Crafting your Elevator Speech: the Power of a good pitch!
Recently, I went to a Power Hour event at my local Chamber (West Coast Chamber Michigan). It was an event where business owners could network and share what they do with other business owners. We sat down at tables in groups of 5 and each individual had 2 minutes to present themselves and their business.
During that time I presented my business at least 6 different times and it was eye opening to hear myself speak about my business and come to the realization of just how much my business has changed since I started it back in 2020. What I love about networking events like the Power Hour is that, you are able to reflect on how far you have come in business, and see how others in your community grow into what they are called to as well.
With all that being said I really wanted to write a little bit about, how perfecting your elevator speech when you make it, can really change the way that people interact with your business. They say that “you never get a second chance to make a first impression”, so why not make the most of the first time you meet someone. The key to a good elevator speech is practice. When you know what your message is, what your ideal client needs are, and how to best serve those clients, that’s when your elevator pitch becomes an effective marketing tool!
So here’s how you get started. I’ll be using my business for example purposes.
Your First 30 seconds -> State your name and your business. Talk about what you do. Try to describe what you do in 1-2 sentences. Don’t make it too wordy or overcomplicated.
For example: “My name is Regan with Fortis Media. I am a brand photographer, specializing in creating brand images, like headshots, stock photos and social media content, for small businesses, creatives, and solopreneurs.”
During your first 30 seconds you can also add a fun fact to remember you by or you can say this later.
For example: “Here’s a neat fun fact too, I am also a licensed remote pilot, which means that I can legally fly a drone around for commercial purposes.” This is true, I am a licensed remote pilot.
The next 45-50 seconds -> Who do you serve? What solution(s) do you provide for your ideal client? When you share the particular solution you provide to your client, it helps them feel more inclined to hire you (Your value proposition)! Another great thing to mention in this time is what is it that makes you unique, or helps you stand out from others in your industry.
For example: “I help service based small business owners, creatives and solopreneurs strategically create images that properly reflect who they are, what they do, and who they serve so that they can use those visuals for reaching their ideal audience. My approach is different, because we don’t just hop right into taking pictures. We start with strategy and clarity to make sure that I understand every aspect of your business and what you need from brand photos. And then we take that information and I create a custom shot list of ideas that we take to your session! We can use that list as a guiding point to where we want your session to go! I also offer business photo memberships for business owners who want strategic visual content all year around! I have membership tiers for businesses who need new photos every six months, every quarter, or every other month of the year.”
The last last 45 seconds -> Use the last 45 seconds of your elevator speech to talk about how you would love to help your ideal client solve this one solution to one problem they have! Then end by stating your name, your business and a memorable tagline.
For example: “So if you are someone who struggles with creating content, that doesn’t want to set up a full photo shoot every time you need new content, or you simply want a more simple, and easier way to show up for your ideal client then I would love to talk to you some more about how our membership can help you achieve that goal. Because your brand photos should be more than just pretty photos. Again, my name is Regan with Fortis Media. It was great to meet you!”
I challenge you to take 15 minutes today to create a 2 minute elevator pitch! Take a piece of paper or write it in your notes app on your phone! And then practice it for 6 minutes a day for the next 30 days!
In Summary . . .
This blog post shares reflections from a Power Hour networking event and highlights how refining your elevator pitch can completely change the way others connect with your business. By breaking down a simple two minute structure and real world examples, it shows how clarity, practice, and strategy turn your introduction into an impact driven marketing tool. If you want to make stronger first impressions and confidently communicate what you do, this is your sign to start practicing.
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