How Agencies Pitch During Coronavirus

When a toddler interrupt your video conference with co-workers, we all just laugh it off because kids are cute and it's a moment of levity. But what about during a new business pitch if you're an agency? Calamity has ensued in meetings with potential clients as kids barge in, cats take over and in one case a CMO sat so still that the agency didn't know whether his screen was frozen.

In this new normal, agencies are developing best practices to pitch effectively through their video conferencing tool of choice. What's working? Conciseness and tapping into the human element—after all, we're all in this together. What's causing problems? One of the biggest keys to a successful pitch is reading the room, which is now a challenge when your audience is a tiny box on your computer screen.

Read more: Agency leaders share tips on how to master the virtual pitch.

Seeking some guidance in this challenging time, we asked industry veterans who started agencies during previous crises, like the Great Recession or during the aftermath of 9/11, how they got through tough times. This time might involve shelving previous plans and outlooks to focus on the problems at hand, but it could also open up doors.

Read more: Persistence, positive attitudes, and creative pivots can go a long way.

Related: For the team at North Carolina agency Walk West, there’s no better time for businesses to commit to diversity and inclusion, which is why it is launching a new D&I consultancy, complete with an online course, called The Diversity Movement.

“Pivoting” is the buzzword experts have pushed the past few weeks, and brands are beginning to show what that means with creative stunts and digital experiences that don’t require consumers to leave home. Experts say brands can be successful right now if they focus on connecting with established fans in interesting ways rather than trying to acquire new customers through selling products, and some are certainly delivering.

Read more: See what stunts Bud Light, Activision and Belle Bar Organic have pulled to connect with consumers.

Here are a few more ways brands are pivoting to reach (and support) consumers during social distancing:

Today, we are introducing #MediaTogether, a place to gather, tell your stories and find solutions for the future. Tell us in 500 words who you are, what you do, what skills you have and your experience of working through these troubling times.

The goal is to connect those who are looking for work with those who can provide jobs. But the built-in networking can also pay big dividends for your future. Add your perspective to this Google Form.

As online sales from retailers like Costco, Target and Walmart increase, delivery services like the USPS, UPS and FedEx have their work cut out for them. But according to analysts, despite the increase in orders and deliveries—and challenging conditions—it’s unlikely U.S. consumers will see much in the way of disruptions beyond delays.

Read more: FedEx and UPS are adapting to new safety measures, while Amazon is seeing increased pressure to meet its usual delivery timelines and has added staff.

Best of the Rest: Today's Top News & Highlights

New York-based creative agency Fancy has created a shareable set of GIFs for the peer-to-peer platform called Mask Match, which enables people to send unused masks directly to hospitals and caretakers in desperate need of personal protective equipment.

Watch the discussions, hosted by Adweek editors alongside industry leaders, seeking guidance, solutions and information—together. Tune in daily at 12 PM ET to view the conversations live or catch up on those that you missed.

Ericka Pittman was drawn to premium cannabis purveyor Viola because of its purpose-driven DNA and the inspiration behind it. Founded in 2011 by NBA veteran Al Harrington and named after his grandmother, Viola is considered a legacy brand by cannabis industry standards. As the company’s new CMO, Ericka is leveraging her 25-year media and marketing background—from Condé Nast to Combs Enterprises—to educate and engage a new crop of consumers.

Leo Burnett Moscow's hand-washing ad has been viewed 120 million views.

Playform is one of a handful of platforms that makes creative machine learning more accessible.

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Our video series is going live to talk about entrepreneurship in the wellness space.

Escapist levity from The Martin Agency's Geico creative leaders.