Sell the Art you WANT to Make with Ben Levy

This week on Pixel Retentive Podcast, I sat down with Ben Levy, an advertising creative director with a unique talent - turning awful presenters into great ones. Once a self-proclaimed terrible speaker himself, Ben has mastered the art of pitching creative ideas and now helps others do the same. With years of industry experience, a new book on the way, and a knack for cutting through the noise, Ben shares the secrets to selling the work you truly want to make. If you've ever struggled with client presentations, this episode is packed with gold.  

 

What You’ll Learn:

• Why selling creative work is really about solving client problems.
• The power of authenticity in presentations - ditch the “business mask”.
• How to break free from boring pitch decks and make an impact from slide one.
• The importance of relationships and networking in creative business.
• Why you should think of client interactions like dating - you want the right fit, not just any fit.
• Small tweaks to instantly improve your presentation skills.

"The goal is not to sell the work. The goal is to solve the client’s problem. It just so happens that we believe the work is the best way to do that." - Ben Levy  

Ben hits on a crucial mindset shift here. Too often, we walk into meetings thinking, I have to convince them to buy this idea. But if you focus instead on collaborating to solve their problem, you take the pressure off and create space for real conversations. It’s about building trust—when clients feel like you understand their challenges, they’re far more likely to buy into your vision.  

 

Overview:
This episode was full of real talk about the creative industry. Ben and I got into everything from overcoming imposter syndrome to winning clients by just being yourself. We talked about how most pitches are done completely wrong - leading with dull cover slides, over-explaining ideas, and failing to set the vision from the start. Instead, Ben suggests flipping the script: start with the dream outcome and work backward. We also dove into the importance of networking, why some clients just aren’t the right fit, and how every presentation should feel more like a conversation, not a speech. If you want to ace client meetings and sell the art you actually want to make, this one’s a must-listen.