Pitch Perfect

Do you have an elevator pitch? Do you even know what an elevator pitch is? It’s basically your 20-30 second response when people ask what you do. This is the perfect opportunity to grab someone’s attention and engage him or her by sharing your brand message. But it has to be short — really short — and so compelling that it will knock their socks off.

Let’s say you’re at a networking event and your ideal client asks what your company does. Then you freeze… What do you say? How do you explain what you do in a way that sounds appealing and beneficial to them?

This is where your elevator pitch comes in handy. This pre-prepared speech clearly and concisely explains what you do in a way that sparks interest. You may just get one chance to speak to them so be ready. Here are a few tips to help you prepare:

1.     Identify what it is you want to communicate

2.     Explain what you do and/or what makes your company unique

3.     Say something interesting and memorable

4.     Make sure it’s no more than 30 seconds

5.     Practice: Write it down and say it until it sounds natural

Don’t feel frustrated if you find yourself revising your pitch a few times. It’s OK. Sometimes, it takes a few attempts to create a pitch that is compelling and natural.

If you’re a “Boss Mom” speaking to another mom, mention your kids in conversation. Finding something you have in common creates a connection and then you can build trust from there and share what you do. Just be sure to keep your audience in mind and tailor your pitch as needed.

Whether you’re selling products or services, you want to appeal to your ideal client on an emotional level by telling them what type of experience they will be getting when they hire you.

Here’s an example:

I'm a content strategist and my business offers editorial and creative services, as well as turnkey project management. We bring stories to life in print and digital format. How does that benefit you? I take the worry of producing and managing content strategies off your daily “to-do” list so you can focus on growing your business. And even though you’re no longer worried about creating content that speaks to your target audience, my job is to make your company an active participant in the conversation between you and your customers. By doing this, I’m offering you more time, less stress and meaningful connections.

How do I summarize all this into a quick elevator pitch? Here’s one option.

I’m a content strategist. I help busy professionals focus on growing their business by taking care of all their content development needs. This includes copywriting, graphic design and project management. If you can ditch the content creation overwhelm, you can spend more time selling your products or services and fueling your passion.

Maybe I’ll revise this a couple more times. But that’s OK, right?

Oh, and one more thing. Make sure you’re excited about your message! People may not remember everything you say, but they will remember how enthusiastic you were about what you do.

Now go share your magic with the world!