How to Master Self-Pitching Techniques

Following in the footsteps of Dave Noll and being inspired by recent posts by Audrey Knox, I'm sharing advice on how to become more confident when pitching.   I pitch constantly. Whether it’s my catalog of IP to partners for translation, or pitching that same list to audiobook and podcast partners, or pitching to film/TV (studios, production companies, investors, etc.), pitching book club, panels/workshops/conferences, or media placement for myself, an author, or book client, etc. I am constantly pitching. In my business as a publisher and lit agent, I'm pitched to by agents bringing me their clients’ books and writers seeking representation! This is not to mention my consulting work which REQUIRES ME TO PITCH! So take these below tips, and use them to your advantage! KNOW YOUR STORY: Be ready to sell yourself AND what you’re pitching. Be prepared to talk about yourself, your goals, and your achievements in a concise yet interesting way. BE PREPARED: Be on time, early even. Memorize key points of your pitch. Practice. Test audio and video equipment prior to the meeting. Dress well and comfortably. Remove distractions! KNOW YOUR CONTACT: Learn all you can about the pitch target (business-wise), and let it inform your approach. BE PASSIONATE: Demonstrate your passion for the subject matter, genre, etc. Show off your knowledge in a non-cringe way. BE POSITIVE: Do not pitch out of desperation or a need to sell something ASAP or else you are going to be homeless. Do not bad-mouth others or put down successful creators in your genre/market. Sell without being negative. ASK QUESTIONS: Ask questions, even if you already know the answers. Be actively engaged. Make the pitch a conversation. Seek to understand what your pitch target wants/needs. Get to know them and what it might be like to work with them. Express interest in their job/role, their preferences, and what attracted them to you or your work. BE PROFESSIONAL: No matter how they present themselves, remain professional. That means, no cursing, no chewing gum, no background noise (if remote). I once had a meeting with a development exec who took the meeting from his bedroom with his unmade bed behind him. So not the vibe. FINE-TUNE YOUR PITCH: Write your pitch. Practice your pitch. Try variations of your pitch.   DON’T GIVE UP: The entertainment business ebbs and flows in terms of what’s in and what’s not. Execs are very busy. Be patient but persistent. Find the balance between the two that yields results in your favor. FOLLOW UP: Don’t be afraid to follow up. Sometimes, execs need a nudge or a reminder to get back to you or to read what you sent. When you nudge, be respectful, be kind, remind them of who you are and when you sent something (exact date to help them find it), and ask when you can expect to hear back. Of course, thank them for their time. Good luck!

I remember being scared to death to speak in front of my classmates.    For most people, fear of public speaking is greater than fear of death! Being able to speak effectively to groups is a key leadership skill, but fear can hold us back, cause us to doubt our abilities and shy away from opportunities that could propel us forward. I decided to follow my mother’s advice and take a public speaking class. Fast forward to today, over forty years later. I learned public speaking skills, taught university classes, and became a marketing and sales director.  I went on to become a paid speaker, life coach and the host of The Hero Within Podcast.  Learning public speaking was one of the most important career decisions I've ever made. Through the years, I've had the privilege of coaching others to become better entrepreneurs and leaders.   Whether it's delivering a sales pitch, leading a staff meeting, or engaging the audience, effective communication is critical to success. I continue to learn from my coaches who are helping me improve my presentation skills.  It isn't a one-time endeavor; it's an ongoing process that significantly enhances our effectiveness as a leader. Here are seven steps to becoming a better presenter and a more effective communicator: 1. Know your audience, their needs and interests.  Research and understand their problems and gear your message to solving a specific problem. 2. Become well versed in your content, allowing you to deliver it confidently.  Don’t memorize your material because then you’ll sound scripted.  Instead, be comfortable enough that you can talk about the main points from your heart. 3. Practice, practice, practice and practice some more!  It’s great to practice in front of a mirror, and it helps to become comfortable hearing your own voice. 4. Become an engaging storyteller to connect with your listeners.  Personal stories or hypothetical scenarios can make complex information more relatable to the audience. 5. Pay attention to your nonverbal body language, using posture, gestures and movement to enhance your impact.  Your posture conveys your level of confidence and your eye contact helps the audience build connection with you. 6. Manage nervousness by focusing on the excitement to share your message.  Instead of telling ourselves to “calm down,” reframing our anxiety as excitement is more effective because the feelings are nearly the same physiologically!    7. Actively seek feedback and continuously work to improve.  Be the first to give yourself feedback, assessing what you think went well and what you think you could improve.  You may also seek feedback from audience members, mentors, or your coach.  Take the feedback that you feel applies, disregard the rest and continue practicing.  See #3. By embracing these principles and dedicating yourself to ongoing growth, you’ll increase your speaking skills, empowering yourself to lead and inspire others with clarity and confidence.  

My friend has a charming coworker. This guy lacks analytical skills, but he is good-looking and well-spoken. He is the "trophy" executives bring to meetings to win over stakeholders. While my friend pulls all-nighters creating presentations, he's the one presenting them - and getting promoted. The younger me would think this guy is toxic and useless. Now, I realized the value of someone like this: he's essentially the sales rep for his team. Because someone has to "charm" stakeholders and represent the team. Whether you like it or not, people judge a book by its cover. We're naturally more likely to trust and be convinced by someone we find engaging and attractive. Honestly, this guy isn't in as secure a position as it seems. He's lucky his charm fits what his team needs right now. But the moment someone with both strong analytical skills AND communication abilities shows up, his value disappears. The thing is, the bar for communication skills in tech is incredibly low. Most brilliant engineers focus so intensely on technical excellence that even basic charm makes you stand out. Here is the good news -- charm is a learnable skill. You can develop yours, too. Yes, good looks help. But that's not it. Real charm comes from internal confidence. You can start here: - Speak slower - confidence doesn't rush - Use strategic pauses - let your ideas land - Practice with intention - I recorded myself to analyze how I speak. My tone, my posture, my smile. It feels gut-wrenching to watch your own video, I get it, but I improved so much from doing so. You've got the technical skills, but if you can't sell your own ideas, someone else will get the credit - and the promotion. The choice is yours: stay invisible or learn to shine. I write more about the essential "human skills" for data & tech people, join here: https://lnkd.in/eUHKUFSj