The Elevator Pitch – Ultimate Guide to Selling Yourself
In this guide, we'll show you the best way to pitch your idea as a way to gain traction when you're starting.
The elevator pitch is the simplest way to sum up, who you are and what you do in 30 seconds or less. What would you say if you were having coffee with someone who knew nothing about you, and all you could talk about was your business? This is your elevator pitch.
An elevator pitch is a brief speech describing your company and services to potential clients. It gives them a snapshot of your offering and why you're the best fit.
The elevator pitch is the most crucial part of your sales funnel. If you can get a client to listen to you talk about what you're offering in seconds, you can close the sale immediately!
How to Sell Yourself Like A Pro
Selling yourself is easy, but getting the right person to buy your idea can be challenging. You want to sell yourself to the best people that fit your business goals. It would be best if you mastered the art of selling yourself like a pro to do that. Here are the top 4 tips to help you sell yourself like a pro in your elevator pitch.
Get To Know Your Audience
It's essential to know your audience when selling yourself. You need to know what they like, what they don't like, and what makes them tick. Find out their pain points, what they are willing to pay for, and what they are not willing to pay for.
Be Professional
When trying to sell yourself, you need to project a professional image. This means you must dress, carry yourself, and have your hair and makeup done professionally. You should try and look and sound like you belong at the place you're pitching.
Don't Oversell Yourself
You have to be realistic about your abilities. You are not the only one selling yourself. Many people are doing the same thing. So, you need to make sure that you are the best. Make it clear that you are the expert on the subject and know the product inside out.
Don't Tell Too Much
Don't talk too much. Keep your presentation brief and to the point. You don't want to overwhelm your audience with too much information. If you go over the allotted time, your potential customer might feel bored and give up on you.
Why an Elevator Pitch is Important
An elevator pitch is a quick and succinct summary of what you want to talk about in less than 60 seconds. It's a one-sentence answer to the question, “What would you talk about with me?” You can use it in any context: in person, via phone, or online.
There are several types of elevator pitches:
- An interest-based pitch. This is a pitch that's about something that interests you. For example, “I'm fascinated by the rise of social media.”
- An issue-based pitch. This is a pitch that's about an issue that you care about. For example, “I'm very concerned about climate change.”
- An expertise-based pitch. This is a pitch that's about something you know a lot about. For example, “I'm a skilled designer, so I'll show you some of my recent projects.”
- A question-based pitch. This is a pitch that's about a question you're asking people. For example, “Do you have any questions about the new online learning platform?”
- A call to action. This is a pitch that's about what you want people to do. For example, “If you're interested, we could go into more detail.”
- A relationship pitch. This pitch is about what you want to achieve with someone, such as “I'd love to help you plan your event.”
If you don't have a great elevator pitch, ask yourself:
- Why am I doing this?
- What will it achieve?
- What is it about me that people would want to hear?
Once you have a clear idea, it's time to craft a short, compelling, and tailored pitch to your audience. There are five rules to follow:
Rule 1: Speak in the present tense
The key to crafting a powerful elevator pitch is to keep it simple. Avoid using jargon and stick to the facts. Think about the time and place of your presentation, too.
Rule 2: Use the correct verb
Choose the best verb for your subject.
For example, use the verb launch if describing a new product. If you're explaining a service you offer, use the verb to deliver.
Rule 3: Pick the right tone
A pitch should sound confident and enthusiastic, and you should avoid using ‘we'.
Rule 4: Keep it short
A good elevator pitch should be no longer than two sentences.
If you're nervous about speaking to someone, it's a good idea to practice your pitch with someone who knows you well and is willing to give you constructive feedback.
Rule 5: Always say ‘Thank you'
After your meeting, send a thank you email to anyone you spoke to. You might have met someone during the meeting, so thank them, too.
What are the 7 Essential Elements of an Elevator Pitch?
Elevator pitches are vital tools for developing strong relationships and getting the attention of busy people.
They're the first thing you'll need to learn to get and keep a job. A successful elevator pitch is the most powerful tool to get ahead in your career.
Whether you're pitching a client or a new opportunity, a great elevator pitch is essential for landing new business. And the more you practice, the better you'll get at it.
Here are the seven things you need to know about elevator pitches:
- Be prepared. The most common mistake people make when preparing to deliver an elevator pitch is trying to sound professional. This can lead to clunky, awkward pitches. Instead, focus on being clear, concise and confident. It doesn't matter if you sound conversational or have memorised your speech; you're delivering your pitch to people with whom you don't have a personal connection.
- Know your audience. Before you begin speaking, consider your audience. Who is it you're pitching to? What do they like? What concerns do they have? Knowing this information will help you prepare and deliver a compelling pitch.
- Know your story. Your story is your elevator pitch. But it's not just a rehash of your resume. It's a condensed version of your life's journey — your path to success. Why did you go where you went, what have you learned, and how has your background prepared you for your next opportunity?
- Find the right words. Your words aren't magic. You have to find the right ones to convey the message you want to deliver. Think about your pitch as a conversation between you and your target audience. You're not trying to convince someone to agree with you; you're trying to make them understand your point of view. If you think your message will resonate with your audience, it will. If you don't, then it won't.
- Be authentic. The biggest mistake people make when delivering their elevator pitch is acting like someone else. People are naturally drawn to authenticity. When selling yourself, you need to show them who you are and why they should be interested in you.
- Know your objective. The elevator pitch is a strategic tool for getting your foot in the door, getting someone to listen to you, or making a deal. When you're planning your elevator pitch, know what you want. This will help you hone your message and determine whether it's working.
- Keep practising. Practice your pitch. Have someone you trust read it to you. If you feel nervous, rehearse it until you feel comfortable. When you feel ready, practice delivering it to someone who isn't likely to become a friend.
How to Prepare a Great Elevator Pitch
When pitching to investors, you want to give them a good elevator pitch. In other words, you should have a succinct, compelling description of what your startup does and why they should care.
So what is a great elevator pitch? And what should you do to make yours great?
The first step in writing an elevator pitch is understanding the purpose of an elevator pitch. An elevator pitch is a simple explanation of what your startup does.
An elevator pitch isn't something you give to potential customers. It's something you give to investors.
Investors don't want to hear a sales pitch. They want to know who you are, what problem you're solving, and why they should care. So to write a great elevator pitch, you need to start by figuring out what you do and why you should matter.
When writing an elevator pitch, you should try to tell your startup's story. This means focusing on the customer and what problem they have.
Think about your customer in terms of demographics and psychographics. What kind of people are your customers? What problems do they face?
Once you understand your customer, you can start thinking about the problem you're trying to solve. Start thinking about what you're offering that others don't.
Now that you've got the customer and the problem, you can start writing the pitch. When writing an elevator pitch, you want to focus on the benefits of your startup.
Your elevator pitch should describe what problem you solve and why it matters to the customer.
It will help if you start by describing what problem your startup solves. It would be best to discuss the problem, why it matters, and how it affects your customer.
Remember: You're not selling anything. Instead, you're giving a simple explanation of what problem your startup solves and why that problem matters.
Here are a few examples of good elevator pitches:
- “We're a new web app that helps people find the perfect doctor.”
- “Our product lets doctors search and track patients.”
- “We're building the world's best chatbot for doctors.”
- “We're creating a platform that allows doctors to communicate with patients easily.”
The more specific you can be, the better. Don't fall into the trap of using buzzwords that you think investors will like. Your elevator pitch needs to be accurate and precise. If you can't describe your startup in a few sentences, you're probably not ready to write a great pitch.
How to Deliver a Great Elevator Pitch
Elevator pitches are short introductions to your business, idea, product, service, or company. An elevator pitch can be a 10-minute or 30-second pitch, but it has to be compelling. People rarely get a second chance to make a great first impression, so your elevator pitch must be perfect.
A good elevator pitch can mean the difference between success and failure. Even if you can deliver a well-thought-out, polished, and convincing presentation at your next pitch, there's still no guarantee that they will choose your company. So it's essential to practice your elevator pitch before you need it.
The key to delivering a great elevator pitch is practice. The best way to improve is to practice. We've put together a step-by-step plan to help you practice your elevator pitch and make it as memorable as possible.
1: Get feedback
Your first step to improving your elevator pitch is to get feedback. You can catch any mistakes if you can hear your pitch.
2: Create a pitch deck
Your next step is to create a pitch deck. A pitch deck is a collection of documents and images to inspire and inform the audience you're pitching.
When you're pitching, you need to convey three things:
- Your idea
- Why your idea matters
- What you can do for the recipient of your idea
Create a pitch deck that focuses on these three points. Use a simple design and easy-to-read fonts. Make sure your pitch deck conveys your story effectively.
3: Do a dry run
Once you've completed your pitch deck, you should schedule a dry run. This is when you rehearse your pitch. You might do this in a public space, in front of an audience, or a room full of people. It could be a pitch competition, a mock interview, a board meeting, or even a sales call.
4: Record yourself
If you have the option to record yourself, record your pitch and listen back. This allows you to hear yourself and see if anything stands out.
5: Listen to your recording
Listen to your recording and figure out what works and doesn't. You might hear your voice sound nervous, like you're talking too fast, or you might hear your voice sounding too excited. You might hear yourself getting off track.
6: Get feedback
Ask your friends and family to listen to your recording and give feedback. You can ask them to focus on your body language, voice, pacing, and delivery.
7: Revise
After you've received feedback, you can revise your pitch. This is when you go back through your pitch deck and address any issues with your delivery or content.
Conclusion
A good elevator pitch doesn't have to be complicated or fancy. It needs to be concise, clear, and memorable. It doesn't have to be overly technical or contain complex jargon.
A good pitch has to speak to your product or service directly and clearly. That means your pitch needs to address the benefits you offer to potential customers. A good pitch will also be specific and target the right audience, and it can be something you can memorise. The best pitches are always a combination of these factors.
Check out the free guide on how to stand out from the crowd and give yourself the elevator pitch you need.
