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Take Your Elevator Speech to the Next Level in 5 Simple Steps

Written by: Stacy Karacostas

Article Overview: If you do much networking, chances are you’ve delivered your elevator speech before. But even if you never go to a networking meeting, you still have plenty of opportunities to harness the power of a persuasive elevator speech.

Take Your Elevator Speech to the Next Level in 5 Simple Steps

So, how’s your elevator speech working?

Does it grab the attention of your ideal client and make them practically beg to know more?

If not, it certainly should….

But how do you know for sure if it’s working? And what do you do if your elevator speech isn’t as spellbinding as you’d hoped?

Let’s talk about that…

An elevator speech—also called
30-second commercial, 1-breath introduction, or 1-minute
elevator pitch—is a short and sweet
introductions of who you are, what you do, who you do it for,
and why they would want it.

It is not a resume, or a list of the different businesses you own.

The name is from the idea that you should be able to
deliver it in the time it takes to ride an elevator.

If you do much networking, chances are you’ve delivered
your elevator speech before. But even if you never go to a networking meeting, you still
have plenty of opportunities to harness the power of a persuasive
elevator speech.

Think prospects, investors, media contacts,
potential business partners, potential employees, and anyone
you meet at cocktail parties, friends houses or other events.

Which leads me back to my original question...

How’s your elevator speech working?

The easiest way to tell if your elevator speech is hitting
the mark is to try it and see how people respond.

Leaving in search of the nearest toilet, or a fresh drink, are bad signs.

If they say “Oh, that’s interesting...”. Chances are good it’s
not.

If people ask you more questions like, “How do you do that?”
or “Tell me more…”, then you’re closer to hitting the mark.

And if they say, “Wow, you really hit a nerve/hot button/pain
for me. Can I get your card and set up a time to talk further”, then you know you’ve got it nailed with a five-pound hammer.

Here’s how to get an elevator speech that does exactly that…
Just to make sure this is all crystal clear I’ve included a
copy of my 1-minute elevator speech below.

Start by introducing yourself and your company. Then follow these 5 simple
steps…

>>Step 1 - Identify your ideal customer.

I don’t mean small businesses, or women, or anyone with
money. Dig deeper and come up with a detailed profile of the
person or business who most needs—and is both likely and able to buy—what you sell.

>>Step 2 - Explain the problems you solve, the needs fill and/or
wants you fulfill for your ideal client.

>>Step 3 - If you have time, share some of the results you’ve
created as well.

>>Step 4 – Give ‘em a reason to take action now.

Offering something of value for free is an easy way to take your
elevator speech to the next level and get people
to take action. I offer folks the opportunity to sign
up for my newsletter at and free report.

>>Step 5 – Repetition is key.

Repeat your name and business name one last time, along with
your tag line if you have one. Then practice, practice, practice.

-----
An Example to Follow
-----

“Hi, I’m Stacy Karacostas with SuccessStream Sales and
Marketing Solutions. I help savvy entrepreneurs take the
stress, struggle and confusion out of growing their small
business.

If you’ve got a terrific product or service, but are having
trouble building your business to the next level…If you’re tired
of wasting time and money on marketing and advertising that
doesn’t get results…Or if you’re sick of being stuck in the
feast or famine cycle, I’ve got a variety of products,
workshops, services and free resources to help you get more
bang for your marketing buck on my Website.

Here’s a couple examples to give you an idea of what I do...I
helped one of my clients increase response to an ad by 300%
just by making a few, simple changes. Another of my clients took my critique and the suggestions in my book The Small Business Website Bible, and increased sales on his Website by 200% in the first month!

If you’d like to learn to get these kinds of results from
your own marketing, without spending a dime, I invite you to
sign up for my write a free, weekly e-newsletter, Bright Ideas.
It’s filled with practical tips and ideas on marketing, sales,
copywriting and more. And you also get a copy of my free report “The 7 Deadliest Small Business Marketing Sins…Are You Guilty?”. Just put a star on the back of your
business card and hand it to me. I’ll make it happen.



©2007 SuccessStream. All Rights Reserved.

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Article Tags: business partners, cocktail parties, commercial 1, elevator pitch, elevator speech, friends houses, hitting the mark, hot button, introductions, investors, media contacts, pound hammer, prospects, resume, signs, toilet



Related Forum Posts
2 Forums Updates - Many of you have been writing in suggesting that on my website and in my newsletter we include the link to the actual forum post and not just the name of the post and a link to the Forums home page. Well, after looking into it I'm pleased to announce that this feature is now available. Thank you everyone for the suggestions! We've also added names for members based on how much they post. Level one is Newbie, Level 2 is Intern, Level 3 is Employee and so on... There are 10 levels in total. I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone does! Keep the suggestions coming - they are great!
Level 4 - Manager - Looks like I'm the first to Level 4! I'm a Manager!
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - Hey Barry, [quote="Barry Sarner":ev3dumxj]"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." - Abraham Lincoln WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STATEMENT ???[/quote:ev3dumxj] It's true on two levels. Level 1 - Doing something for the first time to succeed. Level 2 - Coming back from failure and not resting until you've regained success. The scares maybe deep. The wounds tender to the touch. But it will always be man's resolve or lack there of that defines the limits he is willing to go to, to gain or regain succeed. Books, audios, videos, courses, seminars, webinars, & etc. are important and I can't get enough. But nothing can take the place of what a man must decide to do, deep down within himself, if he wants to succeed.
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - [quote="ThePromotionalGuy":18e9nuiy]Hey Barry, [quote="Barry Sarner":18e9nuiy]"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing." - Abraham Lincoln WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STATEMENT ???[/quote:18e9nuiy] It's true on two levels. Level 1 - Doing something for the first time to succeed. Level 2 - Coming back from failure and not resting until you've regained success. The scares maybe deep. The wounds tender to the touch. But it will always be man's resolve or lack there of that defines the limits he is willing to go to succeed. Books, audios, videos, courses, seminars, webinars, & etc. I love. But nothing can take the place of what a man must decide to do, deep down if he wants to succeed.[/quote:18e9nuiy] No matter what we all say it always comes down to one thing...the individual
Updating your status - It's an interesting idea! Has anyone seen a mod for phpbb that will let us do this? The closest I have seen is something that will let someone edit their rank - so instead of it showing Level 1 - newbie, etc you can put your own message in.


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