What are the most common mistakes in elevator pitches?

Always keep it brief and short and avoid unnecessary information. Start with the how you discovered a problem, the market, how you are solving challenge, and finally how and why the investor/partner can join you in your mission. Example; In Africa, small-scale farmers lose 40% of their hard-earned produce post-harvest. This not only costs them an estimated $4 billion annually, but also contributes to food insecurity on the continent. In 2023, I founded X-Farm, we build IoT-enabled storage facilities that helps farmers preserve their produce efficiently. This helps reduce post-harvest spoilage by 20%, saving billions, increase profits for farmers, and ensure a more secure food supply for Africa. I'm seeking $X funding for Y% etc

#1 biggest Elevator Pitch mistake - the pitch is too long! 30 seconds is your sweet spot. Other mistakes include over eagerness, ambiguity, and a lack of practice. Use my "Pi.T.C.H Method": Pi- personal identifier- "Hi, [recruiters name], I'm [your name]." T- target. What are you interested in? Roles, internships, education, etc. C- career experience. What have you done that has prepared you for your target role? H- highlight. Give the recruiter something to remember you by. A personal attribute or something you noticed about the recruiter (tie, hair, bag, their own pitch contained something you have in common).

There are two mistakes I see often with elevator pitches. The first is not having one at all. The second is not having the same one across the whole business. Your elevator pitch helps create interest in your offer. But it also helps create brand associations in the mind of the listener. These (authentic) associations are important to establish your reputation. If everyone in your business has an entirely different elevator pitch, then everyone is contributing to a different reputation. If you need to tailor your pitch by department? Work out the 'brand' elements of the pitch that are company-wide. Keep them the same. Tailor the offer elements.

As a career coach, I help my clients refine their internal elevator pitches. Being vague is a missed opportunity to raise visibility to your potential. I have a simple formula for what to include in a pitch: Start with clarity on who you are and your role, like 'As the lead product designer...' Next, convey your passion, 'I’m committed to user-centric design...' Then, articulate the unique value you contribute, '...enhancing user engagement by X%.' Conclude with a compelling call to action, 'Let’s discuss how design can drive our next project.' This formula—identity, passion, value, and action—transforms a pitch into a powerful self-promotion tool, essential for making your mark!

?? The name "elevator pitch" comes from the idea that it should be short enough to deliver in the amount of time it takes to ride an elevator, which is typically about 30 seconds to a minute. ?It is very important to know your audience, ask questions, be confident and use storytelling. ??Some of the most common mistakes: ?not being prepared ?not being passionate ?not being clear & concise

An elevator pitch that is too long will lose the listener's interest; too short may not convey enough information. You have to find the balance.

Ensure your elevator pitch isn't too lengthy or detailed. Keep it concise, focusing on the most impactful points to captivate attention and leave a lasting impression within a short timeframe.

30 sec to 1 min is your benchmark. Stick to a simple formula - identity, passion, value, and action - covering each with one sentence. State who you are and your role, like 'As the lead product designer...' Next, share your passion, 'I’m committed to user-centric design...' Then, highlight the unique value you contribute, '...enhancing user engagement by X%.' Conclude with a call to action, 'Let’s discuss how design can drive our next project.' Stick to the simple framework and you should stay within acceptable limits! :)

Those that are short are often the most memorable. Short and sweet or to the point. Often a 3-5 word summary of the essence of what you do has the greatest impact.

In 15yrs I've learned to avoid 3 top elevator pitch mistakes (and to fix) - 1/ Focusing on yourself, not your audience. Bad: "I'm a software engineer with 10 years of experience. I'm looking for a new job." Better: "I help solve business problems using a tech stack that reduces time-to-market." 2/ Being too vague. Bad: "I help businesses grow." Better: "I build conversion-friendly SEO-optimized websites that feel like a conversation to the visitor." 3/ Being too long & boring. Bad: "I'm a social media marketing expert with blah blah. I help businesses grow their blah blah. I can help you create a social media strategy, blah blah" Better: "I help businesses grow online presence & generate leads with my Social Media Marketing strategy."

Not too humble, not too braggadocious, you have to thread that needle just right. If you are too bashful to spotlight your accomplishments and abilities, how would the world know what you are capable of? But someone who simply brags and aggrandizes themselves, even if justified, is a huge turn off. Here are my tips for striking that balance: 1. Start with the POV of your audience and adding value. 2. Avoid superlatives. An accomplished person ought to be confident in a dignified way, no need to overstate. 3. Be aware of the humblebrag pitfall, no one is fooled. 4. Employ empathy. If you read/heard/witnessed what you are communicating to others, would you be turned off by it or recognize them for what they are?

Vá direto ao ponto: n?o é sobre você, mas sim como, com suas habilidades e experiência, pode ajudar o interlocutor a resolver o problema dele. é sempre sobre o outro e o que você tem a oferecer para ele. Excesso de humildade pode transmitir falta de autoconfian?a, e se você n?o confia em si próprio, como o outro vai confiar? Nunca se esque?a que o que você faz, muita gente faz. Mas como você faz, somente você sabe fazer.

Being passive and vanilla in your elevator pitch can leave you in the shadows. To shine, you must own your narrative. Share a snippet of your journey with passion—let them feel the energy behind 'how you got here.' A brief glimpse of a challenge conquered or results reached does more than share; it shows you're a doer. Always wrap up with a direct call to action, tailored to your audience. Whether it's a call to discuss further or a request for an introduction, make it clear. Your pitch should be an invitation to a journey, not just a summary of the past.

Yes to (polite!) assertiveness and unambiguous next steps. But it is a delicate balance. You want clarity in follow up steps but don’t overlook relationship building. Unless you are in the business of simple transactions, you cannot move from elevator pitch to closing the deal. How about a promise of sharing something of value and actually following through?

Your body language determines how your elevator pitch is received by the audience. Use purposeful gestures to emphasize certain words. Certain points have to be spoken with conviction by communicating clearly about the value that you bring to the table or the problem statement you solve.

The best elevator pitch focuses on the audience you’re helping. Then it’s clear who you work with and how you help them solve a problem.

Don't fade into the wallpaper, show some personality and differentiate yourself from the pack. There are so many people who are perfectly competent but not memorable. When a need arises for a particular role or expertise, their name isn't the one that comes up, not because they are not talented, but because they are not top of mind.

If you don’t practice, your delivery will be just ho-hum. Practice give you the confidence to tell me about yourself. When you have confidence, you become passionate. When you are passionate, is when you convince me to buy!

Tailor your pitch to your audience. Don’t make the mistake of using the same verbiage again and again. Pay attention to your audience’s body language (leaning forward indicates interest; looking at watch/phone means tuning out) and adapt accordingly.

In my experience a winning elevator pitch is one that brings out your authenticity and uniqueness. This can be brought out in the choice of words, expressions, your flair and presentation. The key is to create a first lasting impression. Two people may have a similar technical profile but the one that captures and holds the interest of the interviewers wins the day.

The criminal mistake people make with elevator pitches is talking about themselves and not their audience's problem. Your elevator pitch should address the specifics of your ideal audience (who are they?), the main problem they have, how they feel about the problem, and how you help them solve it.

Stop turning it into a Netflix series. We don't need the extended director's cut of your life story. Save that for therapy, buddy. Ain't nobody got time for a 10-season elevator ride. Bonus mistake: No one wants a mixtape of your accomplishments. Save the beats for the club, not the cramped quarters of a vertical transport chamber.

When you pitch, you WANT something. You may want a new job, a new opportunity, a connection, etc. However, the fatal flaw when delivering an elevator pitch is that the other person is preparing themselves for what you want. Here's how to change that....and you can do that with one word. Rather than pitch, communicate how you can HELP them. SHOW UP from a place of value and service. Imagine listening to someone communicate their challenges or roadblocks, and you clearly share how you can help them. And then you ask them if they would like to know more. Find a way to capture their interest. Once they are "interested" in you, and get more people invested to know more about how you can help them.

Elevator pitch is just that. It’s a teaser to open doors for future conversations. It is a mistake trying to cram in too much too soon. Listening to cues for context is an important component before you formulate your own message.

Since it has to be short and impactful, share your main value proposition and how it helped your company/client. Feel proud of your contributions and wins…you are your best PR. In my case, I love to share that two of my marketing campaigns were showcased in Times Square in NY. I can’t wait to add my recent ALPFA Philadelphia Mentor or the Year award to my elevator pitch!