All You Need To Know About Creating Persuasive Elevator Speeches for Multiple and Varied Occasions

(Part of the Basic Business and Computer Skills Series)

Man or Woman – Business or Personal – It’s A Good Idea to Know How To Do This Well!

“Glad to meet you. What do you do for a living?”

Do you want to attract new clients, volunteers, business partners, or supporters of any kind? “Elevator speeches” or “elevator pitches” are what you might say to acquaintances or strangers  who ask, “What do you do?”

Your goal is to state – quickly and clearly – the key points about your business, social cause, event, or project in a way that makes them want to know more. The concept is that you both are in an elevator, and you can talk only for the amount of time it takes for them to get to their floor. (Plus, it would be nice if you gave them a chance to speak as well.) Here is a more formal definition.

What IS An “Elevator Speech?” (Wikipedia)

An elevator pitch, elevator speech or elevator statement is a short summary used to quickly and simply define a process, product, service, organization, or event and its value proposition.^[1]….A value proposition is a promise of value to be delivered and acknowledged. It is also a belief from the customer how value (benefit) will be delivered and experienced. A value proposition can apply to an entire organization, or parts thereof, or customer accounts, or products or services.

We’ll learn the short version. However, in this class, I also teach you how to use the same material in expanded forms for different occasions. Here are some examples: when you are partnered with a stranger at a dinner when you are meeting someone during a commute, or when you are talking with the person seated next to you while waiting for a concert to start. If your material is really good, you also can use it as an introduction in the “About” section on social media or on a web page. In addition, you can give it to a Master of Ceremonies to introduce you as a speaker on a panel, for instance.

I’ll be happy to share the “Do’s” and “Don’t Do’s” with you. We shall create short, medium, and longer versions of elevator speeches designed to suit different circumstances. You will find it beneficial to perfect elevator speeches in your mind before you need them. Practice them so that, when you are suddenly in a situation to use them, you don’t forget the main points. You want the words to come naturally to you not to sound like a sales pitch.

What To Do After You’ve Given Elevator Speeches

Creating Elevator Speeches

You must perform follow-up activities when you have been effective and interesting enough to convince people to take your business card or to talk again later. One task is to evaluate how well your speech went and to revise and practice it if it seemed less impactful or appropriate than you desired for the audience you addressed. Most important is following up with at least three additional communications with your target prospects. You’ll want to do this in ways that do not feel like you are exerting unwelcome sales pressure on them. I’ll share some guidelines on how to do it well and without high pressure.

If you master the art of creating persuasive elevator speeches, you may become much more effective in attracting, clients, volunteers, business partners, or whatever kind of resource you need for your business, project, or community service efforts.

I offer Creating Persuasive Elevator Speeches in-person or online, to groups or individuals. You’ll receive a handout to remind you of the details.

Speech-making may be scary. I’m not scary!

Of course, I also can either create longer speeches for you (written or in PowerPoint/video) or teach you about giving long presentations in various venues. Click Here for details.

Contact me for bookings. I’m ready to help you!

Shall We Chat First in a Sip & Share Session on Zoom?

I hope this has been helpful to you. Feel free to take advantage of my free initial consultation to see how best I can meet your needs. Email me at MyPersuasivePresentations@gmail.com and put “Request Sip & Share Session” in the subject line. In the body of your email, let me know what kind of topic you want to discuss. We’ll coordinate schedules, and I’ll create a link for you to click on to join me in the Zoom session. The first one is FREE and lasts about 30 minutes. I look forward to talking with you!

Do It The Write Way! Let My Fingers Do Your Talking!