Crafting an Elevator Pitch - What, Why, and How (with examples)

Do you ever meet someone in passing and find that you have an incredibly tight window of time to explain who you are and what you do? Simply put, that's an Elevator Pitch. It's a short introduction that can be used to sell yourself or your product quickly and efficiently. In other words, it's a perfect means of purposefully communicating something quickly—and with as little information as possible, just as though you were talking to a stranger while waiting for an elevator. While the concept is predominantly "sales" focused, it is a powerful tool that can be applied to many aspects of life.

To succeed in your career, you must learn how to pitch yourself effectively.

The ability to first sell yourself is one of the most critical components of selling your business. Think about the word "pitch" as it relates to playing catch. One person is projecting a ball (in this case: themselves, in the form of an idea, a service, a product, a concept, etc.) to another in the hopes that the other party will receive it. A quality elevator pitch is like throwing the ball directly toward the recipient. In contrast, a messy or unplanned one is like throwing the ball in the opposite direction: ZERO chance of the intended recipient catching it.

A great Elevator Pitch could hypothetically launch your career to new heights, and a poorly crafted one will leave the recipient scratching their head (and possibly the elevator walls in an escape attempt.)

So what should my pitch include?

  • Who you are. This is a chance for you to introduce yourself. It's also important to mention your name, title, and where you work (if relevant).

  • What you do. This is an opportunity to state clearly what your company does and any notable achievements or awards it has received over the years.

  • Why people should care. Every good story, movie, song, etc. has a hook - You want this part to be about how you can help them or why what you're communicating should matter to them personally. It's the ROI (Return on Investment) that you're offering. The person listening has invested their time by doing so, and you need to show them what they can get in return for it. Can your product or service save them money? Boost their career? Bring them peace of mind? Make them laugh? The list of potential ROIs is endless.

How do I write my elevator pitch? (Examples)

The key to a winning elevator pitch is to keep it short, sweet, and persuasive. Aim for 60 seconds or LESS, which means that every second counts.

The best way to begin writing an elevator pitch is by asking yourself these questions: Who am I? What do I do? What do I want?

EXAMPLE 1

"Hi there! My name is Sarah, and I'm a Community Manager with a boutique staffing company called Pinpoint Talent based in California. I recently found my passion for graphic design and social media marketing and grew their following from 75 to over 2k in under a year. I hope to find other companies I can potentially partner with in the same way."

EXAMPLE 2

"Hi! My name is David, and I'm a professional videographer from New York City. I'm looking for new clients who want beautiful wedding films at affordable prices so that I can continue doing what I love—creating cinematic films with heart and soul."

EXAMPLE 3 

If you have a hard time starting, you can even find free templates online, like the one below. 

" Hi, my name is <NAME>; I'm a <JOB TITLE> with <COMPANY>. We <EXPLAIN SERVICE OR PRODUCT> <INCLUDE ACCOLADES IF POSSIBLE>. "

Practice, Practice, Practice!

It's important that you practice delivering your pitch so that it comes out with confidence and intent.

  • Practice to a friend or family member or someone you trust to give you honest feedback.

  • Practicing on camera allows you to see and hear how your message will be received.

  • My personal favorite method of practice is to leave myself a voicemail. That allows me to feel organic, review at my convenience, and know what my pitch would sound like over the phone.

My personal favorite method of practice, is to leave myself a voicemail.

Now that you know the essentials, we hope you're more confident about your ability to sell yourself. Remember: there are no right or wrong answers when making an effective pitch. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, so don't worry about sounding like anyone else—focus on conveying your skills and abilities as clearly as possible. The best way to do this is through practice. It takes time for a skill like this to take hold in your brain (and body), but with enough repetition, you will soon be able to deliver a killer pitch at any time!

Leah Helwig