I realize that this post may not appear to be about business support services, but really it is.

When you are networking or someone asks you what you do, do you stumble to find the right words to say or do you just start listing products or services that your company provides?  It’s OK if you feel that you do the latter.  I’ve been there and I understand. I have done exactly the same thing.

However, I am now hear to tell you why is important to have an elevator pitch and where and how it can be used.  You may be asking, “What is she talking about” ?  An elevator pitch is used in an elevator, right?  Well, no, not exactly.

As Wikipedia describes it, ” An elevator pitch is an overview of a product, service or project.  The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be delivered in the time span of an elevator ride (for example thirty seconds or 100-150 words).

With that being said, an elevator pitch needs to be short and to the point an yet describe what your business is about.

Listed below are some tips for creating that brilliant elevator pitch.

1. Address a problem- People are more interested in What’s in it for them than they are about what products or services your business offers.  Take my business for example, people are more interested in my solution of making their e-book appear professional and presentable than they are interested in knowing that I can format documents and convert them to pdf.  People are driven by WIIFM.

2.  Define your audience- Know who your products and services are directed to.  In my business, my elevator pitch is geared toward small business and ministries.  My pitch would most likely not work well in Corporate America because Corporate America can afford to hire a large support staff to take care of their administrative, clerical and technical needs.

3. Keep it clear and concise-Your elevator pitch will most likely not convert your contacts in clients however it should leave them desiring to know more about who you are and how your business can provide a solution for them.

4.  Stand out- Use appropriate humor and imagery if you are good at that to grab the attention of someone hearing your pitch for the first time.

5.  When delivering your pitch, be energetic- No one wants to hear a dry informational pitch about what you do.  They want to hear about how excited you are to do what you do and your interest in assisting them.

6. And lastly, be ready to expand on your pitch should you be asked-there is nothing more detrimental to losing someone’s interest in your business because your were unable to expand about what you do when it was asked.

Elevator speeches are essential is attracting future clients and should be used in various places.  For example a shorter tag line version of your pitch should be placed somewhere on your business cards.  Mine, for example is “Business Support Solutions you can have Faith in!”.  A longer version should be used on your “About” page.  You can view ours by viewing the first paragraph of our “About Us” page.  Also, try using your pitch in your email signature line as well as your social media profiles.

Where else could you use your elevator pitch?  I am sure there there are plenty of other opportunities you have to use your elevator pitch other than what I have suggested.  Please be sure to list your ideas below as I would love the hear them.

Need help developing your elevator pitch?  Be sure to check back for your next post on How to develop an Elevator Pitch   coming soon.

Until then, start pondering, what problems you provide solutions for in your market.