The top problem keeping agencies up at night? New business pitches. According to data from 4A’s, 40% of agencies report that working on pitches is a significant source of stress. Let’s take a look at some best practice tips to strengthen your pitches to prospective clients.
Start With a Story
At the start of the pitch is your opportunity to highlight your agency. But beyond selling your strengths, this is the time to share what makes your agency stand out. Include case studies, quotes, and previous work when relevant. Consider your differentiators. What niche are you known for? What projects do you knock out of the park better than your competitors? Answer these questions, and you’ll start on a confident note, making prospective clients more inclined to be open to what you say. Once you’ve written a compelling narrative, break it up into a script to match your presentation slides. This will make it easier for multiple people within the company to present the pitch while also keeping your story consistent.
Serve Up Solutions
It can be easy to get caught up in hypotheticals or dream big when you’re trying to land a new client. But don’t forget that the prospect wants to hear some tangible solutions to how you’ll solve their problems. Before sitting down for the big pitch, you should have already had pre-qualifying conversations with your prospective client. You should have a solid understanding of their pain points and their needs. Weave that into the deck so it’s clear that you’ve tailored it to the client while showing you’ve addressed what they’re looking for. By showing specific solutions, you are setting yourself up as a partner who will be helpful and proactive rather than selling only ideas.
Don’t Forget Design
Clients come to you for your marketing and creative expertise as an agency. A new client pitch is your chance to show off these skills! Your creative director or a designer should be able to put together templates of slides with enough variety to meet most of your presentation needs. Don’t let the design get stale – revisit it every year or so and update it as needed to keep it looking fresh and aligned with your overall brand. Depending on the client, you may also want to consider incorporating the client’s brand into the presentation. As one last step, consider having a copywriter review the narrative and script so that you’re presenting the most straightforward and compelling case.
Increasing Profitability with Agency Best Practices
Building better business pitches for prospective clients requires a strategic approach. By starting with a compelling narrative, addressing specific solutions tailored to the client’s needs, and showcasing creative design, agencies can strengthen their pitches and increase their chances of success. By implementing these best practices, agencies can refine their pitch presentations and increase their likelihood of winning new business. Looking for more help to improve your agency’s profitability and enhance your efficiency? Our agency industry experts are standing by to support you; contact us today!
