Elevator Pitch Re-imagined

News & Events

You step onto an elevator and after requesting, “Lobby, please”, someone says, “So, what do you do?” Hence the term, the elevator pitch.

The elevator pitch can be used in multiple ways to quickly build your brand awareness and deliver a sales message via a short “commercial”. The elevator pitch is quite simple, but without some preparation and thought, it can become a disastrous ‘word salad’, leaving you to miss an opportunity to effectively share your story, build your brand, or create a business opportunity. The goal is to be short (you may only have one floor to go), concise, and memorable. Below are the four elements of an effective elevator pitch.

Case Studies

• Who: The pitch must identify you and your company. Just your name and your company name—nothing more. Skip details like headquarters, number of employees, or revenue.
• What: What you do. Keep it short and simple, like “We make widgets.” This leaves room for curiosity and follow-up questions.
• Why: Why are you unique? Mention 2–4 core differentiators. Example: “Our core differentiators are expertise, efficiency and affordability.”
• Call to action: End with a simple line like, “If you ever need our services, give me a call.” Be ready with a card, airdrop, or calendar invite.

Customer Stories

PROTIPS:

• Your elevator pitch should be 30 seconds or less. In the TikTok/YouTube Shorts era, attention spans are limited. Record it, use it on social media.
• Build your core differentiators—see my previous blog post on that topic.
• Use your pitch as the foundation for your entire story.
• Want an example? Click my LinkedIn avatar for a 30-second pitch demo.

Blog

With today’s technology, the elevator pitch can be leveraged in so many different ways. Develop your elevator pitch, then use your imagination and creativity to deliver it. You’ll be amazed at how it can be the launch point to greater success.

Podcast

Kerry Boudreaux is Senior Vice President of Sales for FourthSquare. With over 30 years of sales and sales leadership experience, he offers practical sales and organizational messaging advice across public and private sectors.