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Pitch Meetings: How to Prepare for your Next Big (Customer, Investor, Partnership) Meeting

Here are a few simple, yet detailed, planning steps to help you prepare for your next big meeting.

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Step 4 – Develop your presentation format and control your environment.

The ideal presentation — whether it’s a hard copy handout over lunch or dinner (an informal setting) or a PowerPoint in a conference room (a formal setting) — will depend largely on the dynamics of the relationship you already have (or don’t have) with the person you’re meeting with.

If you have a choice, opt for an informal setting. However, make sure your presentation materials are still stellar. Reviewing professional presentation documents in a non-intimidating, pressure-free environment can encourage the construction of a future friendship.

Let’s be honest. People always want to do business with their friends. Not only can you communicate your wants and needs effectively, but you will also demonstrate that you are prepared, confident and able to deliver results. So, now that you have the content, the setting, and the format of your pitch hashed out there is one more thing you need to keep in mind.

 

Step 5 – Embrace your power as “The Growing Fish.”

So, what if you are a small company or an individual pitching to a big company or a highly-successful person? In your mind, they have no reason to work with you or give you an ounce of their time. In fact, you are a small fish in a big pond. What can you do? This one’s easy. Give them something for free.

Promise to provide them with a product or service absolutely free of charge — no strings attached. They will have no reason to say no — and a high percentage of the time, they will be so flattered by your offer and ability to deliver something of value for free that they will eventually offer something in return.

This, my friend, is where the magic happens. They can see the passion you have for working with them and they get the chance to see what you are made of risk-free. Now you have a chance to prove yourself in a big way to somebody who can prove to be beneficial to your company’s future.

 

In summary, know who you’re meeting with and why. Do your homework on them. Figure out how to relate to them, what their interests are, and make friends. Don’t dive straight into business. Engage them in an interesting way first, show them how they benefit from working with you, then minimize risk on their part so the decision to work with you isn’t a big one.

 

Editors note: This is an [amended] excerpt from Travis Steffen’s new book, The Art of the Hustler.

Travis Steffen is the founder of WorkoutBOX, ActionJunkie Labs, and a ton of other online startups. Travis is also the author of The Art Of The Hustler, and star of the upcoming reality show, Pushing The Limit.

 

 

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