30 seconds is all you’ve got…
An elevator pitch is the simplest form of pitching: a short, time-limited presentation of an idea that is so clearly conveyed that even your mom can understand it within the time it takes to go up a few floors in an elevator.
30 seconds are actually just about the time you stand in an elevator, from the first to the sixth floor, along with that potential investor or partner. And when you hear that little ‘biiing’ and the doors of the elevator open, it has to be crystal clear to your audience what your idea is all about. The elevator pitch is therefore a matter of articulating yourself short and precise, along with conveying an idea in a convincing manner. Do you achieve this while keeping the message in the elevator pitch relevant and value creating to the listener, then you’ve established a good foundation for further conversation and hopefully for future collaboration.
… and 30 seconds is all you need!
30 seconds don’t sound like much. And it really isn’t. But it is enough. Enough to make the listener curious and interested in hearing more; and that’s the purpose of the elevator pitch. In the elevator pitch there is only room for the very essence of your idea. The rest you can pitch later – if the listener gets caught by the idea you present and wants to hear more. So, even if you can – and you’d probably love to give a more in-depth description of your idea – then the art of the elevator pitch is to not do it.
Find your core message
A good elevator pitch is easy to understand and cut all the way to the bone, content-wise. As a rule of thumb, an idea consists of two core elements that you simply cannot miss in your elevator pitch: an interesting problem and an interesting solution. Together, they create the foundation for your pitch.
Also recommended for you: the idea is the foundation of your pitch.
The elevator pitch template that we use in Pitcherific is precisely made a core message, wrapped in a compelling start (a hook) and rounded off with a dialog-inviting finish (a close) and collectively looks like this;
1. Create a compelling START (hook)
2. Describe a concrete and important PROBLEM
3. Offer a value-creating SOLUTION
4. Create a dialog-inviting CLOSE
Therefore, the right question to ask when you create your elevator pitch is; what is your absolute core message? What is completely vital to talk about to get the other person to understand your idea and become interested in hearing more?
Here is an example for you
If you want to gather some inspiration before you get started, you can view an example of a 30 second elevator pitch below;
(HOOK – 5 seconds): Did you know, that 9 of 10 first-time entrepreneurs are not trained in pitching?
(PROBLEM – 10 seconds)… but there is a need for you as an entrepreneur to train your pitch. The pitch is vital to being a successful entrepreneur and to convince potential customers and partners.
(SOLUTION – 10 seconds) My company has developed a tool that through templates makes it easy and fast to craft a sharp pitch, even if you’re not an expert. That tool is called Pitcherific.
(CLOSE – 5 seconds) We are already helping lots of entrepreneurs. Want us to help you too?
When you have written your elevator pitch…
… then you need to get out and take over the world. Train your pitch at any given occasion. View the whole world as an elevator – a place to pitch. Practice really does makes perfect. And when you pitch potential customers, partners and investors, and not just in front of the mirror, you get invaluable feedback that makes your pitch and the idea behind, even stronger.
Create and practice your elevator pitch from Pitcherific.com
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