ELEVATOR PITCH
What’s an Elevator Pitch?
An Elevator Pitch is a quick, compelling introduction of you and your business.
There is no second chance for a first impression!
How do you say yours?
You've just bumped into an old colleague in a coffee shop. After exchanging pleasantries, they ask you what your new company does. You open your mouth, and then think'where do I start? what to say first?'
As you try to organize your thoughts, their coffee order arrives and it's 'great to see you again, take care ' and they're on their way. If you'd been better prepared, you may have ensured they knew enough to be interested & would want to exchange contact details.
This is one situation where it helps to have an "elevator pitch." It's simply a short, preprepared speech that explains what you do, clearly and quickly and should last no longer than a short elevator (lift to us Brits!) ride of 20 to 30 seconds, hence the name.
The End Result
You're looking to spark interest in what you and our business does You can use it to create interest in a project, product – and in yourself
It should be interesting, memorable, and succinct. It should explain what makes you and our business and products– unique. Which is exactly what it is!
Creating an Elevator Pitch
It can take some time to get your pitch right. You'll probably go through several versions before finding one that works for you, and that sounds natural in conversation. Follow these steps to create a great pitch, but bear in mind that you'll need to vary your approach depending on what your pitch is about and who it's for
Identify your Goal
Be individual & authentic
Start by thinking about the objective of your pitch.
Remember there are two arms to the 1:1 Diet business - building your client base and building your team.
What do you want to tell potential clients about you or your business?
Has a great new product been released that you love? Do you want a simple and engaging speech to explain what you do for a living and how you can help people lose weight?
Maybe you ' re looking to build your team and you'd like to attract people to the business opportunity. Have you been to a BOM (Business Opportunity Meeting)? If not, you'll want to ensure you ' re fully up to speed with the latest information and can answer any questions.
Explain What You Do
Describe what you & your business does. What problems do you solve and how do you help people? Show the value in what you do and the difference you make. Keep it interesting & exciting - make them curious!
What do you want people to remember most about you?
Your pitch should excite you first - if you don't get excited about what you ' re saying, neither will your audience. It should bring a smile to your face and quicken your heartbeat. People may not remember everything that you say, but they will remember your enthusiasm.
You could say...
I'm a Consultant for the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan. They manufacture weight loss products for dieters."
But that's not very memorable!
A better explanation would be...
I'm a 1:1 Diet Consultant. I help people lose weight and keep it off long term. I'm building my own team now and I've never been busierI love what I do!"
That's much more interesting, and shows the value that you provide.
Communicate Your USP
You need to communicate your unique selling point (USP). Identify what makes you & your business unique. Here are some suggestions according to your audience...
Anyone
We manufacture formula foods which provide all the nutrients the body needs to lose weight in a safe and controlled manner The difference is you'll also be supported by me - your Independent Consultant We'll catch up weekly to make sure you ' re comfortable and it's working for you "
Healthcare/Medical Professionals
It's medically researched and there are great results on the BMJ's website. If you ' ve not seen the results of the DROPLET/DiRECT/PREVIEW trials, I'm happy to send them over to you "
Fitness Coach
Exercise is excellent for maintaining weight loss, and should be encouraged. If my dieters want to introduce exercise and haven’t really done so before, I could put them in touch with you? Here are my details
Friends/Family
I've had the BEST day! One of my dieters lost xxx amount of weight, someone has booked onto a BOM with me and I'm due to receive my sponsor bonus of xxx for doing what I love!
Beauty professionals
I love when my dieters reach goal, I treat them to a (nails/facial/haircut) as a reward. Maybe we could work togetherI'll send you clients if you send me yours! Can I put some leaflets on your desk?
People you already know
It's such a rewarding job - one of my dieters not only lost weight but reversed their diabetes/reduced their blood pressure/can walk without getting out of breath and it's changed their life - they now have so much more energy!
I'm so busy, I need more people in my team. Can you think of anyone who might want to join me and do what I do?
You're really good with people/spreadsheets/time management/finance. You'd be great at it, have you thought about being a Consultant?
Engage with a question
After you communicate your USP, you need to engage your audience.
To do this, prepare open-ended questions (questions that can't be answered with a " yes " or " no " answer) to involve them in the conversation.
"So, how does your organization handle the training of new people?"
What incentives does your company offer?
What do you love about your job?
Also - make sure that you ' re able to answer any questions they might have (you can practice this with your Sponsor).
Practice
When you ' ve completed your pitch, read it aloud and use a stopwatch to time it. It should be no longer than 30 seconds or you risk losing their interest, or monopolizing the conversation.
Then, go back over it and try to cut out anything that doesn't absolutely need to be there
Your pitch needs to be snappy and compelling, so the shorter it is, the better! Like anything else, practice makes perfect.
Remember, how you say it is just as important as what you say.
If you don't practice, it's likely that you'll talk too fast, sound unnatural, or forget important elements of your pitch.
Set a goal to practice your pitch regularly.
The more you practice, the more natural your pitch will become. You want it to sound like a smooth conversation, not an aggressive sales pitch.
Make sure that you ' re aware of your body language too, which conveys just as much information to the listener as your words do.
Practice in front of a mirror or, better yet, in front of colleagues until the pitch feels natural.
As you get used to delivering your pitch, it's fine to vary it a little. The idea is that it doesn't sound too pre-prepared, even though it is!
Follow up
You may want to keep small takeaway items with you, which you can give to people after you ' ve delivered your pitch.
These could be business cards, or a brochure that talks about your product idea or business.
When and how to use an elevator pitch
You can use your pitch online in your LinkedIn summary, Twitter bio or on any of your social media accounts.
You can also use it to introduce yourself at networking events - online and in person.
If you ' re attending professional association meetings and activities, or any other type of gathering, have your pitch ready to share with those you meet.
It can be used whenever you ' re asked about yourself.
Tailor your pitch for different audiences, if appropriate.
You'll want to appear open-minded and flexibleremain positive and upbeat even if you don't feel it.
Focus on what you enjoy about your role. This is your chance to make a great first impression - don’t waste it.
Know your audience, and speak to them. In some cases, using jargon can be a powerful move — it demonstrates your industry knowledge. However, it can also be off-putting to people who aren't familiar with the terms. Keep it simple and focused.
If you have a business card, offer it at the end of the conversation as a way to continue the dialogue If you don’t, use your phone to share your contact information
Demonstrate your enthusiasm!
TEAM EXERCISE
Invite your team to write their elevator pitches
Get them together on a zoom call
Practice one to one in breakout rooms
Bring everyone back and invite team members to practice to the whole group.
Offer constructive criticism and feedback
Practice this regularly!
