ELEVATOR PITCH

For EBA1073 Business Communication

Madam Sharifah
Elevator pitch
• An elevator pitch, elevator speech, or elevator statement is a short
description of an idea, product, or company that explains the concept
in a way such that any listener can understand it in a short period of
time.
Elevator pitch
• This description typically explains who the thing is for, what it does,
why it is needed, and how it will get done. Finally, when explaining an
individual person, the description generally explains one's skills and
goals, and why they would be a productive and beneficial person to
have on a team or within a company or project.
• An elevator pitch does not have to include all of these components,
but it usually does at least explain what the idea, product, company,
or person is and their value.
Elevator pitch about yourself
• An elevator pitch is a quick compelling speech about yourself that is
used to evoke interest in a person, project or people. It highlights
your ideas, your values, what makes you different, and makes the
prospect want to hear more from you. In simple terms, an elevator
pitch is a summary of who you are and what you do in a short time.
How long should an elevator pitch be?
• A study conducted by Microsoft found that the average person has an
attention span of around eight seconds, meaning you’ll have to fight
for that undivided attention. That’s no small task. So when it comes to
a great elevator pitch, aim to keep it around 30 seconds—though the
exact length can vary depending on your industry and what you’re
pitching.
How to present elevator pitch ?
1. Introduce yourself
All good pitches start with a short introduction. It could be as simple as stating your
name and who you work for if those details apply. But the more personal you can
make it, the more natural your elevator pitch will seem. Body language is also an
important part of a solid introduction, as is eye contact. Here are a few tips to keep
in mind when introducing yourself to a new prospect.

Greet your audience in a way that’s appropriate for the occasion. Go formal for a
business pitch or more casual for a fun event. With business meetings and
networking events being held virtually, you’ll need to get creative with your
introductions over video chat. You could even start with a lighthearted joke to
break the ice. But whatever you do, make sure it’s relevant to your audience.
How to present elevator pitch ?
2. Present the problem
All solutions start with a problem. Whatever you or your business is
trying to solve, it’s important to get the point across early on in your
elevator pitch to set the theme for the rest of your speech. An example
problem: coordinating work between teams is chaotic.

If possible, relate the problem back to your audience by using real-

world examples. This will help make the problem more relevant and,
hopefully, grab your audience’s attention. If your problem isn’t easy to
explain, try using more than one example or a visual to really paint a
picture for your audience.
How to present elevator pitch ?
3. Offer solution
If the problem is what draws the audience in, then the solution is what hooks
them. This is your time to show them why they need your help. Here’s an
example solution: Asana gives teams a system to organize and manage work
so they know what to do, why it matters, and how to get it done.

The solution is arguably the most important part of an elevator pitch, so

spend time perfecting it. If you’re pitching for a business, it’s likely the quick
solution pitch has already been created. But again, it’s always better to
personalize your pitch. So don’t be afraid to tweak it to fit your audience. If
pitching for yourself, talk about the unique skills you’ve developed and why
they would be beneficial to your prospect.
How to present elevator pitch ?
4. Explain your value proposition
Now that you’ve piqued your audience’s attention, it’s time to seal the deal by
explaining why your solution is better than anyone else's. An example value
proposition is: Asana is the only platform that connects goals with the work needed
to achieve them.

The value proposition differs from the solution by focusing on why your audience
should use your solution over a competitor’s. If you don’t have that answer just yet,
perform a competitive analysis to compare your offerings or look to your executive
summary.

If your market is extremely niche and you don’t have a clear differentiator or
significant competition, look to communication and interface capabilities. Consider
why your idea or solution is original enough that someone would want to use it.
TIPS
• Engage the audience
While most of the hard work is done, it’s important to engage your audience
with a compliment or question before you part ways. Always err on the side
of being genuine rather than delivering a scripted goodbye.

There is no right or wrong way to engage your audience. While ending with a
question can create a dialogue between you and your audience, a genuine
compliment can go a long way. Think about what made you want to pitch
them in the first place and use that to end the conversation. Lastly, don’t
forget to swap contact information, such as a business card, if you don’t
already have it.