The elevator speech is a simple and effective way to market your personal brand. Also called elevator pitch, the elevator speech is an overview of who you are and what you do. It highlights your strengths and qualities that make you unique and worth remembering. It is named as such because the idea is that you need to be able to present yourself in a short period of time, such as a typical ride in an elevator in which you have limited time to market yourself in a group of people.
What makes a good elevator speech? It does not have to be a long story of your life and experiences. If you meet someone in an event and he or she asks “What do you do?”, your response should be a summary about yourself and your skills in order to leave a lasting impression. You need to tell something that will pique his or her interest.
Start your elevator speech with a hook. This is a catchy statement that will grab people’s attention and make them interested in what you are going to say.
Focus on your strengths. Take note that you will be competing with a lot of people who are also trying to market themselves, so create and maintain a competitive edge by highlighting the qualities that set you apart from the competition.
Know your target market. Identify their needs, interests, and preferences. In building and promoting your personal brand, you must be able to present something that will be beneficial to your target audience.
Be confident. Speak with a firm voice. A good speech must be presented with confidence. Otherwise, it will be useless.
End your elevator speech with a call to action. You can ask for their business cards, or ask if they are willing to accommodate you in their company for a detailed presentation.
May these tips help you in creating a good and effective elevator speech. Just be confident and always be ready with your speech so you will know what to say when an opportunity comes your way.