Pitch winning is an art and a science. These tips to improve your pitch winning success rate are from pitch training experts Benjamin Ball Associates.

1. So, you are pitching to win new business…. How do you stand out from the rest? www.benjaminball.com

2. UK based Benjamin Ball Associates are presentation experts helping companies, law firms and funds win more business and investment. We help you pitch, present and persuade. www.benjaminball.com From our 10 years experience of coaching pitch teams, let’s look first at the mistakes others make when pitching Benjamin Ball Associates +44 20 7193 0130 info@benjaminball.com

3. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 1: Not researching the client properly There is nothing worse, as a client, than sitting through a generic pitch. Stop doing it. Instead, know what matters to that client. Do your research, engage with them. Talk about them.

4. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 2: Over-reliance on ‘presentations’ ‘I’m just going to run through this presentation’ is the worst thing you could say. Wake your customer up, don’t put them to sleep. Remember, YOU are the presentation. Don’t let your document drive the meeting.

5. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 3: Too much focus on you and your solution What do you prefer, someone talking about themselves, or someone talking about you? Put your client at the centre of attention. Have a dialogue with them. Take lots of notes and check you understand what they are saying.

6. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 4: Overly complicated and unclear If your pitch is complex, what is it going to be like working with you? Your job is to make it simple. Take all the complexity and problems away.

7. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 5: All facts, no interpretations Facts get forgotten, stories get repeated What stories will get told about you? Make sure they are good ones

8. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 6: All head, no heart Clients are human too. Appeal to them every way you can. Use logic, emotion, passion and all the tricks that have made great businesses.

9. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 7: Half-hearted performance Do you look like you care? Train yourself to be as exciting as your service. All the best people learn to perform well in pitch meetings.

10. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 8: Selective information Is there something that you would rather not talk about? Be honest and open. If you messed up, explain why, and what is different now.

11. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 9: Lack of practice Are you fully prepared? Get on top form before Your first meeting. Use video and outsiders to train. Train yourself to be as exciting as your service

12. www.benjaminball.com Mistake 10: Poor follow-up What next? The first meeting is just the start. Don’t play hard to get. Don’t stalk

13. www.benjaminball.com So, that’s what not to do. What should a good pitch involve? One tip: we advise our clients to use carefully prepared checklists. for example…….

14. www.benjaminball.com Step 1. Call Benjamin Ball Associates +44 20 7193 0130 info@benjaminball.com Step 2. Ask for Ben or Louise Step 3. Get some free advice