It’s said pretty often that you never know when the right opportunity land on your desk…or in some cases, gets in with you in the elevator. An elevator pitch is exactly what you think it is. A pitch can be your ideas, abilities, products, or services that you want to sell to your audience in a short amount of time (approximately the duration of an elevator ride). You want to share your story with that “special someone” that could help you advance your career but the downside is, elevator pitches are nerve-wracking and can easily become overwhelming for the listener. Read our tips on how to effectively nail your next elevator pitch.
Keep It Short
Keep your pitch as short as possible. Start off by giving your audience a brief, one sentence summary of your product. State who you are, and explain your purpose, and avoid giving the full pitch right away. We want to draw your audience in, not overwhelm them with too much information. A great example would be, “My company, Employment Boost, is a career-focused company that has created effective resumes for 10k applicants to help increase their chance of landing their dream job”. After this statement, if there are no indications or questions to prompt you to continue, it may mean your audience is uninterested. This typically should be taken as a sign to move on to other topics.
Engage With Your Listener
If you have the green light to continue forward, ask questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no. Using our previous example, supplement your statement by asking questions such as, “Are you finding difficulty in hearing back from places you have applied to?” or “Did you know that 95% of Forbes 500 companies rely on Applicant Tracking Systems?”. This is your opportunity to educate your listener and give them a better understanding of the problem you’re solving.
In some cases, it could be beneficial to compare your subject to similar companies to help others gain a better understanding. Though this can be beneficial to help streamline understanding, it can also turn to play to your disadvantage. By comparing your idea to similar businesses in an attempt to familiarize your audience, there is the chance of your audience losing interest due to the large market for the subject you are trying to sell. Do your best to highlight one unique difference when making the comparisons. Avoid selling the “features” of your idea, abilities, products, or services. They do not belong in a pitch. Instead, focus on how the subject of your pitch will help solve problems.
Pause And Listen
Open the floor up for questions or comments. If your elevator guest wants to hear more, they’ll more than likely start to ask questions. Remember, if your audience seems uninterested, respectfully move on from the topic. Exchange your contact information and follow up in the near future.