Whether you are trying to get the attention of an angel investor or angling for a sale from a potential client, you are going to have to make a great elevator pitch to get your point across. You may have as little as 30 seconds to make your speech, so you really need to make those words count.
Here are some tips for delivering a powerful elevator pitch:
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Have a goal. There is nothing more frustrating than listening to someone's elevator pitch without having any idea what they expect from you. If you ramble on without a purpose, then you are wasting your time and theirs. Get your goal straight before you even start to write your pitch.
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Know your audience. Your pitch should be tailored to your audience. Don't use the same pitch with everyone, because they are going to have varying expectations and desires. Tweak your pitch to account for your desired outcome. Are you trying to make a sale? Get an investment? These two pitches will sound different.
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Focus on what you actually do. Although it's important to have a big vision for your company, many entrepreneurs focus on selling their mission statement rather than the value they currently have to offer. Your audience wants to hear the facts of what you do, not the dreams you have for your company.
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Tell a brief story. When you center your pitch around a story to illustrate what you are capable of achieving and how you can help, you will be sure to gain the attention of your audience. Make sure you know where they are coming from and that the story is tailored to their needs.
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Throw in a couple numbers. Your audience is looking for numbers that show you can deliver results. As with all things in business, give them what they want.
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Make sure you have a hook. The purpose of the pitch is to call your audience to take action. A call to action can be a single sentence spelling out what you need, why you need it and what benefit it will bring for the other party. Remember, the hook should be focused on the value you bring to them.
Anyone can go into elaborate detail about their business and its situation. You have to be clever to put together a brilliant elevator pitch that gets your point across when you are already fighting to get someone's attention. Putting together a great pitch is going to take some time, but it is an essential part of getting in the door with clients and investors.
