What is your Takeaway Message – use it to win more pitches

How do people talk about you after your pitches? We call this The Take away Message or the Takeaway Test.

Meet the Author: Benjamin Ball

Ben is the founder of Benjamin Ball Associates and leads the presentation coaching and pitch deck creation teams. Formerly a corporate financier in the City of London, for 20+ years he’s helped businesses win with better pitches and presentations, particularly investor pitches. He is a regular speaker and a guest lecturer at Columbia Business School and UCL London.  Follow Ben on LinkedIn or visit the contact page. 

Why Your Take Away Message is So Important

If you give a succinct and memorable takeaway that sums up your value proposition, this will help clients form a distinct image of you and your offer.

The Takeaway Message makes it easy for your audience to understand your pitch and talk about you in the way you want to be talked about.

You may have just one takeaway message. Or you may have a takeaway message that is relevant to each particular pitch. What’s important is that you make it easy for people to talk about you. Our strategic messaging programme will help find the right messages for your business.

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Examples of takeaway messages from the film industry

Some of the best examples of a takeaway message come from Hollywood. When directors and producers pitch new film ideas to studio executives, they often condense complex plots into a handful of words. Chosen well, these can be evocative enough to bring to mind a clear concept, which is easily shared and understood.

The Hollywood Takeaway Test: can you recognise which blockbuster films these takeaways refer to?

1. Dinosaurs in a safari park
2. Romeo and Juliet on a ship
3. Jaws, set in space

Answers are at the bottom of this blog post. While the takeaway you need is unlikely to be as dramatic as these, it should still be clear, effective and memorable. It should create a powerful, concrete and long-lasting impression.

TL;DR: What is the takeaway message from this article?

That’s easy: “When you pitch or present, you need to pass The Takeaway Test. That’s a simple test where you ask someone in your audience what you said. If they repeat the message you wanted them to say then you’ve passed The Takeaway Test.”

We help you pass the Takeaway Test

If you’re struggling to write a simple, clear and brief takeaway messages that make you memorable and distinctive then you are not yet passing The Takeaway Test.  In that case, speak to us. Perhaps you need one of our Messaging Cracker Sessions. Call on our expertise in crafting compelling messages and narratives.  We’ll coach you  for persuasive and winning new business pitches and you’ll get fast and effective results.

To get the help you need to pass the Takeaway Test, call Louise Angus on 020 7018 0922 or email her at info@benjaminball.com.

(Answers – which films did the takeaways above relate to?: 1. Jurassic Park, 2. Titanic, 3. Alien.)

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Why Choose Us:
Transform your pitches and presentations with tailored coaching

We can help you present brilliantly. Thousands of people have benefitted from our tailored in-house coaching and advice – and we can help you too.

“I honestly thought it was the most valuable 3 hours I’ve spent with anyone in a long time.”

Mick May, CEO, Blue Sky

For 15+ years we’ve been the trusted choice for leading businesses and executives throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East. We’ll help you improve corporate presentations through presentation coaching, public speaking training and expert advice on pitching to investors.

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Unlock your full potential and take your presentations to the next level.

Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email info@benjaminball.com to transform your speeches, pitches and presentations.

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