Developing Your Elevation Pitch

Imagine that you have walked into the first floor of a multi-level office building and you press the elevator button to go up to the 10^th floor. The elevator arrives, the doors open, you and four other people walk onto the elevator. As you begin to ascend, someone on the elevator greets you and asks where you are headed. What do you say?

This is where an elevator pitch becomes an important piece of your business building strategy. It is important that you are able to communicate clearly, concisely and confidently who you are, what you do and who you do it for. Don't be fooled by the thought of the location of the pitch. Even though this brief statement is developed with the notion of being in an elevator, there are many locations where you get a short window to give your pitch.

While it is a standard thought that you have 30 seconds to give your "pitch" on an elevator ride,I have a different thought about this. In today's environment of smartphones, Mp3 systems and other personal technology devices, you have about 10 seconds to capture the other person's interest before they begin to think about looking at their phone or they get that glazed over look of disinterest. You have a small window and a few seconds to make the moment count.

Tips to Prepare Your Pitch:

1. Develop a relevant and targeted pitch that describes your business is practicing your pitch out loud, regularly. Practice in front of the mirror with family and friends. You should know your pitch like you know your home address. Become intimately familiar with your pitch.
2. Your pitch should include the value you would bring to any client considering doing business with you, or even referring your business to their colleagues and friends. Individuals are looking for the "what's in it for me" statement in your pitch. The thing that resonates with them.
3. Prepare for questions with succinct answers. Nailing your pitch is one thing, but what happens if your prospect asks a question that is outside or opposite of what you stated in your pitch? Work through developing answers for opposing questions which your prospect just may ask.
4. Remember that your pitch is not all about it. It is more about who you provide your service to, their problem and your solution. Minimize highlighting your credentials. Remember, you have about ten seconds to capture their attention.
5. Let the passion show. Even with all the practice and preparation, you should not deliver your pitch like a rehearsed or memorized script. Let your passion come through and be yourself. People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Even though you are pitching your business service to them they want to know that you care.

You can develop your elevator pitch my answering the following questions:

• 1. What service do you provide?
• 2. Who do you provide the service for?
• 3. What is your prospect/target's problem?
• 4. What is your solution for their problem?
• 5. What you want to be known for?