If explaining what it is that you do in your business to family and friends *or even a stranger on an elevator*, causes you to want to bang your head against a wall, then keep reading, Buttercup!
It may be a tough pill to swallow, but being able to explain your business to anyone and everyone that asks is part of the job.
*And let me tell you boo, people WILL ask. A LOT.*
>>If you can’t explain what you do in 45 seconds in a way that anyone could understand, you will have a hard time getting people convinced to invest in you.<<
We call this an elevator pitch because it’s something quick, memorable, and hopefully will help fill the awkward silence that is guaranteed while riding in a claustrophobic travel capsule.
Before I start sounding all high-and-mighty like an elevator pitch is something that comes easily for me, I have to confess that I used to stumble over my words whenever someone asked about Social Curator.
*If you don’t know what SC is, stay tuned for my tried-and-true elevator pitch that took me YEARS to perfect!*
My eyes would start blinking 100 miles per hour and my hands would get all clammy as I struggled to explain the business that I worked tirelessly to create.
*Sounds crazy, right?! Not being able to describe something I worked towards day in and day out?!*
That just goes to show you that everyone struggles with an elevator pitch right out of the gate.
>>Your 45 second elevator pitch is something that takes practice, and LOTS of it.<<
In fact, I used to sit in front of a mirror for hours trying to get to a point where my explanation of Social Curator would roll off my tongue. It took me a very long time to get there, but here is what I now say whenever someone asks:
“Social Curator is a monthly social media membership empowering small and medium-sized business owners to build their brand and market it on social media so they build a life that they love and a business that they are proud of.”
Now, let’s break down the three pieces that every elevator pitch must contain:
The “Who”
Lead with who your business model is for. This helps people identify whether or not they relate to your target audience. Anyone who doesn’t fall into that model won’t necessarily get much out of your pitch because they don’t identify with them, and that’s OK!
>>Social Curator is for small and medium-sized business owners.
The Benefits
This is the meat of your pitch, where you explain (in a simple way) what people would get out of using your product or service.
>>Social Curator allows business owners to build a brand and market it on social media.
The Intrinsic Value
Dig deeper into what people will really get out of your business, more than just the surface-level benefits. Again, make sure this is easy for anyone to understand.
>>Social Curator helps business owners build a life they love and a business they are proud of.
In case you haven’t gotten the memo yet…
>>Everyone should have an elevator pitch.<<
*Add that to the long list of unexpected responsibilities of running a business!*
Friend, you NEED to develop a fool-proof, easy-to-understand elevator pitch. I only ever ask you to do things that I’ve also done myself. Because I’ve done this, I know it works.
Before I could manage to get through my pitch without stuttering, and before I could confidently describe to anyone what it is that I do, I had to sit in the “suck” of practicing over and over and over.
After years of sitting in front of a mirror and repeating this to myself over and over again, my elevator pitch has become a vital resource for my business.
*And it travels with me to MANY places outside of an elevator!*
I believe that you have what it takes to develop an elevator pitch, even if it means spending time in front of a mirror rather than behind a TV or phone screen. Practice makes progress, and before you know it, you’ll have the perfect formula for filling that awkward elevator silence!
