how to improve your 30-second elevator pitch
DESCRIPTION
You only have one opportunity to make a great first impression. So, be sure your 30-second pitch is clear, concise and helps position you and your business for future success.TRANSCRIPT
COPYRIGHT © 2010 Tres Coaching Services
Are You Speaking to Me? (Improve Your 30-Second Elevator Pitch)
John Carroll
Tres Coaching Services™
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Agenda Topics
• Why an Elevator Pitch is Important
• Elevator Pitch Framework
• Essential Elements – Part 1 & 2
• Elevator Pitch “DOs”
• Homework Assignment
• Tres Coaching Services™ Overview
• Session Wrap-Up + Q & A
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Why an Elevator
Pitch is Important
“You only get one chance to
make a good first impression.”
(Is this really true?)
• An elevator pitch can help you make the most of every
first impression, while making networking opportunities
easier and more productive.
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Elevator Pitch
Framework
There are (5) major components to a Powerful Elevator Pitch …
1. Opening. Opening statement, interest creating remark, attention
grabber.
2. Greeting/Introduction. “Good morning everyone”, Your name, Your
Company name.
3. Value Proposition. What you do, benefit(s) to customer, sub-text.
4. Hook. Your offer, lead or referral request, 1-on-1 meeting request,
next steps, etc.
5. Close. Your name, Your Company name, sub-text or tag line, etc.
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Essential Elements
Part 1
There are (8) essential elements to a Powerful Elevator
Pitch …
1. Concise. Your pitch should take no longer than 30-
seconds (shoot for 23-24 seconds).
2. Clear. Use language that everyone understands.
3. Powerful. Use “trigger” words that are powerful and
strong.
4. Visual. Use words that create a visual image in your
listeners mind.
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Essential Elements
Part 2
There are (8) essential elements to a Powerful Elevator
Pitch (cont.) …
5. Tell a Story. A short story, that is!
6. Targeted. A great elevator pitch is aimed for a specific
audience.
7. Goal Oriented. A strong elevator pitch is designed with
a specific outcome in mind.
8. Has a Hook. This is the element that will grab your
listener's interest and make them want to know more.
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Elevator Pitch
“DOs”
• Write it down. Write, rewrite and edit until you get it
right.
• Be brief, stay on topic. Be prepared and limit your
Elevator Pitch to 65-70 words, or less.
• Keep it simple. Make sure they get it.
• Tailor the message to your audience. So it is
relevant.
• Make a connection. Tell the listeners what you want,
and/or about your offer.
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Elevator Pitch
“DOs”
• Keep it interesting and fresh. Develop 5 – 6 Elevator
Pitches and keep improving them.
• Practice, practice, practice. Until it becomes routine.
• Be respectful, professional. Time = $; and you are
there to promote your business.
• Have fun, be engaging and SMILE!
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Homework
Assignment
1. Write down what you do. Write it at least 10-20 different ways.
2. Write a very short story that illustrates what you do for people.
3. Write down your objective or goal. Do you want to make a sale, gain a
prospect or referral, enlist support for an idea, or something else?
4. Write 10-20 action statements. This is a statement or question designed
to spur the action associated with your goal.
5. Record yourself. You can use http://www.audioacrobat.com or a similar
service to record your Elevator Pitch if you do not have a recording device.
6. Sleep on it. Come back to what you've written with fresh eyes and ears
the next day or later on the same day.
7. Highlight the good stuff. Listen and read through what you've recorded
and written, and highlight the phrases that hook you with clear, powerful,
and visual words.
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Homework
Assignment (cont.)
8. Put the best pieces together. Again you'll want to write down several
versions of this much tighter pitch. Tell us what you do and why people
should want to do business with you.
9. Record these new versions.
10. Do a final edit cutting as many of the unnecessary words as possible.
Rearrange words and phrases until it sounds just right. The goal is 30
seconds maximum.
11. Dress Rehearsal. Run it by as many people as you can get to listen to
you. Get feedback from colleagues, clients you trust, friends and family.
12. Done for now. Take your final elevator pitch and write it down. Memorize
and practice it until it just slides off your tongue naturally.
13. Continue to improve. Over time, always be on the listen for phrases that
you think could make your elevator pitch more clear and impactful.
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Tres Coaching Services™
Experience: Over 35+ years of sales, marketing and operations leadership expertise with Fortune1000, mid-size and start-up companies.
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Contact Me When Results
Matter Most!!!
JOHN CARROLL
TRES COACHING SERVICES™
Phone: 817.562.4240
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.trescoach.com
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Thank You