If explaining what your business is to family and friends (or even a stranger on an elevator), causes your tongue to get tied in knots and you want to bang your head against a wall, then this post is for you!
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, friend: people WILL ask… a lot.*
>>If you can’t explain what you do in less than 30 seconds in a way that anyone could understand, you’ll have a hard time getting people to invest in you.<<
We call this an elevator pitch because it’s something quick, memorable, and should only last the length of an elevator ride.
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.
- My eyes would start blinking 100 miles per hour.
- My hands would get all clammy.
- And 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 30 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 subscription empowering business owners to build their brand and market it on social media with new tools and resources we provide each month to save time and remove overwhelm.”
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 group won’t necessarily get much out of your pitch because they don’t identify with them, and that’s OK!
The Benefits
The second part of your elevator pitch should also include the benefits of what it is you do. 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.
The Intrinsic Value
Lastly, the final piece of an elevator pitch is: The Intrinsic Value. I want you to 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.
In case you haven’t gotten the memo yet, everyone should have an elevator pitch.
*I know, I know… Add that to the long list of unexpected responsibilities of running a business.* But I swear, it’s crucial as you grow your business!
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.
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!
To help get clarity on the “Who” it is you serve, use this Ideal Client Workbook to create that clarity and dial in all the details about your ideal client. Download it >>HERE<< and then go out and use that knowledge to deepen your connection through your 30 second elevator pitch!