Don’t Like Pitching? Try These 5 Tactics Instead

A bold but effective proposition

Do you like pitching?

I don’t.

Even though I’ve worked in business development and sales for over a decade, I still feel awkward doing cold calls, reaching out to strangers, and pitching myself with a smile. I like the part after they’ve chosen to work with me, and I get to do the work.

We all must do sales, though: we sell ourselves for jobs and promotions, we sell our services and products, we sell ourselves when we network…

What if you didn’t have to pitch?

What if you could attract leads without doing an outreach strategy?

What if clients, partners, investors, or publishers came to you directly?

It sounds like a dream, but this is my bold proposition in this week’s newsletter.

An alternative to pitching

Ever since I started my business as a public speaker and consultant earlier this year, I seldom pitch. Instead, I create a digital ecosystem that does the selling for me.

Full disclosure: this is not a shortcut. It’s not easy, it requires work and consistency, and it takes longer to warm up the engine, but once it’s up and running, the ROI is huge, and you can dedicate your time to do the actual work.

The idea is simple:

You make your value speak for itself.

How?

There’s not a one-size-fits-all model, but this is what works for me:

1. Share value online

Leverage your social channels to build authority and strengthen your positioning in your field.

Share your expertise, testimonials, behind-the-scenes, and thought leadership.

Have a clear profile that spells out what you do. Don’t leave people guessing.

By becoming visible and adding unique value, you become relevant in your space.

I post daily on LinkedIn, but even posting 3 times a week can make a huge impact.

Bonus tip: nail the first 5 words of your LinkedIn profile. Why? Because that’s what people see about you every time you comment.

2. Speak on podcasts & interviews

Speaking on podcasts & interviews helps you amplify your message and reach new audiences and channels.

Podcast hosts are always looking for guests in their niche to create a pipeline of content. Do a search and find shows relevant in your line of work.

My experience is that after speaking on a few podcasts, the hosts find you because they see your previous appearances.

I usually speak on 2–3 podcasts a month, but start with your first and take it from there. I always recommend to check out Matchmaker.fr as they help to match podcast hots and guests and it’s free.

3. Write articles for third parties

You can write for newspapers, digital magazines, or publications in your field.

This not only gives you credentials but also leverages SEO to your advantage, as well-established websites have a high authority rank on Google, which will benefit your article and give it more visibility.

I stopped writing LinkedIn articles (I publish short posts and carousels) because the distribution was not efficient and the reach was low, so I looked for alternatives.

Other platforms dedicated to long-form writing are more suitable for opinion articles where you can share your expertise in depth.

I write 2–3 times a week on Medium and try to get published by well-known publications such as The Writing Cooperative, Better Humans, and ILLUMINATION. They have a wider reach and give me exposure to a larger audience.

You can also try newspapers, industry magazines, and business partners. A popular platform for longer articles that also pays writers is Newsbreak.

4. Turn your website into a sales agent

My website www.veronicallorcasmith.com used to be a blog with articles and a bit about myself. I turned it into my sales agent by adding testimonials, public appearances and previous work.

Business proof is a powerful sales tool. Add the clients you have worked with (with their permission) and what they have to say about you.

Even with minor design skills, you can launch a very simple website on SquareSpace and customize one of their stylish templates.

5. Find affiliate partners who pitch you

Depending on what your work is, chances are you can find partners who are willing to sell your services/ products on your behalf and get a commission in return.

I do this by partnering with various public speaking agents who find me speaking engagements and add their commission on top of my fee.

I also have connections who do corporate training and workshops, but they don’t cover some of my topics. In that case, they send me client leads in return of a referral fee.

Affiliate marketing can take many shapes. Some of my readers are now promoting my book, The Lemon Tree Mindset,through the Amazon Associates Program. You can recommend any product you like, and once the sale takes place through your link, you keep a percentage.

Hello, passive income!

What’s your take?

If you love pitching, great.

If you don’t love pitching, there are other ways.

Feed the Google engine with value, and it will give you value back.

The result?

100% of my business is inbound.

If you would like to build your thing and brand yourself, check out my FREE newsletter.