In our continuing quest
to find out what makes for a successful pitch, we turn to Second Shift member
Reagan Nunnally who seems to have the winning formula—she lands every job she
goes for. Below is her insight into how she looks at a project post and then
crafts her pitch. She also generously allowed us to share three pitches that
won her the roles. Thank you so much Reagan for sharing your knowledge with the
rest of the community!
For me, it comes down to
a few things.
I think everyone on the
hunt for talent is simply looking for authenticity. Personal accounts,
accomplishments and even failures are great to express yourself – helping your
reader to relate, be intrigued or inspired.
Without getting too
tactical as a resume would, it is important to also see your experience in a
trend, whether you were a part of one or bucked it. It doesn’t matter. Capture
your reader with a bigger picture, so he or she can have peace of mind that you
have the ability to see the forest from the trees.
But…know your trees. It’s
important to acknowledge the opportunity specifically with examples of your
relationship to that particular team, company or industry. Whichever most
genuinely applies. Maybe you’ve been a customer, maybe a competitor or an
aspirational fan. You might have common contacts that can endorse your
work. If possible, it’s ideal to connect on that level.
Pitch #1
My name is Reagan
Nunnally, and formerly I ran agency relations for Google for well over a
decade. In that role, I taught a Silicon Valley behemoth how to properly
connect with Madison Avenue. Holding companies and independent agencies alike
have evolved from being the most foreign entities for the tech giant to the
most valued partners today. With that experience, I know how to be most
successful with this particular community, treating the agency just as any
industry head would a key vertical, putting their priorities first, ensuring
their success and profitability, while managing the expectations of the
organization’s goals with consumers and brands. I also have learned not only to
set expectations, but to give and get sincere constructive feedback that can
help inform important strategy. Especially dedicated to emerging trends for a
large part of my career, setting expectations and strong communication are
vital in building relationships of trust and respect. I am very proud of the
programs and relationships I’ve built, and the value it has given to the
overall supply chain. I have often told the Second Shift team that I wish there
had been this option when I had the gift of a long term maternity leave,
knowing that a capable, dedicated partner would help my business grow, so I could
focus on my most precious task at hand. The uncertainty led me to having one
foot in, one foot out, and at the end of the day, a lot of unnecessary anxiety.
This particular industry changes quickly. The ability to dedicate myself to a short-term
opportunity that I feel comfortable to navigate would be a very fulfilling
endeavor. The peace of mind is bar none for both parties, which ultimately is
relationship and revenue positive for Facebook. I’m a heavy user of Facebook,
checking in daily. Professionally, I have built a group called MADWomen (Mobile
and Digital Women) in which we highlight executive women in our space to gain
insights and lessons learned through a bi-weekly podcast and quarterly events.
We leverage Facebook to build awareness and audience. Personally, Facebook and
Instagram have seen me through being single, married, with a son, with a
daughter, address changes, adhoc banter, rekindled extended family
relationships, cherished childhood friends, new friends, celebrating lives
we’ve gained and lives we’ve lost, and the feeling that I will never lose
touch; the comfort and indulgence that it brings, is like no other. Clients are
people too, and helping them understand the value of such an experience while
evaluating the best interest of their business decisions is the balance and
compelling part of the pursuit. I look forward to hearing from you. Best,
Reagan Nunnally
Pitch #2
Hi there. I’d love to
explore this. I am a huge fan of the high quality of work from Broadway Video,
and I have an above-average pulse of the companies to keep, encouraging them to
maintain the high video quality across the digital landscape. The opportunity
to build upon and nurture the first-rate community that Broadway Video has
established would be an exciting challenge. I have strong existing
relationships in the media industry, holding posts at Google/You Tube, CBS
Digital & Viacom, and I think I can put that experience to good use. The
shortlist of low hanging fruit for me includes: Top Digital Media Companies:
Netflix, Amazon, Google/YouTube, AOL, MSFT, Yahoo!, Twitter, Facebook,
Pinterest, SnapChat, BuzzFeed, IAC, MatchMedia, Spotify, Pandora, BKSTG,
FanDuel. The MCNs: Collective, Vevo, FullScreen, Awesomeness TV, Maker, Machina
Content Up and Comers: UpWorthy, Distractify, Viral Nova, A+, Kicker, TheSkimm,
VProud.tv Discovery AdTech: Taboola, Outbrain, StumbleUpon Video Marketplaces:
Tremor Video, TubeMogul, Rubicon, Adelphic I’m versed in tracking down the
right folks and cold-calling; (more like cold-emailing these
days….)especially comfortable calling on behalf of Broadway Video. Looking
forward to connecting and learning more. Best, Reagan
Pitch #3
This project looks very
interesting. I’d love to learn more. I have a strong background is all things
digital since the late 90s when it was referred to as “New Media.” I
have helped traditional media organizations evolve in the digital era, some
flourishing; a few failing. I’ve also helped digital companies understand the
protocol and dynamics of the media industry. I was a founding member of the
Google Agency team, where I spent a decade being a liaison between the agency
community, our sales force and our product and engineering team in hopes to
create efficiencies and affinities, resulting in portfolio management to the
tune of billions. Please touch base, as I’d love to have a conversation to get
a more concrete understanding of the scope. Best, Reagan