Capitalize on the Briefest Opportunity: Craft the Ultimate Elevator Speech
You know those moments. The CEO is standing in the elevator, and your idea is flawless. Nerves undercut these opportunities all the time because few people properly prepare for those 60 seconds.
The perfect elevator pitch ensures that those elevator doors are opening to more than just the fifth floor level. A well-delivered pitch can launch your career—or your business—into the successful place you’ve always dreamed about. But so many people don’t seize the opportunity when it’s in front of them. The key is having your pitch developed long before the moment arrives. When it does, you’ll be prepared and deliver your pitch with confidence.
What Makes a Good Elevator Pitch?
An elevator pitch can either be a 60-second verbal pitch or a written summary of your business objective. Elevator pitches are harder to craft than you think: they have to be compelling, memorable, and concise, so they leave a lasting impression in a short amount of time. Here’s how to do it.
Step One: Determine Your Goal
What is the end goal of your pitch? Do you want to explain your organization or idea? Do you want to sell a new product? Identify the problem that your audience has and how your idea offers a solution for it.
Step Two: Explain Your Solution
How does your idea or product solve the problem that you identified in step one? You should be excited when writing this part of the pitch. Your organization is creating a real solution for your customers’ problems! If you’re not excited when you’re writing your pitch, your audience won’t be excited listening to it.
Step Three: Explain What Makes You Different
There are plenty of other products and services out there that are in direct competition with your business. The way to make yours memorable is to explain what makes it different. This is called having a “unique selling point,” and it’s what will either turn your audience on or off. Find out what makes your idea the best, and back it up with facts.
Step Four: Close the Deal
Close the deal by making your audience think about your idea. Engage your audience by asking them a question. Make sure it’s an open-ended question that can’t be answered with a simple yes or no. The goal is to get them thinking about how your product, service, or business will benefit them.
Step Five: Polish and Practice
Once you’ve prepared your perfect elevator pitch, bring it all together and trim it down. Take out any information that isn’t absolutely vital. Your pitch should be 60 seconds or less with 30 seconds as ideal. Practice your pitch as often as possible and get used to delivering it. Pay attention to your body language and your tone. The goal is to deliver it naturally and with confidence.
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