1. What is an elevator pitch?
Definition and goal: An elevator pitch is a brief speech that summarizes an idea, product, service, or project and is meant to be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator. The goal is to let the listener know exactly what it is you do quickly and efficiently while being compelling. If the person is your ideal client or knows someone who is, it will naturally pique interest.
A good elevator pitch is:
- Concise
- Clear
- Memorable
- Repeatable
Remember: If no one really knows what you do, can't explain it, and can't repeat it, then you won't be receiving referrals.
It’s not an elevator pitch if:
- It takes you five minutes to explain what you do.
- The client has to tell you what they need and then you tell them how you can assist. Your pitch should be the same no matter whom you're speaking with and no matter what they do. That is what makes you the expert. Experts don't change what they do based on whom they are speaking with. A brain surgeon is always a brain surgeon. I am always a VA Matchmaker.
Components of a great elevator pitch:
- Your niche: This is the most important part of a VA's elevator pitch. Without specifying your niche, it becomes hard to stand out in a growing market. (And make no mistake, the VA industry is a rapidly growing market).
- Clarity, brevity, and relevance: This is not a time to try and dazzle or wow clients with riddles of information. Riddles are rarely relevant, never clear, or brief.
- A prepared story: Once you have piqued interest in a potential client, the next step is to share a story of your work. People remember stories, not the various details of how you go about performing your work. Have a story prepared about your ideal client, their biggest pain point/weakness, how you easily solve it, the results/outcomes the client achieved, and why you're the natural choice for the job. When you do this in story form, you'll be remembered for a long time to come.