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The beginning -

The first step of any good elevator pitch is the preparation. Ask yourself the following five questions while focusing on the subsequent two tips for success.

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What is your unique value proposition? -

Value is the name of the game, and first identifying what you bring to the table will later help you eloquently convey this to others.

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What are your skills and experience? -

Think critically and mention skills that are relevant and specifically applicable to the current situation.

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What are their interests and needs? -

In other words, use the WIIFM (What's In It For Me) methodology to define what’s in it for them in this case. Consider the needs, expectations, and motivations of your audience.

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Are you seeking a job, a partnership, or simply to make a connection? -

Answering this question both in your pitch prep for yourself and in the actual delivery for someone else will make your ‘ask’ crystal clear. With the limited time you’re allotted, explicitly stating your purpose makes it easier for a recipient to understand.

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What pain point(s) does your audience have? -

Analyzing the pain in a market, business, or certain scenario allows you to paint a picture. Show your pitch recipient that you understand them and what keeps them up at night.

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How does your offering address that problem? -

Perhaps you are an expert sales person able to pitch a company’s new product offering for them, or maybe you have just built a widget that addresses a serious issue being faced by thousands of people every day. Why are you the one to handle a particular problem or address a given opportunity?

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Tip #1 -

Focus on the positive outcomes and benefits you and/or your solution bring, not just the features. For example, has your approach to delivering an ed-tech solution bolstered bottom-line growth or increased consumer engagement? Have you personally improved efficiency by 10%?

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Tip #2 -

Get all your ideas flowing freely before refining them. By writing down or typing out all your ideas first, you’ll usually have more to work with going forward. Being worried about making everything sound perfect on the first attempt can deter you from including possibly relevant information.

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Structure your elevator pitch -

You may be asking yourself, "Okay, I have the outline done. Now, where does everything go?" In the following slides, you'll find a basic outline of how to structure the pitch.

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Attention-grabbing hook - Your introductory statement is the first chance you have to pique your listener’s interest and entice them to continue listening. By starting with a compelling statement, question, or statistic, you increase your chances of them hearing you out.

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Briefly introduce yourself - Start this sentence with your name, title (desired or current), and company (if applicable).

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The problem identification -

What challenge is your audience facing? Clearly articulating the problem at hand reaffirms in the listener's mind that a pain point exists and is uncomfortable enough that it warrants a solution.

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Your unique solution -

In the moments following the presentation of the problem, explain how your offering, skills, or solution stands out from the competition.

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Quantify Your impact -

While your opinion is important, try to use data or results to demonstrate the value you bring. Facts and figures add legitimacy to the equation and, especially for more analytical thinkers, this can sway the scale.

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Call to action -

What is it you actually want from the audience or listener at the end of the day and end of your pitch? Is it a meeting, or perhaps an introduction to an important stakeholder? In short, what were you hoping for when you began speaking with this person?

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Elevator pitch delivery -

Finally, the actual delivery! You’ve prepared, you’ve written and rewritten; now it’s time to nail the pitch. The next tips are here to help you absolutely crush the final pitch.

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Practice, practice, practice -

Whether in front of a mirror or to a friend, ensure you rehearse your pitch out loud until it feels natural. You don’t want the first time you say this to be in a potentially stressful, high-stakes scenario.

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Speak clearly and confidently -

You’ve hand-crafted this pitch, rehearsed it, and now it's time to trust in yourself that you know it! Confidence in delivery is huge. Additionally, appropriately projecting your voice and maintaining eye contact will aid in showcasing a calm, cool demeanor.

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Enthusiasm is contagious -

This is you (or your idea or company) that you’re talking about here! Let your genuine passion shine through. People want to believe in those who believe in themselves and who are excited.

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Body language is important -

When you are pitching, make sure you remember to stand tall, smile, and use open gestures. While this isn’t a theatrical performance by any means, it’s important to use body language in your favor.

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Be conversational -

Through the aforementioned practice and confidence in yourself, you can avoid sounding scripted or robotic. You want to imagine you’re simply having a chat with someone who you already know and like.

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Positive ending -

By ending with a confident closing statement, you stand to leave a positive and lasting impression. You have now empowered your listener with relevant, impactful information, and clearly defined their role in next steps.

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Bonus tips -

In addition to writing and delivering a stellar elevator pitch, there are a few bonus tips to accompany the pitch and really seal the deal.

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Anticipate questions -

While you’ll never be able to guess every question that could be asked, take time to prepare a few answers to some common inquiries about you or your work.

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Dress for the occasion -

Alongside a confident pitch and thoughtful use of body language, dressing the part can make a difference, too. It can particularly help visual learners envision you in a given scenario.

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Have business cards at the ready -

Always carry a few business cards with you, just in case. If you have the opportunity to deliver your elevator pitch and it calls for a follow-up of sorts, having a card at the ready makes the process seamless.

Sources: (LinkedIn) (Wisestep) (Princeton University)

See also: Not-to-do list — what it is, and why you should make one

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