Crafting an Irresistible Elevator Pitch: How to Promote Yourself in 30 Seconds or Less
In today’s fast paced and ever moving world, it’s really important to be able to succinctly yet effectively communicate what you do for a living to others. And this isn’t just about explaining your job to family friends during holiday gatherings while you’re back in town. It’s about clearly articulating your professional identity and what you bring to the table during industry interactions, interviews, work events, client meetings, and even casual corporate happy hours. In this article, we share tips and tricks to craft the perfect elevator pitch and how to promote yourself in 30 seconds or less. Let’s get into it!
The importance of the elevator pitch
Whether you’re meeting someone at a networking event, introducing yourself in a professional setting, or simply striking up a conversation in a casual environment, an elevator pitch has the power to set you apart and leave a lasting impression on the listener. This brief yet persuasive ‘speech’ if you will allows you to convey who you are, what you do, and the value you bring. And it’s purposefully designed to spark interest in a short amount of time – typically the duration of an elevator ride, hence the name.
- Creates a Memorable First Impression: A well-crafted elevator pitch captures the attention of those around you and helps you stand out in a crowd of otherwise seemingly similar professionals. Like a resume, this is your time to impress with a few words and draw someone in wanting to learn more.
- Communicates Your Value Clearly: Not only should your elevator pitch impress those around you, but it should also clearly and concisely articulate your professional journey to date and the contributions you have made in the various roles you’ve held. It should be easy for others to follow along, understand your general skills, and get a sense of how you would fit into a broader corporate environment.
- Enhances Networking Opportunities: Having a ready pitch can open the doors to more effective networking and could even open the doors to other unexpected connections. For example, you might casually share your elevator pitch at a work happy hour event, and the person you’re speaking with becomes so interested in your experiences that they ask to schedule a follow-up call to discuss potential employment opportunities.
- Boosts Confidence: Knowing you have a solid pitch at your disposal can also ease any anxiety you may feel in social situations and increase your confidence in walking into a room of people you don’t know very well.
The need to a prepared pitch
While you may not always be prepping for a formal interview, having a prepared (and practiced!) elevator pitch is always a good idea. By practicing and fine tuning the words and sequencing ahead of time, you can ensure that you don’t leave out any critical experiences or skills. After all, whether you’re at a conference, meeting a new colleague, or just chatting with co-workers, being able to articulate your professional identity clearly will just serve you well and enhance your personal brand.
A word of advice—many people think it’s enough to just have a rough outline of the elevator pitch in their head and improvise the delivery for a more natural tone. At ReysUp, we believe this is a mistake. Instead, we recommend having your elevator pitch fully polished and rehearsed ahead of time. We suggest writing out all of the words and practicing it repeatedly until it flows naturally and doesn’t sound too rehearsed. But more on this topic later in the article.
Components of the elevator pitch
A strong elevator pitch typically consists of four main parts: Introduction, Value Proposition, Unique Selling Point, and Call to Action. Below we break these down further with some examples.
Part 1: Introduction
The introduction establishes who you are and sets the stage for the remainder of your pitch. It should be engaging, relatable, but to the point. An engaging introductory line instantly helps listeners connect with you and keeps them interested. This ensures they stick around and are eager to hear what you have to say next.
How this might sound in practice: “Hi, I’m Jane Doe, a marketing strategist with over five years of experience in digital marketing and content creation.”
Part 2: Value Proposition
Next up is the value proposition. This is the section of your pitch where you articulate what you do and highlight your primary skills or services. Remember, you have to choose your words wisely here, since this is a super quick pitch. For that reason, make sure to highlight your most impressive skills and the most salient parts of your role. For example, if a small portion of your role involves a side project that takes up just 5% of your time, don’t waste valuable words in your pitch mentioning it. Focus instead on the key, impactful aspects of your work that you want to be known for and are core to what you do.
How this might sound in practice: “I specialize in helping small businesses grow their online presence and drive sales through targeted social media campaigns and compelling content.”
Part 3: Your Unique Selling Point
This is arguably the most important part of your elevator pitch. This is the part where you differentiate yours;f from others in your field and showcases what makes you unique and special. A quick tip we like to share with individuals looking to improve their elevator pitch is to do some discovery before you go into your pitch. Take a moment to get to know the person you’re speaking with—learn what they care about and what they’re looking for in their next hire. When you reach the unique selling point in your pitch, incorporate a few tailored phrases that align with what you’ve just learned. Since you have practiced the speech so many times, adding a few unrehearsed lines shouldn’t throw you off your game too much.
How this might sound in practice: “What sets me apart is my data-driven approach, which allows me to create campaigns that are not only creative but also based on what we know consumers actually want. We don’t do anything unless there is a compelling data reason to do it and when we do decide to do something, we measure its impact meticulously and make any adjustments as needed.”
Part 4: Call to Action
As the final part of your pitch, it’s really important to land this section correctly. This is where you invite further conversation or action from the listener. A strong call to action encourages the listener to take the next step, whether that’s scheduling a meeting or exchanging contact information.
How this might sound in practice: “I’d love to chat more about how I can help your business grow. Can we schedule a coffee chat next week?”
Various forums for using an elevator pitch
As mentioned earlier, you can use an elevator pitch in a ton of different settings. It’s isn’t just reserved for professional networking events. Below are a few places where this well prepared speech may come in handy:
- Networking Events: When meeting new people in your industry, a clear and articulate pitch can facilitate connections and future opportunities.
- Professional Conferences: Workshops or speaking panels are great opportunities to introduce yourself to fellow attendees and speakers with a crisp and impactful pitch.
- Social Gatherings: Casual events that can lead to professional connections; sharing your pitch can spark interest from those around you when you least expect it!
- Job Fairs: An elevator pitch can help you stand out to potential employers as you navigate through various booths and stand out amongst hundreds of other candidates around you.
- Interviews: Even in interviews, an elevator pitch can serve as a powerful introduction, setting the tone for the conversation and even breaking the ice in some situations.
- Online Platforms: In virtual networking spaces or on professional social media sites like LinkedIn, your elevator pitch can bolster your profile and brand.
How to practice your elevator pitch
Remember, practice makes perfect! Practicing your elevator pitch is essential to ensure you deliver it confidently and naturally. Below we share some practice methods we love.
1. Mirror Practice
Stand in front of a mirror and literally recite your pitch to yourself. This technique helps you observe your body language and facial expressions while also refining your delivery and words.
2. Record Yourself
Use your smartphone to record your pitch. Listening to the playback allows you to identify areas for improvement in tone, pace, and even clarity.
3. Rehearse with Friends or Family
Share your pitch with trusted friends or family members. They can provide constructive feedback and suggest adjustments to make it more impactful.
4. Join Toastmasters or Similar Groups
Toastmasters and similar public speaking clubs provide supportive environments to practice public speaking and pitching making. These forums provide rich feedback and workshops to practice delivery and body language.
5. Simulate Real Scenarios
Create scenarios where you would need to deliver your elevator pitch, such as during a networking event or a casual encounter. Practice in a realistic context to build confidence.
6. Adapt and Refine
Your elevator pitch should be like a living document. Regularly revisit it and refine it based on feedback and testing. Also, feel free to tailor it for different audiences and contexts. It’s totally normal to have more than one version of an elevator pitch.
7. Set a Timer
Since the goal is to keep your pitch to around 30 seconds, practice delivering it while timing yourself. This helps you get accustomed to the duration and adjust wording as needed.
Conclusion
A catchy elevator pitch has the power to open doors to numerous professional opportunities. By understanding its importance and mastering the individual parts, you’ll be well-prepared to promote yourself in virtually any situation. Just remember to practice a lot and refine the pitch over time. This will in turn boost your confidence, making you more engaging and memorable. Good luck!
