These days it seems everyone is talking about Elevator Pitches. And anytime I start hearing something being talked about over and over again, I have to ask myself, is this topic really that important or is it just that everyone is on that band wagon right now? Well, when it comes to elevator pitches, I absolutely believe they are that important. First of all, you need to be able to clearly communicate what you do in networking situations.
For example, when I'm at a networking event and someone asks me "So, Debbie, what do you do?" I can answer in one of two ways. I can respond with "I'm a marketing consultant and coach" (which by the way is NOT my elevator pitch) or I can say "I teach people how to successfully market their own business in 10 simple steps" (which IS my elevator pitch). Which one do you think generates more interest in me and my business? Well, I can tell you I've tested both and my elevator pitch wins hands-down every time.
The second reason I believe having a clear, concise elevator pitch is important is it's usually a fairly good indicator of how clear, concise and compelling your marketing is. If you can't sum up what you do in a clear, focused elevator pitch, there's a pretty good chance your marketing message is not clear and focused either. So, I encourage you to sit down and review your elevator pitch and ask yourself if it's clear, concise and compelling. And if doesn't pass the test, get to work on it. Because it's the foundation of your marketing and it will make a difference in your success.