4 Approaches to Empowering your “Elevator Pitch”

I recently read an article that told entrepreneurs that they “must” have a pitch. A pitch to:
* Promote your business
* Market your blog
* Sell your product or service

I had such a negative reaction to the post because it’s just not true! Where did you FIRST learn the concept of pitching? If you’re like me it was baseball. The pitchers goal is to throw the ball in a way that “tricks” the batter to swing or to get it by the batter so fast they go for it and miss. Take that into your business. Do you really want to “get” a customer with that approach? I hope not!
An alternative approach? Try attraction techniques! What does that mean?
1. Share something interesting about yourself. Dale Carnegie says this is key to influencing people.
2. Ask for help with something. People love to help and will be engaged by you asking.
3. Share who your strategic partners are. Remember to be specific as to industry.
4. Tell them someone you’d really like to meet. A HR. Manager at a company, a certain business owner?
All of these techniques create an initial contact point and instant connection. By sharing these types of things people will ask “what do you do?” Now that’s powerful when they want to know!
One of my favorite quotes sums up how I feel about the traditional Elevator Speech: “Will the real you please stand up? Submit to pressure from peers and you stoop down to their level. When 40 million people believe in a dumb idea it’s still a dumb idea. If you believe in something that’s good, honest and right stand up for it! Maybe others will get smart and follow your lead.”

So be creative! Ignite people to WANT to know what you do, and see what happens!

 

Ann Evanston, MA, has been named by About.com as one of the Top Six Marketing Consultants, Feb 2011, and recognized in the Huffington Post for her unique approach in using Facebook to increase profits though giving. In October 2008 Ann created the Social Networking Coaching Club, a forum where you get personalized support to learn how to “discover your REAL edge” and make more online in less time with integrity.

• Share
• Tweet
• "&title=""">