Deliver an Elevator Speech that Grabs Attention and has Them Begging for More
By Laurie Hayes
An elevator speech is a short verbal
snippet that clearly and memorably
introduces you. It highlights your
uniqueness and focuses on the
benefits you provide.
Imagine ... you step onto 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 this person is 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
Masters in Business Administration 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 instead you had answered with:
"I help women entrepreneurs get more clients than they know what to do with and
triple their profits in six months."
If she were 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 of 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.
Write down a list of benefits your clients/customers receive from working with you
or buying from you, and use those words and phrases 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
telephone conversation, when leaving voice mail messages, in any type of written
communication, and yes, especially in the elevator!
About the author
Laurie Hayes, Director of The HBB Source™ helps self-directed employees break free of their
jobs to live their dream of running a home-based business. To subscribe to her FREE e-zine for
valuable tips, strategies and resources to help you build your ideal business, visit
The HBB Source
By Laurie Hayes
An elevator speech is a short verbal
snippet that clearly and memorably
introduces you. It highlights your
uniqueness and focuses on the
benefits you provide.
Imagine ... you step onto 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 this person is 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
Masters in Business Administration 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 instead you had answered with:
"I help women entrepreneurs get more clients than they know what to do with and
triple their profits in six months."
If she were 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 of 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.
Write down a list of benefits your clients/customers receive from working with you
or buying from you, and use those words and phrases 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
telephone conversation, when leaving voice mail messages, in any type of written
communication, and yes, especially in the elevator!
About the author
Laurie Hayes, Director of The HBB Source™ helps self-directed employees break free of their
jobs to live their dream of running a home-based business. To subscribe to her FREE e-zine for
valuable tips, strategies and resources to help you build your ideal business, visit
The HBB Source
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