. It was as if I caught sight of the importance of this moment, not only from a business perspective but a personal perspective. This is my first permanent PR role, I want to impress and feel my peers can trust in my competence – so how was I going to do this...
“PREPARATION! PREPARATION! PREPARATION!"
Obviously, like any other sensible and sentient being, I ensured that I was prepped, prepared and well rehearsed, following my own little ritual. So here are my beginner’s tips:
Plan – Regardless of how big or small your input is, being involved from the very start of the pitch process allows you to get a real in-depth understanding of the brief and what it is the company is looking for. From here you can really target your research and refine your ideas accordingly.
Preparation – Know every bit of the presentation, know and believe in the ideas you are projecting. Let’s be frank, if you’ve done the planning process thoroughly then you’re not going to be pitching something that has no relevance, therefore what you have to say is important and of interest, take confidence in this. Rehearsing helps too – whether that’s to yourself, your boyfriend, your dog (all three are good I find) and of course your co-presenters, saying out loud what’s in your head or on paper is definitely a necessary part of the process.
Delivery – Honestly? Try and forget that you’re in a pitch situation and just concentrate on telling them what you really want them to know. Allow yourself to feel excited about the prospect of how you can work together to achieve this prospective client’s goals. Then it feels natural and starts to flow.
Then comes the hard bit of waiting to hear the outcome… my strategy for this is simple. Keep your fingers crossed.
Alex Underwood
Account Executive
