Pitch Your Elevator Pitch

I first heard the term “elevator pitch” when I signed on with a small marketing company that specialized in content.

Like a good employee, I learned the pitch. And then promptly forgot it whenever I met a possible client or networking partner. The pitch was well crafted and made complete sense, but it didn’t really stick with me – it didn’t resonate.

Later, when I opened my own business I wrote an elevator pitch. Rewrote it. Practiced it. Liked it. Then rewrote it. And trashed it. Finally, after two weeks of frustration and stress, I decided to pitch my elevator pitch.

And the world didn’t end. And I didn’t starve.

In fact, when people asked what services I provided, my explanation improved. It became more “organic.” I rarely stumbled over the words, or stopped mid-sentence, it flowed out of me, because I believed in it.

Now, what works for one person doesn’t work for everyone, but when you have a minute, take a look at your elevator pitch. Write it out and come back to it later. Does it really work? Is it true to what you do? Be honest with yourself.

In most cases, I bet that you’ll reconsider your pitch. Chances are it sounds canned and overthought. Think about what you do and who you do it for, and most importantly why you do it.

Then relate those facts and feelings to your friends, clients, networking buddies, or people on an elevator. They’ll walk away with the right impression, because what you told them was real.