Whether you are trying to raise money from angel investors or venture capitalists to kick-start your business or you want to present yourself in a network meeting...having an elevator pitch is a must. It will help you get your message across in a clear, compelling and concise way.
The term 'elevator pitch' is a common phrase people use to describe the moment where you need to quickly explain your business to a potential client or an investor; preferably in the time span of an elevator ride. Bits and pieces of your pitch can also be used on your website, in company profiles, in job descriptions and many more marketing materials in which you present yourself.
I have put together six basic steps to take into consideration when you are writing your elevator pitch:
1. Consider the purpose
Before developing your message, you need to consider the purpose of your pitch. What do you want to achieve with it? Do you want to sell your products & services or are you seeking investment? Next to hearing about your big idea, investors, for instance, would want to learn about your financials, goals and upcoming milestones (making it a more extensive investment pitch).
2. Get to know your audience
You can create the most beautiful presentation, but if your audience doesn't understand the content you will get 'lost in translation'. Put yourself in the shoes of your audience, and find out more about their background and business language.
3. Define the problem
Do your prospective customers face a specific problem, and moreover, is it a problem worth fixing? Try to focus on the one real pain point; if you address multiple issues your message will get confusing and complicated.
4. Present your solution and show how you are different
After bringing up one, real problem you can start presenting your solid solution. Share your Unique Selling Points (USPs) and explain how you are different than any potential alternative in the market.
5. Finish your pitch with a call-to-action
In the first step, you determined what you want to achieve with your pitch...Now is the time to ask for it. Create a final sentence that aims to get an immediate response from your listener.
6. Lastly: practice, practice, practice
Practicing the pitch is equally important as writing the pitch. Time your speech, rehearse it out loud, in similar situations and in front of the mirror. Presenting yourself might be a bit scary at first, yet decent preparation will ensure your pitch flows naturally.
To conclude
An elevator pitch will not only help convince your audience; it also allows you to describe your company in a nutshell. Having created multiple pitches for startups, SMEs and multinationals in a variety of sectors, I realise that it is oftentimes a puzzle to keep your message short yet compelling. Therefore, I am more than happy to help you create a clear, and concise message that persuades your audience to take action. Let's talk about your requirements & challenges over a cup of coffee.
