by Author bigmallet

Published on

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60 seconds to impress: Crafting your elevator pitch

Isn’t it just the way… You’re half-asleep, stumbling into the lift one morning when you look up and see the Chief Executive of that company you have desperate to talk about your cause standing right next to you!

What do you do? Go tongue-tied, blush and spend the valuable 60 seconds you have wondering how to introduce yourself? Or launch into your winning ‘elevator pitch’ and walk out with a business card and an opportunity to meet more formally?|

Ok, so in reality, elevator pitches rarely take place actually in an elevator, but those opportunities to sell what you do to a specific audience and get the outcome you want are all around us; networking events, conferences or the pub! We all just need the confidence to be able to sum up what we want, succinctly and persuasively.

Search ‘Elevator Pitch’ on the internet and a myriad of websites and YouTube videos tell you what to do and what to avoid. Whether to a prospective employer, investor or partner, the structure and rules are pretty much the same.

A good Elevator Pitch tells the listener;

  • Who you are
  • What issue/challenge you are seeking to overcome
  • What activities you undertake to make this happen
  • Why they should engage with you further – and how

So what are the golden rules of an elevator pitch?

  1. Be Concise. An excellent pitch is no longer than 60 seconds.
  2. Be Clear. Don’t use jargon or fancy words. Use simple language that everyone understands.
  3. Be Powerful. Use strong and positive words.
  4. Be Visual. Ty and create a memorable image in your listeners mind.
  5. Be Targeted. There is no ‘one size fits all’ elevator pitch – tailor yours for each specific audience you may come across.
  6. Be Focused. What is your desired specific outcome or objective? Do you want a meeting with the individual or enlist support for an idea for example?
  7. Be Enticing. Make sure you have a hook to ‘snag’ your listener's interest and make them want to know more.

So give it a go! Find 5 minutes and scribble some notes, then grab a colleague or friend and test if out. Or why not post your Elevator Pitch below and see what others think of it (positive criticism only please!).