I spend a lot of time talking on this blog about using your website and your online marketing efforts to connect and convert leads into customers.

But it’s just as important to be able to share what you do with others “offline”.

Whether you’re looking for investors, clients, partners or a new job, everyone needs to be able to sell what they do in a way that is clear, concise, and convincing.

You need a great story, one that authentically and strategically represents the best of what you have to offer.
And a killer elevator pitch could be the difference making an impact and being one of many people who are easily forgotten.

What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a short introduction to who you are, what you do, and what you’re looking for, that should spark interest in the value that you offer.

Whether you are out at an entrepreneurship conference, mingling with friends, or you just so happen to know somebody who knows somebody who’s able to help you take your company to the next level, you’ll get this question: “What do you do for a living?” Or, “what is your company about?”

This is the perfect opportunity to start a conversation that will make people want to know more about you and your company.

In practice, you typically have just 60 seconds to leave an exciting and meaningful impression with whomever you come in contact with. So you wanna make them count.

But how do you get everything across to a listener in less than 1 minute?

Read on to find out the 3 keys to a winning elevator pitch that connects, convinces and converts:

Discover your story

At the end of the day, what marketing and sales boil down to is communicating a story in a way that motivates and inspires the listener to take action. That’s it!

In your elevator pitch, you have to share who you are, why you’re doing it, and what makes you uniquely qualified to offer your solution.

Normally with my one-to-one clients, we spend at least a month tweaking and perfecting their story. But since we don’t have a month, I’ve put together a few questions to help get you thinking about your story.

-What is your greatest passion or professional focus?

-What problem are you trying to solve?

-Which story (or part of your story) is most relevant to your audience?

In a nutshell, your story comes down to your “why”.

By sharing your origin story, you lay the foundation for a memorable impression and a meaningful connection with your listener… and keep the conversation moving.

Define your audience

No matter how compelling your message is, you need to think of who you’re speaking to. What’s the point of your great idea if you don’t know who you are really creating it for?

Who is going to hear your message and “just get it”?

Your pitch become much easier to create when you start with a specific audience in mind.

You have to understand who your audience is, what their specific wants, needs, and desires are, and what specific solution they’re looking for.

Deliver your offer

Once you know your story and who you’re speaking to, you have to deliver your offer in your pitch in a way that makes them care enough to continue the conversation with you.

How to win them over with your Elevator Pitch

Remember, an elevator pitch is only the START of a conversation.

With a great pitch, you can clearly, concisely and confidently deliver your message to your listeners. Whether you’re looking to hire an employee, convince a client, or impress an investor, a great elevator pitch can help you start meaningful conversations that will lead to better opportunities for your business.

Want my easy formula for your winning elevator pitch?
Click here to grab your free PDF exercise :).

This is a repost from Kay Fabella’s blog, where she writes all about entrepreneurship, storytelling, marketing and business.