But… how do we do it? What must we do to pass that first test and get our listeners’ attention?
If you want to get the answers to all these questions, keep reading until the end. Today, at Not Boring Jobs, we're going to tell you all about the elevator pitch and how you can make one that will convince all your prospects. Get ready for your stellar speech, get comfortable, and without further ado, let's get started!
What is an elevator pitch?
The elevator pitch is a quick and concise speech that usually lasts between 45 seconds and a minute . For this reason, it is also called an elevator speech , since it is really similar to an encounter in an elevator, where you have a few seconds to start a conversation and surprise someone.
This speech is intended to arouse the interest of an audience , usually executives, in an emerging idea or project.
It is a derivation of the classic persuasive speech, but in this one an attempt is made to convey an idea in a clear, brief and concise way , due to how dizzying and immediate the business ecosystem usually is.
The approach is different from that of a speech for a job interview . Despite the brevity, it is necessary to captivate the listeners , so the speaker must make an effort to convey his passion for the project in a short period of time.
To make a good elevator speech, you should not make a detailed description of the project without appealing to its most attractive arguments , in order to obtain concrete actions from potential clients, advertisers, a possible investor or even the media.
In this short period of time you must be aware of what you offer your listeners in short sentences . Remember that it is very likely that the people you are addressing will have very little time to listen to you, so you will have to emphasize your value proposition.
An elevator pitch is usually used to present a business idea. The goal is to arrange a subsequent meeting with potential clients or those interested in the new business, once the value proposition has been made known.
In the business world, this speech is widely used by companies as a strategic tool to create new agreements and opportunities in the market. It has become so important in recent years that even the Harvard Business School has given some tips for making a good elevator pitch .
But the elevator pitch is not only used in the business world, you can also use it to introduce yourself and give some personal information at the famous networking events . Although it is more recommended in the business field, it can also be adapted for other uses.
What are the keys to a good elevator pitch?
Imagine you meet your future investor in an elevator: What would you say to convince him of your project? What would be the most important points? What can you leave for the gambling data turkey phone number next meeting? Don't be afraid, there are several key points when making a good elevator pitch . With so little time, the possibilities are reduced and those few seconds will be your business card, so use them well! First of all, you must be sure of what you are going to talk about and, to do so, it is important that you practice your speech out loud beforehand.
Then, in the moment, you need to convey a direct and realistic message about how your project will make a certain difference in a market. Although it won't be the same as a sales pitch, you do need to speak with passion and convince prospects in a short amount of time.
Try to use few words, simple structures, agile and fluid language and a persuasive tone .
It is essential to be able to summarize your project description into essential ideas and organize them in an attractive and hierarchical way.
The 5 characteristics that must be present in an elevator pitch are:
Creativity
Assertiveness
Capacity for synthesis
Public awareness
Anticipation of possible doubts
After you have organized these ideas, prepare your speech and underline the most relevant phrases. Ideally, you don't want to memorize it, but you should remember the value proposition and the key points that will help convince prospects of your business idea.
6 steps to create an effective elevator pitch
It may seem difficult to make a good pitch, but don't worry! At Not Boring Jobs, we'll tell you in a simple way how to do it. To successfully develop a good elevator pitch example , you should create a script like this:
1. Introduce yourself as the project leader in a quick and concise manner and then present your product or service without beating around the bush . After this first step, briefly state the problem or need that you will be solving.
2. After your presentation speech, explain that you don't want to reach everyone, but rather a specific group and briefly describe it. It is important that you emphasize who your buyer persona is . If you reach the right target audience, you will save a lot of resources and, of course, time on the wrong people who are most likely not interested in your product or service.
3. Mention how your competition operates and how you plan to surpass or differentiate yourself from what they offer. This is a key point if you don't want to be part of the crowd. Here you should focus on the value proposition and the differentiating element that will make your product a good potential investment.
4. This is the most crucial part. If you've done it right, you'll already have your listeners' full attention, so it's time to talk about explaining how your project works and highlight the most attractive arguments . Remember that you don't have much time, so don't go on too long; you can leave the less important details for the second meeting. It's essential that you mention how your product works and what solutions you can provide with it.
5. By now, your listeners will be wondering how you plan to achieve what you are saying, so you need to explain to them what you plan to offer .
6. Give your speech a good closing by reaffirming the value of the proposal and what makes it different within the market you are targeting. This is a good time to highlight the most important points . This way, your listeners will remember what your proposal was.
Finally, always remain authentic and confident in everything you are saying, and convey that feeling to your listeners. Remember that no matter how good your speech may be, if you don't have good body language, it will be of no use.
Finally, be careful with your tone of voice, so that it is neither too loud nor too low. To do this, it is valuable to practice the speech beforehand, and even, if possible, in front of a friend or family member. This way, they will be able to notice if your tone of voice is appropriate and if you are using good posture and body language.
