Category Archives: Meetings

Before you email a pitch to a journalist (or anyone, for that matter), you might want to be sure your “out of office” email autoresponder is turned off.

A slideshow of screenshots is about 1% as credible as a real, live demo. Plus, it kills your ability to go with the flow if the discussion gets interactive.

The rug merchant first pours the tea, then starts a conversation, and only later tries to sell something. There’s a modern analog: If you end up sitting next to me on a long airline flight, pitch at the end of the flight, not the beginning.

Know the conference name-badge code. If it’s on backwards, so you can’t read my name, leave me alone.

(Special note to the clever conference organizers who print attendee names on both sides of their badges: You’ll get yours).

Show, then tell. Oh, show’s over? Gotta go, thanks!

Good demos are made, not born. See these tips from Particletree.

Just a personal thing, but I don’t want to smell you. Lay off the perfume or aftershave, and avoid onion sandwiches before our meeting. Fair is fair: I will, too.