What's going on in the world is often a rich source of material for your networking pitch. Why is this? Well, open the paper or turn on the news and virtually every story you encounter is a problem of some sort.  What do our products and services do? "They solve our customers’ problems!" We're not suggesting that your range of natural skin care products is going to solve the national deficit – but you can use current events as a springboard to discuss the benefits of what you offer. Here are some examples

1. How To Use Current
Events In Your Pitch
By John Fisher - Business for Breakfast
December 2010

2. A Few Thoughts
What's going on in the world is often a rich source of material for your
networking pitch.
Why is this? Well, open the paper or turn on the news and virtually every
story you encounter is a problem of some sort.
What do our products and services do?
• "They solve our customers’ problems!"
We're not suggesting that your range of natural skin care products is going
to solve the national deficit – but you can use current events as a
springboard to discuss the benefits of what you offer.
Here are some examples that follow:

3. A Few Examples (1)
A business coach might take a cutting of a newspaper with a headline such
as ‘Survey reveals that 67% of employees suffer from work-related stress’.
This is the lead in to discuss their latest course in reducing stress at work.
In August the Prime Minister’s wife went into labour 3 weeks early. Anyone
who offers a service where time is of the essence – such as a courier – could
use a picture of David Cameron with his newborn to illustrate how they excel
at delivering precious packages on time.
• Corny but far more memorable than a boring spiel reeling off the same old
features of a company.

4. A Few Examples (2)
If your business in any way supports the local community,
then a story about yet another British manufacturing plant
relocating can be the springboard to highlighting the benefits
your company brings to the local area.
• It doesn’t matter if you specialise in something intangible
such as marketing, as long as there is some link to the
original news story.

5. Conclusion
These are just 3 quick examples – the more you
keep up with the news and try to come up with
similar ideas, the better and more creative you will
become.
Using current events also sends a subtle message
that your business keeps up with the times, and can
evolve along with your customers’ changing needs.