Bring in more interactive media work! In this evening seminar, masters in the art of winning contracts present a guide to the dos and don'ts of successful pitching.

In a market saturated with experienced agencies and increasingly demanding clients, how can you best represent your company's capabilities and impress the decision-makers?

This evening business seminar will look at what makes for a good presentation, and outline the do's and don'ts of pitching. Drawing on best-practice in the industry, experienced industry professionals will guide you through the entire pitching process, from the moment you are invited to present to the client's decision - to award you the job!

Speakers

Hilary Kelsh, Head of Business Development, n1media
Hilary is head of business development with n1media (www.n1media.com) an online advertising and marketing agency.

Previously Hilary was Director of Marketing with Icon Medialab from August 1998 to April 2001, where she was responsible for overseeing all marketing and new business for the UK arm of the Swedish based multi-national communications consultancy. Her role was also ambassadorial, she hosted and presented a number of industry events with New Media Knowledge, The Institute of Directors and New Media Age. Prior to this, Hilary was Business Development Director at Modem Media Poppe Tyson, an American mult-national communications consultancy. There she set-up and co-ordinated a new business strategy and working methodology, whilst generating new business opportunities and relationships, again, she presented and hosted a number of industry events.

Hilary began her career in digital communications as an account executive with The Brilliant Agency, just as the internet industry started to get off the ground in London. Here Hilary raised company profile, via several high profile public relations initiatives and introduced new business opportunities whilst developing strong relationships with existing and new clients, partnerships and alliances.

Hilary obtained a BA(Hons) degree in Graphic Design at Central St.Martin's Collage of Art and Design, having gone back to study as a mature student. She then freelanced as a designer and animator for six years for a variety of film and production clients including BBC Children's Television and BBC Youth and Entertainments, where she designed stings, programme identites, short films and corporate identities.

Chris Allen, Director, Clientfocus
Chris is Director of Clientfocus (www.clientfocus.com), an agency providing interactive media services as well as professional training in sales, business development, business communications and account management.

Chris has 20 years of sales and marketing experience in high value information technology products and services. His background is in sales, international marketing and worldwide operations at Director level for major American and European software companies such as Thorn EMI, Comshare, Pilot and Allshare.

Juliet Blackburn, Head of Digital, AAR (www.aargroup.co.uk)
Juliet started her career at Coca-Cola 1985 where she became Brand Manager on Five Alive with responsibility for developing and implementing plans and strategies for the brand. In 1992 Juliet moved to the agency IMP as an Account Manager working on the Texaco account delivering promotional and communications support programmes. In 1995 she joined British Telecommunications as a Communications Team Leader, becoming Head of Communications in 1997 with responsibility for strategic leadership for the delivery of campaigns including BT's Internet and Multimedia services, BT Retail, BT Payphones and BT Phonecards. She was then made Head of New Media Marcomms in 1998 and Head of Broadband Marcomms in April 2000 when she launched BTopenworld Broadband.

In January 2001, Juliet joined the AAR - specialists in creating and enhancing client:agency relationships - to establish and head up the new Digital division. Since its launch, she has become a leading authority on the new media marketplace, having met over 170 agencies. When helping clients to find their new media partners, she uses her unparalleled knowledge of this complicated and fast-moving sector to ease the selection process for them.

Presented in association with: Business Link for London (www.bl4london.com )

UK Online for Business (www.ukonlineforbusiness.gov.uk)