For web designers who have read the title and wondering what an elevator pitch is, here is an explanation. Unfortunately, we cannot give credit to anyone for first using the term “elevator pitch” because there are numerous names suggested as to who was the first person to use it, and the list includes an elevator safety device inventor, journalists, authors, and a telecoms technician.
However, what is not in dispute is the definition of an elevator pitch which is how you would try to advocate a product or service to someone in an elevator, with the main constraint being that most elevator rides take no longer than 30 seconds to 60 minutes on average. In other words, your elevator pitch has to be concise.
So, have you ever considered how you would pitch your web design services to a person beside you in an elevator, and could you deliver that pitch in the time that the elevator takes to complete its ascent or descent? What you must appreciate is an elevator pitch is not just for pitching your services when in an elevator, but in all circumstances and locations where you only have a short time to explain what you do and how it can benefit the person you are talking to.
An excellent elevator pitch can be an extremely useful tool for you to promote your web design skills and services to people you meet in all sorts of places such as a bar, a restaurant, an aircraft, a train, or simply standing in a queue at the bank. The opportunities are limitless, but even so, they will be for nothing if your elevator pitch is poor. That is why we have outlined 5 ways you can make your elevator pitch as close to perfect as it can be.
Always Be Looking For Opportunities
It might be called an elevator pitch, but it should really be called an “anywhere” pitch. In other words, you should be in a position to give your elevator pitch at any time, and in any location. Further, you should continuously and actively be looking for opportunities to do so.
Develop Your Value Proposition
At the core of your elevator pitch is your value proposition which is what you are pitching each time. As such you must perfect it to the extent that you could almost repeat it in your sleep. Always look for ways to fine-tune your value proposition for maximum impact.
Quickly Gauge Your Prospect/Audience
You will give yourself a huge advantage if you can tweak your elevator touch based on who you are speaking to. This means you must quickly evaluate your audience before you speak, and as you speak look for any reactions they are showing.
Look And Sound Confident
Not all of us would consider ourselves natural public speakers or salespersons, and we are sure that many web designers would echo that sentiment. However, even if it takes you some time to practice this, you must do all you can to look and sound confident, composed, and relaxed when delivering your elevator pitch.
Be As Succinct As Possible
If you can master this then you are well on your way to having a superb elevator speech. Here you want to go through that pitch and look for any opportunity you can to shorten it. Use phrases with fewer words and shorter synonyms, or use one word to provide the same meaning as two or three words might.
