Client presentations Pitching a client in public relations

Purpose Typically, presentations are conducted to persuade a client to retain an agency For this class, the purpose is to “sell” the client on the campaign you’ve developed Professional dress, language, and comportment

Typically, presentations are conducted to persuade a client to retain an agency

For this class, the purpose is to “sell” the client on the campaign you’ve developed

Professional dress, language, and comportment

Place and time Presentations are held during the last week of class in the PR Lab, Room 239A Journalism Building You will have 20 minutes to present and 30 minutes for client Q&A

Presentations are held during the last week of class in the PR Lab, Room 239A Journalism Building

You will have 20 minutes to present and 30 minutes for client Q&A

Who does what? Only the client and the team attend Clients sit at the seminar table Presenters stand in front

Only the client and the team attend

Clients sit at the seminar table

Presenters stand in front

Who does what? Remaining team members wait in the computer area of the PR lab They will join the presenters in the front of the room for Q&A In the “real world,” only presenters attend

Remaining team members wait in the computer area of the PR lab

They will join the presenters in the front of the room for Q&A

In the “real world,” only presenters attend

PowerPoint Each team should develop a PowerPoint presentation The computer is a Mac The presentation appears on the plasma screen monitor in the front of the room

Each team should develop a PowerPoint presentation

The computer is a Mac

The presentation appears on the plasma screen monitor in the front of the room

Tips on PowerPoint You can use audio and visual effects (music, sound bites, video) as appropriate Presenters should not “read” from the screen or from notes, but should speak conversationally, using the PowerPoint slides as cues Use simple backgrounds, sans serif fonts, and few words

You can use audio and visual effects (music, sound bites, video) as appropriate

Presenters should not “read” from the screen or from notes, but should speak conversationally, using the PowerPoint slides as cues

Use simple backgrounds, sans serif fonts, and few words

Tips on PowerPoint Do not try to pull chunks of text from your plan and put them on slides; create new content for the presentation Don’t try to include every objective, tactic, timetable item, etc. – avoid too much detail and too many numbers Hit the high points and refer them to your book for the details

Do not try to pull chunks of text from your plan and put them on slides; create new content for the presentation

Don’t try to include every objective, tactic, timetable item, etc. – avoid too much detail and too many numbers

Hit the high points and refer them to your book for the details

Tips on PowerPoint Avoid excessive cinematic effects. Use PowerPoint to provide an overview of your main points, not to dazzle Be prepared for the technology to fail Bring print copies of the presentation Rehearse without the computer

Avoid excessive cinematic effects. Use PowerPoint to provide an overview of your main points, not to dazzle

Be prepared for the technology to fail

Bring print copies of the presentation

Rehearse without the computer

Other support materials You can use exhibits, such as a poster placed on an easel to display a proposed logo You can bring handouts (takeaways) with sample tactics or an outline of the presentation, but the focus should be on the speakers, not materials

You can use exhibits, such as a poster placed on an easel to display a proposed logo

You can bring handouts (takeaways) with sample tactics or an outline of the presentation, but the focus should be on the speakers, not materials

Basic outline Introduction: tell the client you’re excited to make your presentation and provide an agenda Background: provide a quick overview of the main point of your campaign Situation Analysis: basic facts found in research; opportunities your team has identified (corresponds with your goals)

Introduction: tell the client you’re excited to make your presentation and provide an agenda

Background: provide a quick overview of the main point of your campaign

Situation Analysis: basic facts found in research; opportunities your team has identified (corresponds with your goals)

Basic outline Tactics: a brief overview of some of the most important or appealing tactics Budget: a quick look at the overall numbers Conclusion: thank the client and hand them the completed book

Tactics: a brief overview of some of the most important or appealing tactics

Budget: a quick look at the overall numbers

Conclusion: thank the client and hand them the completed book

Takeaways for agency client presentations Capabilities—agency background information Bios of team members Reference list—satisfied clients Copy of the presentation—PowerPoint or other materials used

Capabilities—agency background information

Bios of team members

Reference list—satisfied clients

Copy of the presentation—PowerPoint or other materials used

Three words Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse It’s obvious if you haven’t rehearsed together Practice not only who will say what, but where you will stand and how you will move from one place to another Orchestrate introductions and departure Practice in different conditions such as a ringing cell phone or no computer

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse

It’s obvious if you haven’t rehearsed together

Practice not only who will say what, but where you will stand and how you will move from one place to another

Orchestrate introductions and departure

Practice in different conditions such as a ringing cell phone or no computer