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Summary:

Whether you’re at an interview with a future client, at a professional networking event, or simply stumbling upon a potential partner at your local gym, the skill to deliver a strong and convincing pitch is a valuable tool for you as a freelance consultant. Here you get 6 tips on how to proceed and deliver your pitch with confidence.

Anne Lubbe

Head of Communications

International communications professional who knows how to leverage digital channels for b2b lead-generating purposes.
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The perfect freelancer pitch - 6 tips

Updated 24.5.2019

Why do a pitch?


A good pitch can serve as a door opener in work-related contexts. Here, you get the possibility to introduce yourself, your background, and perhaps your intention and goals for the future. As a freelancer, it will be hard to land new clients, if you’re not prepared to do a pitch from time to time. You don’t have a sales and marketing department to take care of filling your order book, which means you must pave the way yourself!

Now that we have identified why you may be needing to pitch yourself from time to time, let’s take a look at the actual pitch. Questions like how do you get started, what should you consider when preparing your pitch, and the duration of an ideal pitch are some of the things that we have boiled down to the following 6 golden rules for pitching as a freelance consultant:

1.Structure your pitch


First, it's very important to keep the structure of your pitch in mind. If you don’t, there’s a risk that the main point of the pitch will be unclear to the audience. An introduction, summary of what you do, what you want, or where your expertise can make an impact on their organization are some of the things you can choose to include in the outline of your pitch.

2. Be aware of your key points


As point 1 clarifies, there’s a lot of things to include in your pitch. Hence, we can’t lose time – or worse, our audience’s attention - on random chitchatting. To prevent this from happening, it’s a good idea to get straight to the point. By starting out with your most important message, the audience will be clear about your intention from the beginning, which will make you seem more well-organized and efficient.

However, there’s a lot of ways to point out your key points from the start. A way to capture their attention is by beginning your pitch with an illustrative question or a description of a specific scenario in which they potentially will need your expertise. This will also emphasize the relevance of your point, and help catch their attention from the start.

3. Consider who you are pitching too


Even though it might seem like a great idea to have one perfectly rehearsed pitch ready for anywhere and anytime, that’s not the best way to prepare yourself. By letting yourself research and getting to know the audience – or being conscious about who is in front of you at a spontaneous meeting - you will have way better chances of impressing as you can tailor your pitch to their preferences and requests.

Having a pitch tailored and rehearsed for each special occasion will also make you way more confident in your case, as you will be able to answer potential questions and demands in an assertive and guaranteed way.

4. “Show it don’t tell it” - use examples showcasing your expertise


Another good tip for not losing the interest of your audience is to incorporate examples in your pitch. This way, you will be able to put your expertise into perspective and make it tangible and understandable for your audience. To show through examples of how your work previously has benefitted other organizations will make you stand out as trustworthy and talented, as your skills will be supported by actual evidence.

5. Finish with a call to action


As a freelance consultant who is not a salesperson by heart, it can be intimidating to wrap up your pitch with a clear “next step”. However, it’s important to end the pitch by taking initiative to action instead of just letting the pitch come to an end. This way, there will be way better chances for you to land a new client!

Remember that the person / organization you pitch to doesn’t know you well and you cannot expect them to take the dialogue further unless you to take initiative to further cooperation. For example, you can suggest setting up a call in the near future or emailing them more information about your services or a specific offer tailored to what they are currently looking for.

6. Be confident


Even though it’s easier said than done, you will need to be confident to land a new client. However, confidence can simply be a lifted chest, a big smile, or using a strong speaking voice. Often, you will also feel more confident if you rehearsed your pitch at home while imagining how you will deliver your pitch on the day.

All in all, a pitch can be extremely beneficial when it comes to landing new clients at your next networking event or interview. A well-delivered pitch can be the start of your next exciting project and maybe a long-term work relationship, so make sure to make the best possible pitch for your next client!

Sources:
 Right People Group