Elevator pitch development worksheet

One of the most important things you can do as an entrepreneur is learn

how to speak about your business to others.

The question is: Is your introduction ready to roll, and is it short, succinct and
to the point? As an entrepreneur, you need to convey exactly what it is that
you do in 60 seconds, without ‘uming’, ‘ahing’ or including unnecessary
information.

Here’s how you can develop your 60-second pitch

First, consider these 10 pointers, and then fill in the worksheet below. The
worksheet will help you develop the perfect elevator pitch.

10 tips to creating the perfect elevator pitch:

1. Know what you're trying to achieve. Find a way to pique interest and
highlight what makes your offering unique
2. Know your target. Your pitch is far more likely to be compelling if you
know your target and their needs
3. It's not about you. Don't spend too much time highlighting your own
achievements unless you can tie them directly to the reward for your
audience.
4. Keep it real. Stick with the bigger selling points of your business that
you really know well. Don't use slang and stay away from platitudes
5. Be specific. Concentrate on actual examples of how you're customer-
focused or uniquely positioned
6. Don't wing it. A first impression happens once. Respect your audience
enough to prepare well
7. Solve a problem. Your elevator pitch is not a list of services. Focus on
the problem you solve for the listener
8. Let your passion show. Let your listener hear the commitment in your
voice, your words and your confident body language
9. Practice. Even if your pitch is one you have used regularly, get some
feedback from a coach on how to improve it
10. Keep it short. In the words of Winston Churchill, “Be clear. Be brief.
Be seated.”

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 Now use this worksheet to develop your own pitch:

1 Describe yourself in 5 words or less HINT: Use a distinctive title

or phrase that makes people
think, ‘This sounds
interesting’ or ‘This is what
I’m looking for.’ Consider the
difference between ‘I’m a
copywriter’ and ‘I turn
browsers into buyers.’

2 Explain what you do in 1 sentence HINT: After introducing

yourself, introduce your
offerings – make it specific
and memorable.

3 Define your target audience HINT: Again, be specific,

define your market and allow
the listener to clearly
understand whether your
target markets are aligned.

4 Communicate your vision HINT: What does your

business stand for? What
attracts your customers and
their loyalty? Your answers
can lead to growth.

5 Practice, practice, practice HINT: Create a script that

conveys who you are, what
you offer, your market, and
the distinctive benefits you
provide. Edit until you can
introduce yourself and your
business in less than a
minute, which is how long
most prospects will give you
to win their interest.
6 Shrink your introduction HINT: Compress it even
further so you can tell your
story in 20 words or less.
That’s how much space you
have in most marketing
materials and online
presentations, whether on
your own site, on social
media sites, or on sites that
link to your home page.

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