Digital Marketing client pitching - Myths and facts

If you’re a Digital Marketing major, you may have heard about the Pitching sessions, But what exactly is it all about? And what should you expect? Let’s break down some common myths and facts to help you understand more about this!

What is the Digital Marketing client pitch?

In brief, the client pitch is part of RMIT’s Work Integrated Learning (WIL) approach. These courses enable students to tackle real-world business challenges in collaboration with industry or community partners.

You and your teammates will act like real marketing consultants: analysing problems, developing marketing strategies, and pitching innovative solutions to actual clients. It’s a hands-on experience that bridges what you learn in class with the real world.

After weeks of teamwork, research, and strategy development, selected groups with the best project outcomes will be invited to the Client Pitch Final Round. Here, you’ll deliver a professional pitch presentation directly to real clients, receive immediate feedback, and compete for recognition as one of the winning teams.

Excited? Maybe a little nervous too? But before you step into this challenge, let me share a bit from my own experience. I’ve had the opportunity to join the client pitch triple times in 2025 with my So Far So Good team with clients as Sun Life Vietnam, NIVEA Vietnam even bring home the highest title with Da Nang Department of Tourism. Through those experiences, I’ve learned a lot about what really happens behind the scenes. So from one student to another, here are some myths and facts to help you understand and better prepare for it when your time comes!

Common client pitches myths and facts

Myth 1: Only teams with the highest scores can get to the pitching round

Fact: The projects chosen for the client pitch are not necessarily the ones with the highest presentation scores. After all group presentations are submitted, the academic team reviews and discusses all the projects together. They then nominate the ones with the most creative and suitable ideas to send to the client team. From there, the client selects the top projects they want to hear from in the pitching round.

The selection process can be quite competitive, so nothing is guaranteed. What you can control is the quality of your work: invest time in research, draw clear key takeaways, develop strong solutions, and build solid executions. Think of it like working on a real case with your team by consulting your lecturers, refining each part carefully, and giving your best effort.

Also, don’t forget that being chosen to pitch doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get an HD. Your main submission still needs to demonstrate marketing theories and frameworks to prove your solution is both feasible and effective. So, balance creativity with solid theory to produce a well-rounded project, not just one that looks “pitchable.”

Myth 2: You must cover everything in detail in your pitch

Fact: A pitch is limited to only around 10 minutes, and your audience is made up of clients, not academics. They won’t focus too much on your full research process or methodology. Instead, what matters most is whether they can grasp your key insights and main ideas quickly and clearly.

A useful tip is to revise your slides for the pitch. Since this is a separate session from your in-class presentation, you can shorten or break up slides, highlight important keywords, and focus on the essential takeaways.

It’s also important to practice the tone and flow of your team’s delivery. Make sure everyone uses a consistent style, stays on time, and transitions smoothly between speakers. You can decide on the number of speakers, and the rest can handle logistics or Q&A.

Like in our first pitch, I was too nervous, and our presentation went over time and lost focus. The second time was better, but we still exceeded the limit. Finally, our recent pitch with the Da Nang Department of Tourism, we found what worked best for us. Three of us presented, one managed the monitor, and two handled the props. With clear roles and teamwork, we stayed on time and that balance was one of the key reasons behind our big win.

Myth 3: Beautiful slides alone are enough to impress the client

Fact: Having well-designed slides definitely helps, but what truly makes your pitch stand out is how you bring your ideas to life. Clients remember clear messages, practical strategies, and creative touches much more than fancy animations.

To enhance your presentation, think beyond the slides. One common and effective practice is to prepare a professional one-page handout or a mock-up of your creative assets. Hand it to the client before your pitch so they can keep and follow along easily.

You can also start with a short role-play to illustrate a key insight or pain point, or even bring in a simple stunt or prop to help visualise your creative concept. These small but intentional moments can instantly grab attention and help the client feel the idea rather than just hear it.

I also saw this firsthand during the Digital Marketing Communication client pitch in Semester B 2025, where RMIT Vietnam was the client. One of the teams creatively split their members into “RMIT” and “Student” roles to perform a short scene that captured the core insight behind their campaign. Later, during their recommendations, they even showcased a few marketing ideas live during the pitch. This not only sparked curiosity and excitement among the audience but also made their proposal feel more convincing and practical from a client’s perspective.

Looking ahead

The client pitch is not just about winning. It’s a chance for you to learn, try your best, and solve real problems. Focus on the process of doing solid research, building creative ideas, and presenting clearly. Don’t stress too much about whether you get selected or not. What matters most is how much you learn and grow through the experience.

This activity also prepares you to be a future marketer. As you’ll practice working in a team, managing deadlines, presenting confidently, and thinking fast, just like in a real job. These soft skills are extremely valuable, no matter which path you choose later.

Most importantly, client pitching helps you become a future-ready graduate. You’re applying what you learn in class to real situations and working with real businesses. Even if your team doesn’t win, the experience and skills you gain will stay with you and give you an advantage in the future.

Story: Hung Vu, a Digital Marketing student. This article does not reflect the views of RMIT Vietnam as an institution.

27 November 2025

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Digital Marketing client pitching - Myths and facts