7 Simple Steps to Create Your Elevator Pitch

What’s Your Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a script that quickly summarizes who you are and what you do in 30 seconds or less. If crafted properly, your elevator pitch is an effective tool to briefly communicate what it is you do when asked in passing, such as in an elevator.

7 Simple Steps to Create Your Elevator Pitch

1. What Do You Want to Say?

First figure out what you want to say. When someone expresses an interest in you, what would you like to convey about who you are and what you do? Would your message be focused on your job, your family, church, organization or affiliation? Maybe it would focus on your philanthropic endeavors, recreational or hobby interests?

Decide what your main theme focus will be because remember, you’re limited to only 30 seconds.

2. Opening Statement

You’re opening statement should state what you do or want to convey, though it’s not enough to simply state such a thing bluntly. You need to dress it up a bit.

For instance, you could say, “I’m a dog groomer.” Dressed up, you might say, “I am a pet stylist who captures and highlights the personality of each pet in my salon.”

3. What Makes You Different?

No matter what your message is your 30 second audience may not have the time, nor the inclination, to ask you about why they should even care about what you have to say, so you must assert a unique perspective about your message that could pique their interest.

It should be something that sets you apart from what their initial assumption might be about what you could be saying.

“The pets that I serve don’t just go to the barber shop, when they come to my salon. It’s like a complete day spa experience for my animal clients and there’s a recreation area for my guests who bring them in.”

4. Ask Them a Question

You should always end your elevator pitch with a question that cannot be simply answered with a “yes” or “no” response. You want to give them an opportunity to engage with you, and asking them an open-ended question invites them to actually process what you have intimated to them in this brief presentation.

“Put yourself in your pet’s shoes for just a minute; what would you want your pet grooming experience to be like?”

5. Wrap It Up

Combine all your elevator pitch components and you’re almost ready to go.

“I am a pet stylist who captures and highlights the personality of each pet in my salon.”

“The pets that I serve don’t just go to the barber shop, when they come to my salon. It’s like a complete day spa experience for my animal clients and there’s a recreation area for my guests who bring them in. So everyone has a good time.”

“Put yourself in your pet’s shoes for just a minute; what would you want your pet grooming experience to be like?”

6. Practice Your Elevator Pitch

Memorize it and practice it so it doesn’t sound canned when you deliver your elevator pitch.

7. Give Them Something

If possible, it’s always more beneficial to leave something with someone in the event they might like to contact you, or the organization you’ve represented at some time in the future. Something like a business card, small brochure or leaflet with contact information on it might be appropriate.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *