Do you have your elevator pitch ready? If not, keep reading. Elevator pitches are important because they give you a quick, concise way to sell yourself or your business. They’re also great for networking, as they can help you make an excellent first impression and start a conversation.
Think of an elevator pitch as a quick way to introduce yourself and your business. You don’t want to go into too much detail, but you want to be clear and concise. The goal is to get the other person interested in learning more about you or your business.
Know your audience.
Before you can even begin to formulate your elevator pitch, you need to know who you’re pitching to. Are they potential customers? Investors? Partners? Employees? Each group will have different needs and wants, so it’s important to tailor your pitch accordingly.
Keep it short and sweet.
An elevator pitch is called an “elevator pitch” for a reason – because it should be short enough to deliver in the time, it takes to ride an elevator (about 30 seconds). So make every word count!
Hook them with a strong opening.
You only have a few seconds to make an excellent first impression, so ensure your opening is vital. Avoid starting with a dull “my company does x, y, and z” – instead, focus on something unique or interesting about your business that will pique your listener’s curiosity.
Focus on what you can do for them.
Your elevator pitch should be about what you can do for the other person, not what you want from them. So think about what pain points your listener might have and how you can solve them.
Practice, practice, practice!
Like with anything else in life, practice makes perfect. So don’t wait until the day of your big pitch to start preparing – the more you practice, the better (and more confident) you’ll be when it comes time to deliver.
