What’s your elevator pitch?
So you are in an elevator and in walks the ‘very important person’ that you have been dying to talk to about what you do. They could be the very difference to your future success but they have no idea who you are.
You just have to seize this fantastic opportunity that fate has generously provided, so you open your mouth…and… close it again… crikey, what are you going to say?! What if they think you are an idiot? Then you really will have blown it. You try to think fast, but the seconds pass by in a flash, and then the lift stops and out they get. Opportunity lost. Damn. If only you had thought ahead and built a quick, memorable and compelling ‘pitch’ to tell your story and hook them in…
Or maybe you are at a party, or you bump into that VIP coming out of a show, or see them across the room at an industry event. It doesn’t matter where, sooner or later you’ll be in this situation and it will be a whole lot less nerve-wracking and chances are, effective, if you are prepared for it.
This month in Generator we explore the art of pithy pitching – presenting yourself and talking about what you do to gain the backing of people that can help you. In reality, we do it informally all the time – we tell others about what we do, we network, we communicate. But are we doing it well enough to convince others, to influence people, to share our passion for what we are doing and get them on board?
Fresh from a three year stint with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, heading up the Investment Ready Service and advising companies how to, amongst many things, craft winning pitches, Mark Robotham shares with us his Ten tips for creating and delivering a great pitch. Not only will this help you win business, he says, but it can also help you to crystallise what it is unique about what you do and make smarter decisions about where you are heading with your business.
Mark has also devised some great exercises to help you start a conversation and craft your pitch – crucially, less is more, and clarity is king!
Help yourself to the online resources we have gathered, so next time opportunity knocks and those elevator doors open – you’ll be ready to rhumba.
FEATURE:
Ten tips for a great pitch: It could be your greatest opportunity or an absolute nightmare, someone who you’ve been dying to make contact with comes into your sphere.
EXERCISES:
Craft your message: When it comes to pitching, your first meeting with Mr Big, you never know when you are going to be cut off. Don’t leave it to chance, get your important big WOW statements out first.
Conversation starters: When you’re in those first time networking situations it’s great to have a list of great conversation starters and topics that are linked back to you and your business.
