Elevator Pitch: How to Sell Your Idea in 10 Seconds
Has this ever happened to you? You have a brilliant idea for an app/story/invention. As if by fate, someone who is big in that industry enters into an elevator with you. You now have 10 seconds (until they reach their floor) to pitch your idea to them. But, how do you grab their attention and give the necessary details? In today’s blog, we’re talking all about the elevator pitch. Plus, tips on how to sell your ideas.
What is an Elevator Pitch?
An elevator pitch is a persuasive speech that delivers information in a short amount of time. This speech is perfect for situations such as:
- selling an idea or product
- introducing yourself or your company to a potential client/customer
- answering the age-old interview question “tell me about yourself”
This description typically explains:
- who the thing is for
- what it does
- why it’s needed
- how it will get done
The goal is simply to convey the overall topic in an enticing way.
The Origin
There isn’t one specific origin story for the elevator pitch. However, the commonly-known one is that of two former journalists active in the 1990s. One was a senior editor continuously attempting to pitch story ideas to the Editor-in-Chief. Unfortunately, they could never pin her down long enough to do so because she was always on the move. Thus, they would join her in short periods of time she had, such as an elevator ride. Thus, the concept of an elevator pitch was created.
How to Sell Your Idea
So, you have your idea: how do you sell it? To craft an excellent elevator pitch, you need to do the following:
- Identify your goal.
- Explain what you do.
- Communicate your unique selling proposition (USP).
- Engage with a question.
- Put it all together.
- Practise.
Additionally, you should have something you can hand to the person with your contact information on it. This helps the other person remember you and your message.
Identify Your Goal
What is the objective of your elevator pitch? Do you want to tell clients about your organisation? Or, do you have a great new product idea? Are you trying to convey information about yourself?
Narrow this down to a call to action. There is only time for one.
Explain What You Do
Start your speech by describing either:
- what you organisation does
- a problem and the solution you have for it
- a short, snappy premise for you movie/tv show/musical
If applicable, add information or a statistic to show the value of your idea.
What do you want your audience to remember most about you? If you’re not excited about what you’re saying, neither is your audience. Enthusiasm is key.
Communicate Your Unique Selling Proposition
Identify what makes your idea unique. This comes right away after you explain the basic premise.
Engage with a Question
After your USP, you need to engage your audience. Prepare an open-ended question to involve them in the conversation.
Additionally, make sure you’re able to answer any questions they might have.
Put It All Together
Combine all the previously mentioned sections. Then, read it aloud and use a timer to see how long it takes. You risk losing the person’s interest if it’s longer than 20-30 seconds.
Next, edit edit edit. Cut anything that doesn’t absolutely need to be there. If you capture your audiences attention, they will ask further questions.
Practise
Remember, how you say something is just as important as what you say. Practise in front of a mirror to observe your body language. Additionally, you can record delivering your speech to hear and adjust your tone. Ideally, you should be able to recite your elevator pitch off the top of your head!
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