The purpose of this post is to give you some helpful tips on how to pitch an idea to a client for a copywriting project. This is particularly useful if you are not familiar with the process or terminology used by copyeditors. Bear in mind, however, that not all of this may apply to you. You must decide which category your situation falls under.
Do Research
When pitching an idea to a client, it is essential to do your research first. This means that you should familiarize yourself with the type of content the client is looking for and make sure that you pitch the idea in a way that it will be accepted. If you do not do your research first, you may come up with an idea that is completely useless to the client. In this case, you will have wasted both your time and the client’s. So, do your research first and make sure that you understand what the client wants before pitching your ideas.
Know Your Audience
When doing your research, you should also try to determine the target audience for your idea. This is important because it will guide you in the way you pitch your idea. You should always assume that your audience is intelligent and well-read. Thus, you need to ensure that your idea is expressed in a way that they will understand it. Knowing your audience will also help you determine the right tone of voice and language to use when pitching your ideas. Ensure that your audience will enjoy your content and find it beneficial. This will then encourage them to continue reading your work and, potentially, interacting with you via email or social media.
Create A Pitch Deck
As mentioned above, when pitching your idea to a client, you should always assume that your audience is intelligent and well-read. This means that they will likely have the attention span to read through your entire pitch. To maximize the chance of your pitch being accepted, you should create a pitch deck which contains only the information the client needs to make a decision. Ideally, your pitch deck should be concise, easy to understand and accessible for all involved – including those who may need to give a decision later on. Consider distributing your pitch deck to all relevant departments as well as individuals who may need to give the decision. This will help ensure that no part of the process is missed and that the client interacts with only the relevant people at the right time. It is usually a good idea to send your pitch deck at least a week or two before the meeting to allow time for review.
Practice
If you are new to pitching, then it may be a good idea to practice beforehand. This means that you should present your idea to a friend or family member who is not connected to the project but can give you an unbiased opinion. This person can then give you feedback on how to make your pitch more effective. During the practice session, you should familiarize yourself with the type of content the client is looking for and make sure that you pitch your idea in a way that it will be accepted. This may also mean changing some of the content you initially pitched and reworking your pitch to fit the client’s needs. For more tips on how to practice pitching, check out this blog post by Michael Hyatt:
The Difference Between a Pitch and a Presentation
A pitch is a brief presentation to an audience of one or more individuals. A pitch cannot be longer than two to three minutes and must include three elements: a hook, a strong call to action and supporting evidence. A pitch should always be used to advance a proposal, make a case or sell an idea. It is usually given in person, though it can also be given over the phone.
A presentation is a longer-form version of a pitch; it can be used to elaborate on an idea, provide more information to support a point or explanation or even give an overview of a project or product. A presentation can be used to:
- Provide more information about a product or service.
- Explain a process or step in more detail.
- Make a stronger case for an idea or proposal.
- Distribute the ownership of a project to others.
- Establish credibility.
A presentation can be as long as you need it to be. While there is no strict rule for how long a presentation should be, longer presentations tend to work better when used in combination with other persuasive communication tools, including a pitch. The rule of thumb is to use a pitch as a quick summary of the main points in your presentation. This will help make the information easier to remember for your audience and ensure that they do not miss a single point in your presentation.
Present In Person
When pitching an idea to a client, you should always appear in person. An excellent opportunity to practice your pitch and present your idea is at the end of a meeting when you are summing up what was discussed. The end of the meeting is a good time because you have their complete attention and do not have to worry about anyone else interrupting or distracting from your pitch.
Choose Appropriate Clothes
When pitching an idea to a client, you should wear appropriate clothing. This means that you should wear something that makes you look intelligent and professional. For men, this may mean a suit and a tie. For women, it may mean a skirt or dress and heels or flats. Your choice should depend on your personal preference and what is appropriate for the nature of the pitch you are making.
Many beginners to pitching opt to wear casual clothes to meetings. While this may be appropriate for some types of pitches, it is rarely appropriate for others. For example, when pitching investment banking or legal services, you should wear your suit.
Be Confident
When pitching an idea to a client, you should appear confident. You should have confidence in your ability to solve the client’s problems and be sure to pitch your idea in a way that makes them believe that you can. This does not mean that you have to over-act and be over-the-top; it simply means that you should behave in a way that portrays confidence.
To be confident, you should have confidence in your ability to solve the client’s problems and be sure to pitch your idea in a way that makes them believe that you can. This does not mean that you have to over-act and be over-the-top; it simply means that you should behave in a way that portrays confidence.
Use Visual Aid
For those who have a hard time remembering what was said during a presentation or meeting, then presenting visual aids may be a good idea. This can be anything from a single PowerPoint slide to a whole deck of slides. The choice is up to you and what you feel is best for the presentation.
The above tips should help you submit an idea for a copywriting project to a client in the most effective way possible. Remember to practice and have fun!