5 tips for better pitch meetings

Pitches come in all forms but do have some common elements. These business professionals share the secret to delivering a winning pitch.

Jeanne Achille is chief executive officer of The Devon Group, a public relations and integrated marketing communications firm. Here are the five pieces of advice she gives clients to maximize a pitch meeting:

• Ensure the right editorial resources have been interviewed as sources and prepared to stand by for media interest.

• Include those resources (if possible) in the meeting; if that's not practical, ensure abstracts supported by research/trend data are on hand for discussion during the meeting.

• Research the editorial target before the meeting to ascertain tone, preferred content, and recent articles/interests to ensure fit.

• Publish an agenda prior to the meeting with details regarding objectives, timelines, and resources.

• Use the time during the meeting to gain consensus and determine how both parties will worth together in a...