An Elevator Pitch is a short well-crafted business pitch telling someone who you are and why they should have a follow-up meeting with you, at which time you can present yourself and your business. The name represents the amount of time you’d have if you were in an elevator with a decision maker from the bottom of the building to the top.
An Elevator Pitch should be universal and could be used during a networking event, cocktail party while shopping or even at sporting events. You must have a long version as well as a short version.
Practice your Elevator Pitch well enough that you can deliver the pitch in a conversational manner so that it does not sound “sales” or canned. A properly worked, rehearsed and delivered Elevator Pitch is the key to that next meeting and your success.
What are the basic components?
Your Name
Your Company’s Name
Your Defining Statement (think of this as your personal tagline)
Why Should I Schedule a Follow-up Meeting with You?
HINTS: Make it personal, tell me what my pain is and how you will relieve it and why would I want to follow-up with you.
| Don’t | Do |
| Don’t assume people know anything about you | Do treat everyone as a new prospect |
| Don’t run long on your pitch | Do keep it short and to the point |
| Don’t let the pitch sound too canned | Do practice to the point that it is conversational |
| Don’t come across as a salesperson | Do come across as a problem solver |
| Don’t be anxious or timid | Do be confident |
| Don’t use trade jargon | Do use language that everyone can understand |
| Don’t share facts that can be researched | Do share the environment and success |
| Don’t use canned sales terms | Do share success stories |