Elevator going, er, up
January 23, 2009 10:07 AM Subscribe
What do I need to know about giving an elevator pitch? I've been asked to TEACH a lesson on giving one.
I've been volunteered by my boss to lead a workshop on giving elevator pitches. I'm pretty confident with my presentation skills in general, but I've never used this particular constraint. What are the key elements of elevator pitches that I should convey in my workshop?
I know that in the 30 secs-1 min that a pitch lasts, the goal is really to generate enough excitement to interest your audience in further discussion. What techniques can help accomplish this?
A quick google reveals numerous sites with suggestions for this kind of talk. Can anyone recommend a particularly good site? I'd also be interested in offline material.
I've been volunteered by my boss to lead a workshop on giving elevator pitches. I'm pretty confident with my presentation skills in general, but I've never used this particular constraint. What are the key elements of elevator pitches that I should convey in my workshop?
I know that in the 30 secs-1 min that a pitch lasts, the goal is really to generate enough excitement to interest your audience in further discussion. What techniques can help accomplish this?
A quick google reveals numerous sites with suggestions for this kind of talk. Can anyone recommend a particularly good site? I'd also be interested in offline material.
Here is a technique espoused by Geoffrey Moore, who wrote a book about this sort of thing.
Here is an alternative perspective on elevator pitches, which might be food for thought as you prepare your workshop.
posted by pineapple at 11:10 AM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
Here is an alternative perspective on elevator pitches, which might be food for thought as you prepare your workshop.
posted by pineapple at 11:10 AM on January 23, 2009 [1 favorite]
The best ones for me have always been something I could identify with quickly, agree with reflexively, and to which the speaker offered a "we fix that" solution.
"You know how annoying it is when your mailbox is full of spam every morning? Wouldn't it be great if someone cut it all down for you and you just had like six actual messages? That's what we do."
"Don't you hate it when you find out your new girlfriend's a psycho three dates too late? Wouldn't it be better if someone else did the research for you, and saved all that time and stress? We do that."
"You know how you keep losing your keys? Wouldn't it be great if you could just whistle, and wherever your keys were, they'd come running to you, carried by a sexy manservant? That's what we do."
So basically: (1) Simple problem I identify with. (2) Ideal but unheard-of solution. (3) We do that.
Notice there is no how or details on the specific goods or services. Just the promise of "a solution."
The rest comes later, after "Here's my card."
posted by rokusan at 12:35 PM on January 23, 2009 [2 favorites]
"You know how annoying it is when your mailbox is full of spam every morning? Wouldn't it be great if someone cut it all down for you and you just had like six actual messages? That's what we do."
"Don't you hate it when you find out your new girlfriend's a psycho three dates too late? Wouldn't it be better if someone else did the research for you, and saved all that time and stress? We do that."
"You know how you keep losing your keys? Wouldn't it be great if you could just whistle, and wherever your keys were, they'd come running to you, carried by a sexy manservant? That's what we do."
So basically: (1) Simple problem I identify with. (2) Ideal but unheard-of solution. (3) We do that.
Notice there is no how or details on the specific goods or services. Just the promise of "a solution."
The rest comes later, after "Here's my card."
posted by rokusan at 12:35 PM on January 23, 2009 [2 favorites]
It might be worth checking out TechCrunch's Elevator Pitch site. Basically, startup tech companies upload elevator pitches, get feedback, and (hopefully) get funding.
It isn't a how-to website but maybe you can browse around and take notes of what you find effective or not effective. They also could work for your presentation. Show some pitches that work and don't work.
posted by carpyful at 2:36 PM on January 23, 2009
It isn't a how-to website but maybe you can browse around and take notes of what you find effective or not effective. They also could work for your presentation. Show some pitches that work and don't work.
posted by carpyful at 2:36 PM on January 23, 2009
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Even better is if you are able to customize your elevator speech. For example, you might have a slightly different speech in an elevator at the Annnual Meeting of Government Accountants than you would at the Conference for Project Managers in Education, which means knowing something about your potential customer's industry.
posted by pointystick at 10:18 AM on January 23, 2009