Imagine… you step into an elevator and there is a lone occupant waiting to travel with you to another floor.
You are together for less than a minute, but long enough to make polite conversation.
What you don’t know is that your fellow traveler could be your ideal client. She has a problem you can solve.
She cuts through the awkward silence and says, “I see you’re attending the networking event as well. What do you do?”
Here it is! Your chance to make an impression and secure a new client.
After a short stammer, you answer with, “I’m a coach and a copywriter. I hold a Master’s in Marketing and have been running my own home-based business for ten years.”
With only a few seconds left, the elevator doors open. She politely responds with a smile, then steps off the elevator, gone forever.
After you finish banging your head against the button panel, you realize you not only blew it, but you now have an indentation of the twenty-first-floor button on your forehead.
What if you could start all over again?
“I help entrepreneurs get more clients than they know what to do with and triple their profits in six months.”
If she was your target client, do you think the second response would have sparked her interest and kept her on that elevator a little bit longer?
We all ask ourselves, “What’s in it for me?” when engaged in any type of communication, whether written or spoken.
You want to take something of value from a conversation, learn something new, create a certain feeling, or receive information that will help you solve a problem or meet a need.
If you spend the first 30 seconds labeling yourself and listing your credentials, or going into a technical spiel about your product or service, you will be met with nothing more than a big fat yawn, a glazed-over look, or even worse, “Excuse me, I have to make a call” and a quick exit.
Take the time to develop a benefit-rich, passionate elevator speech that will engage your listeners to want to hear more.
- Start with your “why you do what you do”. Simon Sinek’s Golden Circles can be implemented here.
- Write down a list of benefits your clients receive from you.
- Use those words in your benefit statement.
There’s no need to label yourself. Labels don’t provide the benefits the listener is looking for.
Once you have your elevator speech developed, practice it over and over until it’s as natural as stating your name. You’ll be able to use it at networking events, in a telephone conversation, when leaving voice mail messages, in any type of written communication, and yes, especially in the elevator! Interested in a free Step-by-Step copy of “Crafting an Elevator Pitch that sells”?
Pop us an email at yes@addventures.co.za and we’ll send you all the info.
No strings attached.
