How to handle your first animation pitch

Found some potential animation clients? Here’s how to smash your first animation pitch.

The first animation pitch can feel terrifying. You’ve probably spent years getting to this point—now you’re here, what do you do? Your first pitch is your chance to show your clients what your animation can do for their business. These five tips will help you take on your first animation pitch with professional ease….

1. Know your client

For your first animation pitch, get into the habit of pitching to new clients and do your research. The first step in preparing a pitch is understanding your client's business. Firstly, check out your client’s website, as well as news of any projects their company has recently completed. Your client’s website is also an excellent place to get to grips with the company branding. Does the business use a distinctive colour palette? What is the logo design? Most importantly, are there any animations that have been previously produced for the client? In your pitch you'll be able to establish the look your client is going for. However, it can be helpful to see how your production will fit into your client’s existing brand. Still unsure where to start? See our post on choosing clients.

how to handle your first animation pitch know your client

2. Understand your client's needs

Secondly, the next step in a successful first animation pitch is to understand your client's needs. In other words, how can your animation services help their business? Undoubtedly the best way to understand your client’s needs is through asking questions. Listen carefully to the answers and work out what you will need to deliver for your client. Do they want a more professional looking website? More sales? A way to engage employees? Note down your client’s answers and summarise them in any quotes you produce. This will show your client that you understand their vision.

how to handle your first animation pitch understand your clients needs

Secondly, the next step in a successful first animation pitch is to understand your client's needs. In other words, how can your animation services help their business? Undoubtedly the best way to understand your client’s needs is through asking questions. Listen carefully to the answers and work out what you will need to deliver for your client. Do they want a more professional looking website? More sales? A way to engage employees? Note down your client’s answers and summarise them in any quotes you produce. This will show your client that you understand their vision.

3. Earn your client's trust

The most important step in your first animation pitch is to gain your client’s trust. Animation clients are a future investment, not a a short-term profit. It is important to realise that building a positive connection makes your client likely to return in the future. The key to earning the trust of a new animation client is demonstrating your experience. With this purpose in mind, come to your first animation pitch prepared with past examples of your work. Provide examples of work which match the expectations of your client. As you build up your clientele, make sure you keep in touch and ask for feedback where possible. Include positive feedback on your website, for example. This will show you’re easy to work with, as well as an animator that provides excellent results.

Want to know how to secure returning animation clients? Check out our article here.

how to handle your first animation pitch earn your client's trust

4. Keep it simple

Generally, the clients you’ll work for as an animator won’t be animation experts. In order to communicate as efficiently as possible, keep your first animation pitch simple. There’s no point talking about rigging and rendering if it’s sending your client to sleep. Before your first animation pitch, try to summarise the production process in 30 to 60 seconds. Explaining the production process to your client is useful when communicating your costs. As you do so, assume you’re speaking to someone with little to no knowledge of the animation industry.

how to handle your first animation pitch keep it simple

Generally, the clients you’ll work for as an animator won’t be animation experts. In order to communicate as efficiently as possible, keep your first animation pitch simple. There’s no point talking about rigging and rendering if it’s sending your client to sleep. Before your first animation pitch, try to summarise the production process in 30 to 60 seconds. Explaining the production process to your client is useful when communicating your costs. As you do so, assume you’re speaking to someone with little to no knowledge of the animation industry.

5. Don't forget the budget!

Although it can feel awkward to discuss costs in your first animation pitch, it’s an area that needs to be covered. This discussion enables you to provide an accurate quote, working within your client's budget range. Alternatively, be prepared to highlight why a higher budget is worthwhile to your client. To do this effectively, explain the production process to your client (see above), and offer examples. As you gain confidence as an animator, you can spot opportunities for upselling. In the future, earning your clients’ trust will pay off as you can offer them higher-priced services.

Unsure how much to charge for your services? See our post on how much an animator makes.

how to handle your first animation pitch don't forget budget

Summary: How to handle your first animation pitch

Although your first animation pitch can be scary, enter it with confidence in your skills as an animator, or in the skills of your animation studio. Have you developed a strong skillset, established experience, and a thorough understanding of the production process? If so, there’s nothing stopping you from succeeding in your first animation pitch.