AI-Written RFP Fail: Why Pitches Collapse Embracing Marketing Mistakes podcast

AI-Written RFP Fail: Why Pitches Collapse

10d ago 39:08

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What do you do when your big pitch idea quite literally vanishes in front of the client? For James Tomlinson, it involved a magician, a torn-up Financial Times, and the most awkward silence of his career.

In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, James reveals the pitch fails that taught him more than any win ever could from sanding a CEO’s boardroom table to dealing with AI-written briefs that make no sense. With two decades in agency leadership, he now helps brands and agencies avoid the same time-wasting, budget-draining mistakes.

Expect brutal honesty, plenty of laughs, and practical lessons on how to run pitches that actually work.

🎧 Because sometimes, the best way to learn about winning… is by talking about the fails that nearly broke you.

Is your strategy still right for 2026? Book a free 15-min discovery call to get tailored insights to boost your brand’s growth. 👉 [Book your call with Chris now] 👈

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Chapters

1. Setting Up the Problem: Broken Briefs (00:00:00)

2. James’s Background & Why Pitches Fail (00:03:31)

3. Qualifying Better: Hit Rates and Focus (00:06:17)

4. Brand-Side Pitfalls and AI-Written RFPs (00:08:37)

5. Alignment, Budget Approval, Transparency (00:11:45)

6. Finding Agencies & Intermediary Red Flags (00:13:53)

7. Shortlists That Work, Processes That Scale (00:16:48)

8. Chemistry That Matters: Examples & Immersions (00:19:53)

9. Etiquette in Competitive Rooms (00:22:38)

10. No Budget, No Pitch: Getting Numbers (00:24:18)

11. More Red Flags & Governance (00:26:43)

12. Timelines: First Ideas vs Best Ideas (00:28:53)

13. Theatre with Purpose, Not Waste (00:30:53)

14. Pitch Nightmares: Magic Tricks and Sandpaper (00:33:43)

15. Being Memorable, Human, and Honest (00:37:38)

16. Smart Stunts and Contextual Creativity (00:39:53)

116 episodes