Whether you’re in a social or professional setting, there’s one question that has a tendency to get asked more often than not. The “What do you do?” query has the ability to get people frazzled and prevent them from accurately conveying their company’s mission and their specific role.
Regardless if someone has worked at a company for three months or six years, many people react the same way when posed with this question. Here are five tips to perfect your response so that the next time someone throws you a pitch, you hit it out of the park.
1) Keep it short. Your elevator pitch shouldn’t be longer than 30 seconds and in most cases, can be shorter. This is your opportunity to provide a quick summary on the company’s products, services or value proposition. The goal is to paint an interesting picture with words.
2) Consider your audience. Are you going to a networking event that caters to investors or potential customers or suppliers? Your elevator pitch shouldn’t be the same for all audiences so like the Scouts, be prepared to deliver messages that are relevant and interesting to whom you are speaking.
3) Watch your language. Avoid the use of words or phrases that might confuse people. If you’re not at an industry event, don’t use terminology or acronyms that might leave others with a blank stare wondering what language you’re speaking. You have a brief moment to explain what you do, so don’t showcase your extensive vocabulary, but rather communicate with words that everyone can understand.
4) Watch your language, Part II. Be conscious of the words you use when discussing your company. There are many words and phrases that are overused in both personal and professional conversations that do not convey a message. Using “I mean,” “you know,” “like” and “um” may prevent you from selling your product, business or service and can be a distraction.
5) Develop confidence through practice. Many people have a tendency to get nervous when delivering a pitch and this is largely due to a lack of confidence. Rehearse your delivery out loud and make sure it sounds the way it did on paper. Then, practice with your friends, family or co-workers. The final step is to utilize your elevator pitch in the real world. Attend networking events and be prepared to share your elevator pitch with each person you meet.
Once your 30 second pitch is nailed down, your work isn’t done. Companies evolve as new products or services are added or taken away. Be sure to revisit your pitch every so often to ensure you’re still accurately describing what the business does and where you fit in.
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