Pressilla Nanyange

An elevator pitch is a short persuasive overview of an idea, a business, products or services. When it comes to face to face networking, an elevator pitch is one of the simplest and most powerful tools for small business owners. A compelling elevator pitch will allow clients, buyers, and potential partners to get to know your business quickly. As the name suggests, an elevator pitch should be as short as the average elevator ride. Ideally 30 to 60 seconds or 150 to 250 words long. You can use an elevator pitch to introduce your business to new clients. Perhaps even sell an idea to a potential investor. Below are a few steps to follow when crafting a good elevator pitch. Identify your objective Do you want to tell someone new about your business? Are you looking to tell existing customers or new customers about a new product or service? Do you want to appeal to a former client? Identifying your objective will help you center your pitch. Explain what you do Start by explaining what your business does. Focus on how you help people and the problems you solve. If possible, add a statistic or other information which shows value in what you do. Identify and communicate your unique selling point Identify what makes your business different and communicate it after you explain what you do. Engage the other person After you communicate your unique selling point, involve the other person in the conversation with an open-ended question. Something that cannot be answered by a yes or no. Also, make sure you can answer any questions they may have. Edit your pitch Edit your pitch and remove anything which absolutely should not be there. Read it out loud and time it to make sure it is not too long. Practice Practice your pitch in the mirror. It should sound natural, not too fast or like it was pre-prepared even if it is. How you deliver the pitch is as important as what you say. Be enthusiastic, people are always likely to remember an enthusiastic individual.