How do you respond when someone asks: What do you do?
Do you scramble to think of something to say, or do you give a twenty-minute speech? Neither, hopefully.
In an ideal world, you give a wonderfully-communicated, interesting overview of who you are and what you do. You give the perfect elevator pitch!
An “elevator pitch” is a concise, compelling introduction that can be communicated in the duration of an elevator ride. In other words, your spiel should last about thirty seconds. Being able to clearly communicate who you are and what you do is a skill that everyone should master. No matter how short the conversation, you should be able to quickly and effectively get your most important points across.
Don’t have an award-winning elevator pitch? No worries! Follow the guide below to craft the perfect introduction:
- Start from Scratch
Make a list of up to 10 things you want to convey about yourself, your service, or your company. Your list should include only the most important pieces of information:
What do you do? What have you accomplished? What are your goals? What makes your company different? Focus on what really sets you apart from others.
- Revise
Look over your list with a critical eye. Get rid of anything that’s redundant, unclear, or just unnecessary.
Now that you’re left with your most important points, really study them. What can you strengthen and enhance? Be specific. “I’m great at investing,” isn’t nearly as interesting as “I bought my 700th property last month.”
- Get in Order
Remember, you don’t know if that client you’ve been dying to land will be getting off the elevator at the fourth floor, or the twenty-seventh! In other words, put your most important pieces of information first. Expect to get cut off before you’ve had the chance to finish your pitch.
- Be Intriguing
Add an attention-getter at the beginning of your speech to immediately engage your listener. Your attention-grabber could come in the form of an interesting fact or statistic.
- Practice
Practice makes perfect! Recite your elevator pitch to someone that will offer constructive feedback. Sometimes things sound great on paper, but fragmented or confusing when spoken aloud. Practice for anyone who will listen. Four opinions are better than one!
- Be Your Biggest Fan!
Speak with dignity and integrity. Show pride in who you are and what you do. You have to believe in yourself before anyone else will!
You’re now ready to craft the perfect elevator pitch!
Your introduction will be perfect for job interviews, networking events, a sales pitch, and so many other scenarios! If need be, remember to tailor your pitch for different audiences. It’s also a good idea to always keep a few business cards on you. You never know who you’ll run into!
