how to make elevator speech

Dan Ponomarenko , CEO of Webvizio , offered this pitch:

“At Webvizio, we streamline web project management for digital teams, making collaboration seamless. Our platform allows you to visualize changes, communicate in real time, and manage feedback efficiently — all in one place. We eliminate the clutter of back-and-forth emails, so you can focus on what you love: creating. Interested in simplifying your project processes and enhancing team productivity?”

2. "Deliver a clear tech talent solution with EchoGlobal Tech . "

Lou Reverchuk , Co-Founder and CEO of EchoGlobal Tech , offered this pitch:

“Hello, I‘m Lou, representing EchoGlobal Tech, where we bridge the gap between innovative tech projects and top remote software developers. At EchoGlobal, we understand that the right talent makes all the difference. That’s why we guarantee no AI matchmaking and no juniors pretending to be senior devs. Always quality over quantity with us. Imagine having a dedicated expert who truly understands your project‘s vision and transforms it into reality. Let’s set up a time to discuss your hiring needs.”

3. "Simplify the insurance buying experience with Dundas Life "

Gregory Rozdeba , CEO of Dundas Life , offered this pitch:

“Imagine buying life insurance the way you shop online — quick, easy, and transparent. At Dundas Life, we streamline the complex process of finding the right insurance, making it accessible at your fingertips. With us, you‘re not just a policy number; you’re in control, informed, and secure. Let’s make insurance straightforward together.”

4. "Engage with real estate investment expertise with EZ Sell Homebuyers. "

Mike Wall , CEO of EZ Sell Homebuyers , offered this pitch:

“Looking to maximize your real estate investment? With over two decades of experience and a portfolio of over 30 properties, I provide tailored advice that turns real estate into real results. Let’s discuss how I can help you achieve your property investment goals today.”

5. "Enhance your online visibility with CodeDesign . "

Bruno Gavino , Founder and CEO of CodeDesign , offered this pitch:

“Hi, I’m Bruno from CodeDesign. We often see companies struggle to gain visibility in the digital space, losing potential revenue to competitors who dominate online. Our agency specializes in leveraging advanced data analytics and custom digital strategies to enhance your online presence, driving more traffic and increasing sales. Imagine what it would be like to see your business outperform competitors by simply optimizing your digital marketing. Let’s chat about how we can make that happen for you.”

6. "Illuminate spaces with quality lighting with Festoon House . "

Matt Little , Director at Festoon House , offered this pitch:

“Imagine transforming your space with lighting that‘s not only beautiful but also built to last. At Festoon House, we’re dedicated to crafting premium lighting solutions that elevate your style, enhance your ambiance, and stand the test of time. From modern chandeliers to industrial-chic fixtures, our products are designed to inspire and impress. Join the Festoon House family and let's brighten up your world together — one light at a time!”

7. "Solve food waste with RedBat.Agency . "

Gert Kulla , CEO of RedBat.Agency , offered this pitch:

“We're tackling the issue of food waste in restaurants. Our app allows diners to buy surplus food at a discount while helping venues reduce waste and generate extra revenue. This creates a win-win for businesses and customers looking to save money and curb food waste.”

8. "Elevate travel with JetLevel Aviation . "

Fahd Khan , Director of Marketing and Technology at JetLevel Aviation , offered this pitch:

“At JetLevel Aviation, we provide top-tier private jet charter services, ensuring fast, flexible, and seamless travel for high-profile clients. Unlike traditional charter companies, our bespoke solutions and access to a wide range of luxury jets guarantee that your travel experience is not just efficient but also tailored to your specific preferences and schedules. Let us elevate your travel experience to the next level.”

1. Keep it brief.

The purpose of an elevator speech is to be as brief as possible while capturing a prospect‘s attention. Try to stay under 60 seconds — including your introduction. Even if you’re delivering your elevator speech during a formal presentation, where you have time to elaborate if needed, keep the bulk of your pitch under sixty seconds.

If you don‘t, you won’t be able to use your pitch when you're chatting with prospects in situations with tighter time constraints — such as a tradeshow or a chance meeting.

2. Practice multiple times beforehand.

You may have written the most incredible elevator speech for your product, but if you hamper the delivery by misremembering or even forgetting parts of your pitch, it won't be an effective tool. Be sure to practice by yourself, with your manager, and with your colleagues.

The goal isn't just to memorize it, but to practice your tone, pace, and overall delivery.

3. Come prepared with additional materials.

When you‘re delivering your elevator pitch, be prepared to provide your prospect with what they need to continue the conversation. Whether that’s a business card, a brochure, or a short demo, carry all that you might need with you.

The elevator speech is your opportunity to begin a deal on the right foot and speed up the nurturing process. Typically, you might take weeks emailing a prospect before they're ready to schedule a meeting with you, but an elevator pitch speeds that work. You want to have the materials you need to keep the conversation going.

4. Be positive and enthusiastic.

It‘s essential to show your personality during your elevator pitch, but whether you’re a quiet, calm introvert or a charming, excitable extrovert, you should still convey positivity and enthusiasm.

You can use your body language and expression to keep things positive, even if your tone is quiet and calm. You might highlight the amazing benefits your prospect will enjoy if they sign up, or tell a positive story from one of your previous clients.

Most importantly, you should make it obvious that you want to help your prospect more than anything — which will make you sound positive by default.

5. Vary the tone of your voice.

As you deliver your pitch, vary your tone and modulation to keep your listener engaged. This will help you emphasize the most important parts of your speech — such as the benefits — while keeping your prospect‘s attention. The pitch may be short, but you’ll be surprised at how easily people can tune out based on your tone alone. We don‘t want to risk it! Especially if it’s a prospect you've never spoken with.

1. Don't ramble.

I‘ve been a rep at Sales-R-Us for five years now. They’re the best company I‘ve ever worked for. I’ve loved my time there. I started as a BDR and have worked my way up to a senior position. I‘ve never looked back. I also love the services we sell. I can’t wait to tell you about them. Sales-R-Us help companies become more efficient with their sales through training, evaluation, and leadership management — and that‘s just to name a few. We have a unique approach that’s been honed by lots of sales experts over the years, and I‘ve seen our solution really help a lot of companies and teams. I’ve had many clients whose businesses have been saved because of our genius solution. I know we can do the same for you. Would you be interested in learning more?

This elevator pitch is not effective because:

• It's way too long.
• The rep spends way too much time talking about themself.
• It never gets specific or actionable.
• It never provides actual examples or attention-grabbing facts.

2. Don't use too much jargon.

At Stratosphere Solutions, our OS-level virtualization delivers software in containers, all of which share the system of a lone operating system kernel. These containers are isolated but can communicate with one another through well-defined channels. Ultimately, this lets you use fewer resources than traditional virtual machines.

• It's inaccessible to someone without relevant technical knowledge.
• It features too much jargon.
• It tries to condense an extremely complicated topic into 30 seconds.
• Its value proposition isn't clear-cut.

3. Don‘t insert your prospect’s personal information.

I visited your Instagram and noticed that you have a pitbull. I have a pitbull, too! I bet he sometimes distracts you when you work from home, which is the absolute pits when you‘re trying to put together a report for your boss. Your dog — what’s his name? — may be asking for your attention, but I assure you you can still create a report as easy as 1-2-3 with AnswerASAP. While petting your pupperino.

• It sacrifices the hook in favor of creating a “personal connection.”
• It's too familiar with the prospect to the point of discomfort.
• It makes assumptions about the prospect's work-from-home tendencies.
• It uses informal slang (“the absolute pits,” “pupperino”) for unnecessary humor.

4. Don‘t under-emphasize the problem you’re solving.

It's possible that you may run into issues when putting reports together for your boss. For instance, things may go awry every once in a while, such as disappearing data or disagreeing sources. With AnswerASAP, you can lay those worries to rest. We have a few features that will help you with those issues if you ever run into them.

• It treats a customer problem as a possibility and not an urgent reality.
• It‘s vague (“things may go awry”) and doesn’t emphasize how those issues can hurt the prospect.
• It doesn‘t specify the product features that will solve the prospect’s challenges.
• Because it never goes into detail, it shows little research and care.

Remember, an elevator pitch should only come at someone else‘s prompting. If you’re spontaneously reciting it to random people, you're not doing yourself any favors. But if they ask, you want to be prepared with an interesting, well-crafted pitch.

Reel in Clients with an Effective Elevator Pitch

While a short speech may seem insignificant, those first conversations can hold some weight. With a well-crafted pitch, you can turn a single conversation with a prospect into a long-lasting customer, or even into a business partner. We hope you found these examples helpful and are inspired to craft your own effective elevator pitch.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in August 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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• Entrepreneurship

How to Create an Elevator Pitch in 5 Easy Steps (With Tips & Advice)

An elevator pitch is the traditional spiel to someone to propose an idea or solution. here's how to write an elevator pitch in five simple steps..

The classic scenario is this: You and another person step onto an elevator. As the elevator begins to ascend, you peek over at your fellow passenger. Wait, what? That’s [insert influential name here], the person who could unlock everything for you and your business idea. 

With your exit floor quickly approaching, you decide to go for it—you’re going to use these 30 seconds the universe has granted you with this person to pitch your proposal. 

You’re going to deliver your elevator pitch.

Don’t worry! In this short post, we’re going to walk you through how to write an elevator pitch effectively, including the steps to follow and tips for elevator pitch success.

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What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is essentially a short speech meant to persuade someone to take an action or consider an idea you propose. The goal of an elevator speech could be just about anything, from getting a CEO to consider you for job interviews to pitching your million-dollar idea to a Silicon Valley investor.

The traditional elevator pitch is considered to take 30 seconds or less, about the time it takes for an average elevator ride. In half a minute, the pitch needs to take a stranger and turn them into a believer—meaning it has to be practical, powerful, and personalized.

Goodwall’s “Virtual Elevator Pitch”

Here’s the thing, though: the concept of the elevator pitch has remained relatively unchanged for decades. On top of that, the standard elevator spiel is only great for pitching to a single person (or a few people); if you have an idea for The Next Big Thing, you don’t want others to overhear you and get there first. 

But what if you have an idea that’s meant to be shared, like a new way for people to cut plastic from their lives or a novel approach to reducing our carbon footprint?

Enter Goodwall’s “virtual elevator pitch.”

As Goodwall’s Omar Bawa put it, “We’ve got big problems and small problems, from climate change to finding a dog sitter. We’ve also got many solutions. But most of those solutions are trapped as ideas. For an idea to become a solution, that idea needs to be shared, it needs feedback and it needs support. You don’t need to be an entrepreneur, all you need is an idea to improve something and the courage to pitch it.”

Goodwall has launched this latest innovation—formatted as a 30-second vertical video—to inspire students and young professionals to share their ideas with the world, rather than hiding them away. When a Goodwall member creates and uploads a video onto the platform, their network connections have the opportunity to challenge the idea, offer feedback, and provide support, taking that idea from a simple thought to an actionable solution.

You can use it for almost anything you can think of, including a simple sales pitch with a call to action, a video to send out important information, or you could use virtual elevator pitches to call attention to a global problem. To see some great elevator pitch examples, sign up to Goodwall !

How to Create an Elevator Pitch

Whether you’re crafting the classic elevator speech or pitching your idea with Goodwall’s innovative vertical video, similar rules apply. To practice, try our simple elevator pitch exercise.

Here are 5 steps to creating the best elevator pitch possible:

1. Make an Introduction

In the traditional elevator speech, making an introduction is key when pitching someone who doesn’t know you. Jumping straight into a spiel as soon as the elevator’s doors shut could cause your audience to skip out floors early in annoyance. 

With Goodwall’s modern take on the elevator pitch, however, less time is needed on introducing yourself, if you choose to at all. After all, your audience will see exactly who you are and can easily click over to your Goodwall profile if they’d like to learn more about you. 

One important thing to remember with elevator pitches, throughout all these steps, is to tailor your pitch to your intended audience. A good elevator pitch is relevant to the particular party you’re addressing. Elevator pitch examples which target one VC with an innovative solution to a problem will need to be rethought for a different person, at least, if you want it to lead somewhere.

2. Identify a Problem

Before you propose a solution, use an elevator pitch to submit a problem for their consideration. And, no matter what type of elevator pitch you’re making, there’s always a problem. Here are a few example elevator pitches:

• “Your company’s growth is beginning to plateau.”
• “People want medications delivered by drone right to their homes. Until now, the government hasn’t allowed it.”
• “Forest fires in California have grown more and more powerful each year.”

When possible, give them concrete numbers, as these prove you’ve done your research and makes the problem to solve that much more intriguing and urgent.

3. Propose Your Solution

Now comes the “pitch” part. After you’ve identified a problem which they’ve hopefully sympathized with, it’s time to segue into your idea for eliminating that problem. Let’s look at those same pain points and see some elevator pitch examples of problem-solving answers: 

• “Your company’s growth is beginning to plateau, but if you hire me … ”
• “People want medications delivered by drone right to their homes. Until now, the government hasn’t allowed it, but I’ve figured out a way to … ”
• “Forest fires in California have grown more and more powerful each year. But, what if we … ”

4. Explain Your Idea’s Advantage Over Others

You’ve now pitched your idea, but you’re not done yet. To make a good elevator pitch truly effective, you’ll have to go into detail—briefly, as it’s still a 30-second pitch—as to why the solution you put forth is in their best interest. Otherwise, your listening audience will quickly assume that any benefits to be had are all yours, effectively ending your chances.

5. Answer Any Questions & Accept Feedback

With elevator pitches, you’re making a request, and, unless you managed to inspire 100% conviction in your proposal, they’re bound to have questions. Answer any questions your audience might ask honestly and in detail. 

It may be that they don’t have questions for you but offer feedback or criticism on your idea instead. Always accept these comments graciously, thank them for their time, and use that feedback to improve your elevator speech for the next time.

Related Read : What is the Difference Between an Accelerator and an Incubator?

To Sum Up … 

Here’s a quick recap on how to create an effective elevator pitch:

• Introduce yourself to your audience;
• Identify a problem that exists;
• Pitch your idea on how to solve that problem;
• Go further into describing the merits of your solution;
• Answer their follow-up questions and graciously accept any feedback.

Even a simple elevator pitch can be quite daunting, certainly. You’re making yourself vulnerable by putting your ideas out there to complete strangers, hoping they’ll have a positive reaction .

However, if you follow our simple strategy on how to write an elevator pitch, you’ll have a powerful vehicle for delivering your ideas—the rest is up to you. 

To learn more about sharing ideas on Goodwall, read our guides on why you should share your idea with the Goodwall community and how to create a virtual elevator pitch .

Got any questions to ask on writing an elevator speech? Need help crafting an elevator pitch that gets results, whether it’s a job interview, career, networking event, or finance proposal? Let’s bring the conversation down into the comments below, and thanks for reading!

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• 15 creative elevator pitch examples for ...

15 creative elevator pitch examples for every scenario

A good elevator pitch can be the difference between landing your next big opportunity or falling short of the competition. But the reality is, people want to have meaningful conversations without the forced sales pitch. So how do you pitch yourself during a job interview or client meeting with authenticity? 

First things first: What is an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch, also known as an elevator speech, is an opportunity to share a quick summary of yourself and your product offerings. But a pitch can also be your chance at making a real connection that you can use later down the road. It’s not always an immediate benefit, but you should be prepared for any scenario in which you could be giving an elevator pitch. 

In reality, most people have given an elevator pitch whether they realize it or not. That’s because there are many different types of pitches—from interviews to new business opportunities. That makes preparing for your next pitch an important step in marketing both yourself and your company. 

When it comes to figuring out who to deliver your pitch to, you should aim for the best point of contact, not just the highest point of contact. Choosing connections that are related to or interested in what you’re offering will give you a better chance at making your sale. 

How long should an elevator pitch be?

One of the biggest unknowns about creating sample elevator pitches is how long they should be. In most cases, it will depend on what it’s about and who you’re pitching. A good rule of business etiquette is to make it as short as possible by carefully selecting the most important points. 

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. 

When looking at pitch length based on industry, each one differs to some degree. Let’s take marketing for example. Your pitch opportunities will likely be to customers that come across your brand. And in that case, you have very little time to get your message across—whether it’s text, video, or imagery. But when it comes to sales, you may get the opportunity to expand your elevator pitch past 30 seconds. You will likely have plenty of networking opportunities where people are more than willing to listen to what you have to say. It really just depends on your medium and the audience’s eagerness to listen. 

But what if you can’t cut your elevator pitch down to 30 seconds? It may seem like your brand is too complicated to distill down to such a short timeframe, but if you’re pitching to the right audience you shouldn’t have that problem. Make sure you pitch to people related to your industry or a tangential audience that will be able to interpret your offerings. 

How to write an elevator pitch 

When it comes to writing an elevator pitch, it can be hard to decipher important facts from unimportant ones—this is why knowing how to effectively communicate in the workplace is important in the first place. For example, while it’s good to personalize your communication tactics wherever possible, it’s not necessary to give prospects an entire history lesson on your business. Only the most recent and relevant details should be included. To get started creating your own pitch, you first need to understand the basic components that make up any good elevator pitch.

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. 

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. 

Offer the 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. 

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.   

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. 

A foolproof elevator pitch template

Now that you know the basic components of a pitch, the next step is creating your very own elevator pitch. This template can work for just about any situation, from a job interview to pitching a small business or startup. That’s because we analyzed some of the most famous templates from industry experts—from Harvard research to Guy Kawasaki’s art of pitching—to create a foolproof template that will work in any situation. 

Plug your information into our elevator pitch template to draft a quick speech. While you won’t necessarily recite it word for word, it’s a great model to keep in mind in case you find yourself in a position where you’re not prepared with a personalized pitch.

Whether you’re looking for a pitch template for a job interview or for pitching your business, this template is a foolproof example for any situation you might find yourself in. 

General elevator pitch template

Use our elevator pitch template to start constructing your speech by adding statistics and personalized greetings where needed. This template incorporates the four parts explained above to hit all of the important details of a good elevator pitch. 

Introduction : “Hi I’m [name], a [position title] at [company name]. It’s great to meet you!”

Problem : “Since you work with [company name or industry] I figured you’d be interested to know that [problem + interesting statistic].”

Solution : “The great part about working at [your company’s name] is that we’ve been able to fix just that problem by [solution].”

Value proposition : “In fact, we’re the only company that offers [value proposition].”

CTA : “I think our solution could really help you. Are you available this week to speak further on this?”

Don’t be afraid to change up your pitch template based on your personality and professional expertise. We’ve also included personalized 30-second elevator pitch examples below to inspire personal facts you can add to create a more engaging speech .

30-second elevator pitch examples

Let’s dive into the best 30-second elevator pitch examples to help you create a pitch that’s both engaging and informative. Our examples take inspiration from the four elements included in the template above, to demonstrate how you'd pitch project management software to  increase productivity . Try a few or try them all to find one that best fits your personality and value proposition. 

Example 1: Short and sweet

This example is one of the most common you’ll come across. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best, but it’s a great example of a quick and easy pitch that fits almost any situation. When working on this type of elevator pitch, be sure to keep it as short and to the point as possible. Try to stick closely to the 30 seconds or less rule since the point is to be brief and transparent.

The problem is that work is chaotic no matter what industry you’re in or how good you are at your job. But a good project management software can help improve productivity and communication. I haven’t missed a deadline in years. If you’re interested in how it can help your team, give me a call and I can take you through some numbers. 

Example 2: Relatable over reliable

Sometimes the best way to grab your audience’s attention is to reel them in with a personal anecdote they’ll relate to. While it’s still important to drive home your solution, this approach puts more weight on making a personal connection rather than an immediate sale. 

It’s so great to finally meet you. How is business going? I heard you’ve been struggling with communication issues. My team and I struggled with that too. It wasn’t until we added project management software into our routine that we really saw an improvement in teamwork and overall communication. I hope you find a solution that works for your team. 

Example 3: Savvy with stats

Start your pitch off with a hook by dropping an attention-grabbing statistic. It’s important to have hard data to back up your statistics to ensure their accuracy before pitching. When it comes to a statistics pitch, it’s a good idea to come full circle at the end and connect how your solution can help solve that statistic.  

Did you know that despite having more ways to connect remotely, 60% of workers’ time is spent on work coordination with just 26% spent on skilled work and 14% on strategy? No wonder teams need help with project management. Implementing project management tools can decrease time spent on work coordination and help increase skilled work.

Example 4: Question everything

This example uses questions to make your pitch easily comprehensible. It also forces the audience to join in on the conversation rather than just presenting them with a speech. Try starting and ending with a question that makes the audience think about your pitch long after you leave the room.

Do you ever feel like you spend too much time on work about work? I’ve talked to so many people who share the same frustrations. I used to work long hours every day just trying to catch up. But do you know what? Ever since we started using project management software, I've been able to get so much more work done. Have you tried anything similar in the past?

Example 5: Comedic twist

If your pitch isn’t about a serious topic, you can add comedic twists to engage the audience. This is especially useful if giving a presentation. Add a GIF or quick funny clip in between slides to lighten the mood. If using this example, be sure it fits the occasion and tone of your company. 

Did you know that the average person can only pay attention for eight seconds? That’s not even long enough to place my coffee order in the morning. Maybe that’s why my barista always gets it wrong. But seriously, I think that’s why so many companies struggle to hit deadlines. 

Example 6: Tell a story

Use customer testimonials or your own personal story to paint a picture for the audience. This can be especially helpful if your topic is hard to explain in 30 seconds or less. Telling a story is a great way to add a relatable twist. 

We have a customer that transitioned to a fully remote workforce this year and needed help making sure deadlines were met. With our help, they were able to get up to 10% of their time back in their day and focus on more important things like strategic planning.  

Example 7: Emotionally driven

While this type of pitch may be more difficult to create, you have a better chance of winning over your audience if you can make your pitch emotionally driven. It’s also more likely they’ll be willing to share the experience with someone else down the road. It’s important to keep the emotions on the lighter side to prevent the conversation from steering too dark. Here is an example to inspire your own speech. 

It may seem like any other tool, but when you look closely it really is helping teams connect. And not just that, but it’s helping cultivate teams that actually enjoy working together on new projects. That’s something that’s hard to come by, but something everyone is looking for.  

Example 8: Write it first

While most speeches start by writing a general outline, you can opt to write the entire pitch from start to finish. This tends to create a thought-provoking and poetic flow once you do present your pitch. You’ll have to memorize this pitch, so practicing is a key element to this strategy. 

Hi, my name is Kelly! It’s great to meet you. You work for Apollo Enterprises, right? I’ve heard a lot about them. I actually heard that you’re looking for project management help. In my experience, any organization—whether sales or suppliers—needs help coordinating work and team communication. Work can be rather chaotic, especially now, without it. That’s why we’ve created a software tool that helps both individuals and teams organize their projects and communications all in one place. Have you ever thought about using something similar?

Example 9: End with a one-liner

Making a grand exit doesn’t come easily, but if you can pull it off your audience is sure to be impressed. Stay away from cliche one-liners and make your closing authentic to you. The point here is to leave them with a thought that they’ll remember after the meeting is over. Consider sharing a surprising statistic or question relevant to their business.

Over one-quarter (26%) of all deadlines are missed each week because of a lack of clarity. But with the right project management tools, that number could be much lower. So the question is, can your business afford not to use project management software? 

Elevator pitch examples by scenario

Now that we’ve covered the types of pitch examples, let’s dive into example elevator pitches for different scenarios. Whether you’re pitching for your business or yourself, you can use an elevator pitch to organize your thoughts and prepare for the real deal. Let’s look at key tips for any situation you may find yourself in. 

Example 10: Networking event

A networking event is probably the most common scenario you’ll run into. And with the new virtual-first culture, it may be even more challenging to make meaningful connections over video chat. That’s why it’s so important to prepare an elevator pitch that’s compelling no matter where you’re pitching it from. While most salespeople pitch casually in this environment, you may get the opportunity to meet an important executive. In which case, you’ll want to be prepared with a versatile pitch template. 

Great to meet you, I’m Kelly with Apollo Enterprises. We’ve been able to improve productivity and collaboration for teams all over the world. If you ever need help with project management, just reach out. I think we could make a huge impact on your company. I’ll make sure to keep your contact information handy as well. 

Example 11: Job interview

Looking for a new job or have career fairs coming up? Most interviews—whether with human resources, a recruiter, or a hiring manager—start with some form of the phrase, “Tell me about yourself.” This is an opportunity for job seekers to briefly explain themselves and their professional experience using industry buzzwords and key skills. Having an elevator pitch ready can ensure that you’re prepared when the opportunity presents itself. 

I’m Kelly, a specialist at Apollo Enterprises. I chose a career in project management because I had a passion for it, and now I can proudly say that I’ve been able to make a real difference in people’s lives. That’s why I’m looking to continue my career with an employer who shares those same values. I know my unique skills can make a big impact at your company because I’ve proven my results with a few key projects. 

Example 12: Formal meeting

You’ve landed the meeting, congratulations! Now is the time to create a formal elevator pitch to really get them interested. When presenting a formal pitch, a presentation can be a great addition to traditional elevator speech examples. But whether or not you choose to create a presentation, this meeting is about selling your product in the most professional way possible. So dress the part and don’t forget your unique selling proposition. 

I took a look at your current productivity figures and noticed an opportunity for improvement. With our project management software, you could get back up to 10% more of your workday. Not only would that mean more work getting done, but it would also have a positive impact on the overall success of your business. Not to mention, our tool is the only one in the industry that has goal capabilities to ensure teams stay on track. 

Example 13: Sales pitch 

Professionals often pitch traditional sales jargon, but the real key is creating a human connection while lightly sprinkling in what you’re selling. Start with a personal story or light-hearted introduction instead of the typical sales presentation. You can also prepare by creating sales team goal templates to ensure your team is on the same page. 

Our team really struggled to transition to a remote workforce. Communication wasn’t organized and people struggled to find the correct information to complete projects. But, thankfully, we found a solution to our problem. Implementing project management tools not only improved productivity but also improved overall teamwork. Every company prefers different tools, but I can say without a doubt that our software was the best at connecting goals with the work needed to achieve them. 

Example 14: Social introduction

Now, more than ever, professionals are choosing to meet virtually rather than face-to-face. Whether you’re chatting over LinkedIn or have a virtual meeting set up, it’s important to make your pitch personal and use clear visuals to help sell your point. Here’s a great example of a social media pitch. 

Thanks for connecting! I noticed that your competitors are outperforming you when it comes to year-over-year growth. I took the liberty of doing a competitive analysis and didn’t find any outlying problems. I’m wondering if it could be an issue with productivity. How has the transition to remote work been? If you’re interested, I could run you through some productivity figures if you were to add project management tools to your current processes. 

Example 15: Entrepreneurs and business owners

Pitching to a business owner is much different than pitching to an executive. They can be harder to sell because they are often hesitant about new investments. The most important tip is to use examples as they pertain to the business when explaining a problem and solution.  

I love your products at Apollo Enterprises. I’m a huge proponent of your mission. I did realize that there may be some opportunities to improve productivity and collaboration internally. Have you ever considered project management software? I think it could have a big impact on business growth now or even down the road. 

4 tips to perfect your elevator pitch

In addition to creating the perfect elevator pitch, you should also work on sprucing up your delivery. There’s nothing worse than sitting through a boring speech, so make sure yours is anything but. From posture to tone, there’s a lot you can practice to make sure you look professional and knowledgeable. Consider these four tips when trying to nail a successful elevator pitch. 

1. Stick to your outline

To prevent getting off-topic, it’s important to stick to your outline at least to some extent. While you don’t need to recite it word for word, it’s best to memorize the majority of your pitch. That way you won’t need to worry about checking your notes. 

2. Speak slowly and clearly

Many professionals tend to talk quickly when they’re nervous—hey, we’re only human. But it’s important to enunciate and speak slowly so the audience can understand you. This is especially important when presenting over video chat. But try not to slow yourself down too much or you’ll go over your allotted time. 

3. Record your pitch

Record yourself reciting the pitch to work on any areas that need improvement. Practice your pitch a handful of times by playing the recording back and working out any pain points. A couple of key areas to focus on are speed and tone. It’s better to sound overly energized rather than monotone. 

4. Practice, practice, practice!

There’s nothing more effective than practicing your pitch until you’re able to recite it in your sleep. If possible, practice in front of friends and family to get constructive feedback on how you can make your pitch even better. Even if you have years of experience, you can never go wrong with being overly prepared. 

Elevate your first impression with an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is a chance to show off your strengths and pitch your solutions. While it may sound nerve-wracking, using the 15 elevator pitch examples above will help you develop your own method using personal tidbits that tie into your innovative solutions.

While your pitch is an important part of leveling up your business, there are many avenues you can take to achieve growth. One of those ways is by determining whether project management vs. work management tools are right for your team. Not only will they help connect your team members, but the right tools and software can also help your organization set strategic goals. That means more time spent on bigger projects to help your business reach next-level growth. 

Related resources

How Asana streamlines strategic planning with work management

How to create a CRM strategy: 6 steps (with examples)

What is management by objectives (MBO)?

Write better AI prompts: A 4-sentence framework

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• Job Interview Tips

9 Elevator Pitch Examples to Ensure You Stand Out

You know the concept of an elevator pitch: a short, braggy speech you’re supposed to deliver in front of some big shot when you inevitably wind up in an elevator with them for 30 seconds.

Nowadays, it’s like an automated, generic LinkedIn message. It’s inflated, overly self-promotional, and incredibly outdated. This kind of approach just doesn’t resonate in today’s business landscape.

So what do you do if you need an elevator speech? You have hopes to sell yourself, land a job, get a client, or sell a product.

Well, you need to learn a better way to create and present an elevator pitch. It doesn’t require a lot of work, only a new angle.

In this article, we’ll talk about:

• What’s an elevator pitch and how to make it
• What a modern-day elevator pitch should include
• Elevator pitch examples for different situations
• The key to writing an elevator pitch that stands out

Don’t waste days compiling overused interview techniques. Get original answers to every single question you could expect.

Shifting the Perspective on Elevator Pitches

An elevator pitch or elevator speech is a 30–60-second long speech that informs listeners about you, what you do, and why it’s relevant to them — whether you’re trying to sell a product, services, or yourself as a candidate for a job.

You can use it to quickly introduce yourself in a job interview, at a job fair, during conferences, networking events, or other semiformal job-related gatherings.

But like we said, the standard elevator speech is slowly becoming outdated because people make it sound salesy and robotic.

This is why there’s a shift of perspective: the modern-day elevator pitch should be conversational, natural, and focused on human connection and authenticity. Otherwise, it might not have the power you’re expecting.

You should still introduce yourself, state what you do, what your mission is, and hint at how someone could benefit from that. But your main goal is to get the conversation started, so both parties (you and the person you’re speaking to) can exchange ideas and see if there’s space for collaboration.

How to Create an Elevator Pitch: General Template

Before we begin, we’d like to point out that this article will walk you through the basic structure of an elevator pitch. Then it’ll show you how to adjust it for different purposes (for a job interview, a networking event, and other job-related social gatherings).

We’ll also provide specific examples based on different situations.

Here’s what the general structure of such an elevator pitch looks like:

A “hook” or an attention-grabber

Finding a relevant topic, a common pain point, or an interesting question could be a casual, natural conversation starter. This makes for a perfect hook or an attention-grabber for an elevator pitch.

From there, you can gently steer the conversation in the direction of your expertise and create an inviting atmosphere for people to share their experiences with you.

For example: Imagine you’re attending a seminar/conference about Google updates and how they affect content marketing. You can start a convo by mentioning an interesting initiative you took regarding content update best practices, and how it helped you keep the traffic during turbulent times.

You can expand then, mentioning what you do and how somebody could benefit from that. Potentially, a decline in traffic is someone’s pain point, and that person would be interested in what you have to say right away.

You could start a conversation by asking: “How did you fare after the last major update?” It’s a nice way to put them first and show curiosity about their situation.

Then, you could say something like “My last client’s blog traffic took quite a hit. At first, they were reacting the same way everyone else was, just kind of freaking out. Once I came on, we identified 5 specific things that could help them with authority and their traffic shot back up.” This would grab their attention and give them something to relate to. Plus, it would present you as the solution to the problem, and they would be more than interested to hear about the 5 ways to increase traffic.

Which brings us to our next step.

A quick explanation of what you do

In this part of your elevator pitch, you can speak more about your work and how you solve different pain points.

It shouldn’t be bragging, but an honest, realistic story about your relevant experiences. If you can back them with hard data (maybe one key accomplishment, because you need to be short), even better. You can also mention some of your biggest clients, your mission and vision, or any other relevant detail.

The space for questions

Every good elevator speech will leave enough room for the person you’re speaking with to ask questions. Perhaps they’ll ask for more details about your expertise and company. That would be the perfect opportunity for you to elaborate and show how you could potentially solve their problems and contribute to their success.

Perhaps they’ll ask for recommendations, be it for software, strategy, or people. That’s a nice way to start building relationships.

Or, someone might straight up ask you if you could help them because they’re facing the same problem, and then the case is closed. You “sold” yourself during the elevator pitch purely because you were able to strike up a valuable conversation and provide value.

The questions you ask

You can ask questions in your elevator pitch! We’re moving away from sales-dudes-bragging pitches. People don’t want to listen to the monologue you learned by heart and recited to five people in the room. They want authentic conversations now.

Use the opportunity to ask relevant questions to keep the conversation going.

You can ask about how their company is dealing with the topic at hand, if they heard about a recent event in the industry, or anything else that would help you connect with and understand the person you’re speaking with.

✅ Pro tip: Elevator speeches don’t have to follow the same pattern . The more your elevator speech sounds like a natural part of the conversation, the more success you’ll have. If you can make your elevator speech a chameleon, perfectly blended with the rest of the talk, people won’t recognize that you’re “pitching” anything. What they will recognize is your expertise and authenticity, and they’d be drawn to you.

Elevator Pitch Examples for Different Scenarios

Elevator pitch examples for a job interview.

If you’re looking for a job, you’ll likely hear “Tell me about yourself” in every interview. This is the perfect opportunity to bring out your elevator pitch and start a conversation.

Here’s how to create an elevator pitch for a job interview:

A recent graduate offering fresh perspectives and motivation to learn

A career switcher who shows transferable skills and eagerness to evolve, a seasoned professional highlighting vast experience and adaptability.

Elevator pitch examples for a networking event

Notice how these elevator speech examples will be a lot more conversational and a lot less rehearsed than the ones for job interviews. You should be as natural as possible when networking — focus on creating a connection first and a collaboration second.

An industry expert pitching unique insights and records of accomplishments

An aspiring leader focusing on the vision and leadership potential, an eager student highlighting the desire to learn more and make valuable connections, elevator pitch examples for social gatherings and other semi-formal situations, a freelancer discussing flexibility, bespoke solutions, and diverse experiences, a hobbyist-turned-professional conveying passion and talking about their unique journey., an introverted specialist emphasizing deep knowledge and precision in specific areas, elevator pitch examples: popular opinion vs. expert advice.

The internet is full of all kinds of advice — terrible, alright, and some that’s actually pretty solid. Let’s see if popular opinion moved away from seeing elevator pitches as highly structured, salesy, learned-by-heart pieces of text to deliver.

Zak7062 from Reddit said:

“I’m better at writing software than I am at writing elevator pitches” is what I usually go with. Usually, it gets a laugh and is a decent icebreaker that gets me more time to talk to them.

Career expert comments:

If the occasion is not too formal, this is the perfect icebreaker that will set a positive tone right away and start the conversation in the right direction. My immediate reaction would be to inquire more about this person’s coding skills, so I guess the hardest part of their job is done. But bear in mind this is just a hook, an ice-breaker, and not a real elevator pitch. So make sure to prepare at least a few bullet points describing your skills and the value you’d bring to their company. It’s cool to have such a nice ice-breaker, but you need to follow up with something substantial.

From ConsulIncitatus :

“My job is to make us look good and I do that by measuring results and improving them. That’s also good for the company. I’m the ears and mouth for my teams and occasionally the brain. I believe in servant leadership. I clear the path for my technical staff to build our vision for our products. I focus on their growth and that in turn grows us.”

One might argue that this is a nice overview of the duties of this person. But not me. There are 6 pieces of general information here that don’t reveal anything about the person’s skills and ability to accomplish results. Everyone who has a job has to measure results and improve them.

This, if heavily edited, could be the middle part of an elevator pitch where a person briefly explains what they do and their key skills.

In that case, the person would have to narrow down their choice of information. If they want to highlight they’re result-oriented, they need to pick an example of when they improved poor performance and back it up by % or $. If they believe in servant leadership, they need to quickly elaborate the principles. And so on.

Bottom line: Pick one or two key things/values/principles/achievements and prove them. Don’t list generalizations — you’ll risk blending in with every other candidate.

From Gordon Miller on Quora:

A mentor of mine taught me “a pitch is complete not when nothing else can be added, but when nothing else can be taken away.” Another mentor told me “It is all about the ONE THING. You need to figure out what the one thing is.”

Career expert comments: 

This is a nice way to look at it. I’m not saying you should focus on only one thing in your elevator pitch, but having a differentiator, a single thing that makes you different and potentially better from the competition is a nice thing to build your pitch around. Everything else you add should complement that differentiator, prove your worth, and hint at how you can help others who have the same problem.

Tips to Make Your Elevator Pitch Stand Out

Let’s see how you can make your elevator pitch more fun and engaging.

Personalize your pitch to show your unique value

A generic elevator pitch, the one you’d learn by heart and recite to anyone you meet, would blow your chances because it wouldn’t be relevant or valuable to the person you’re speaking to.

That’s why an elevator pitch needs to be personalized.

Creating a new elevator pitch for every person you’re speaking to makes no sense. But coming up with a nice basis and then adjusting the details each time might work pretty well.

If you know in advance who you’ll be speaking to, make sure to research their company so you’re in the loop with their initiatives and potential pain points. Then, highlight your specific achievements that directly relate to the company’s needs. Identify their pain points and address how your skills and experience could be the solution.

✅ Pro tip: If you don’t know who you’ll be speaking to, try to ask questions while you speak (if the situation allows it), or personalize the pitch to the company they work for.

Here’s a story my friend told me. One of her professors, who was also a hiring manager for Mondelez, often manned booths at career fairs. He said he used to hear thousands of bland elevator pitches with students listing their accomplishments, each similar to the previous one.

The ones who actually stood out always knew something about the company. He gave an example of one guy who started a conversation about Mondelez’s sustainability efforts in hazelnut production. The guy talked about how he was passionate about that and pitched some other ideas of ways they could improve these processes.

So even though the guy didn’t know who he would be speaking to, he made his elevator speech relevant by researching the company, obtaining important info, and adding it to the speech, along with additional ideas on how to improve the processes.

Keep the pitch conversational

Nobody wants to hear about you assisting in optimizing synergistic solutions for seamless integration in the tech ecosystem. They don’t understand what it means and they don’t care.

You need to keep your pitch conversational to hold the listener’s attention. By not sounding robotic and rehearsed, you’ll be more relatable and interesting to talk to. You’ll stand out by being memorable and authentic.

Plus, you’ll create a space for you and the person you’re speaking with to build a real connection and see how you can help each other.

How to keep it conversational:

• Avoid formal language or complex and vague terms.
• Use storytelling in your pitch
• Engage the listener: ask questions and create a dynamic discussion
• Pay attention to your tone and pace of speech

Highlight the benefits of working with you

When appropriate, highlight the benefits of working with you or your company, not just your skills or what you do in general.

Having sharp skills is great, but people probably want to know how you can use those skills to help them .

Try to address the why by bringing up unique points about yourself, highlighting your strengths, and mentioning your key achievements. Make sure those achievements are somehow connected to the industry/role/pain point/challenge/goal of the person you’re speaking to.

If you can prepare in advance and do some digging on the person’s company and challenges, even better.

Summary of the Main Points

• It’s important to move away from the old-school, salesy elevator pitches that make you boring and robotic.
• Nowadays, elevator pitches need to be authentic and conversational.
• Be aware that there are differences between an elevator pitch for a job interview and an elevator pitch for seminars, conferences, meetups, and any other job-related occasions.
• Your ideal elevator pitch should have a hook or another kind of an attention-grabber.
• It also needs to explain what you do and what’s in it for them.
• It should create a dynamic conversation where both you and the person you’re speaking to can ask questions.
• Keep your elevator speech conversational, personalized, and make sure to highlight the benefits of working with you.

_____________________________

Need a hand? There’s 3 ways we can help:

• Learn how to turn job interviews into offers . (Rated 4.9/5 by 1,000,000 users)
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• Read about how to handle interview anxiety

How long should my elevator pitch be?

30–60 seconds. It should be enough for you to get your key points across and start a conversation. This makes it suitable for most networking situations.

Do I need to write my elevator speech down?

It’s not mandatory, but it might help during the initial elevator pitch brainstorming session. Writing down different elevator pitch ideas and versions will give you clarity and structure. It might also help with setting up your arguments. You could adjust, rearrange, add, or remove ideas until you get the perfect version. Plus, having a written pitch makes it easier to customize for different situations. You can adjust it based on the audience, occasion, the context of a conversation, and similar.

What is the objective of an elevator pitch?

To succinctly communicate key information about your expertise, capture attention, build a memorable impression of you, and initiate conversation, opening the door for exploration of partnerships and opportunities.

Are there any famous elevator pitch examples?

Steve Jobs’ elevator pitch to John Sculley back in 1983 when Sculley was still at Pepsi: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water, or do you want a chance to change the world?”

Airbnb’s early pitch was interesting too: “Book rooms with locals, rather than hotels,” hinting at their unique selling point — connecting travelers with locals who provide authentic lodging experiences. That’s Airbnb’s one thing, their differentiator.

What’s a good example of an elevator pitch for someone with no experience?

If you have little to no relevant experience, you can focus on your enthusiasm, potential, and transferable skills. Show enthusiasm about the field, industry, or company, showcase potential by bringing up a relevant accomplishment from the academic field, volunteer work, or internship, and highlight how you could use key transferable skills to contribute. Make sure you pick the transferable skills relevant to the speaker, depending on their company, industry, or the type of role you’re discussing. You can also demonstrate your enthusiasm for the role/company by researching and pitching interesting ideas (like that Mondelez example we mentioned above).

What to say in my elevator pitch if I don’t do anything unique and am just a solid employee?

If you don’t have a particular achievement or a unique role, you can still emphasize your hard work, reliability, work ethic, and ability to contribute. Being a solid employee is quite a desired skill and should be highlighted. Additionally, you can quantify your work to prove it. Using a number to back up your claims will spice your pitch up. For example, you could say, “I truly believe that hard work and reliability are the keys to success in this job. I’ve been working for ABC Auto for the past 5 years — I’ve never showed up late and always gotten my work done on time. My boss once told me: ‘Whenever I ask you to do something, I know I’ll never have to worry about following up.’ It’s my favorite compliment I ever received.”

Maja Stojanovic

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9 Steps to the Perfect Elevator Pitch

You need a memorable answer to “What do you do?”. Your elevator pitch tells people who you are and why they should care. Here’s how to do it.

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How do you answer the question “What do you do?” 

Everyone should have an answer that is authentic, impactful, and non-boring. 

Here’s the problem: Most of us aren’t confident talking about what we do and why it matters.

I’m here to help.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• how to craft a perfect elevator pitch to land jobs and become memorable
• the best elevator pitches (with examples)
• a step-by-step guide on what to do in the elevator (or career fair/event/etc.)

Let’s dive in.

What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a 20–30 second speech that showcases your unique talents and what you have to offer. The goal of an elevator pitch is to make the person you are talking to want to meet up for a second conversation.

An amazing elevator pitch should get people interested in you. Ideally, it will end with you giving your contact info, handing over your business card, or connecting on LinkedIn.

Here’s what an elevator pitch is NOT:

• a sleazy pitch to get someone to buy your product
• a plea to get a job offer
• telling your life story in half a minute
• desperate, unclear, or confusing

How Long Should an Elevator Pitch Be?

The sweet spot for an elevator pitch is anywhere between 10 seconds to a minute. Elevator pitches should be brief, memorable, and leave the prospect wanting to know more.

The Elevator Pitch Myth

Writer Peter Denning and his coauthor, Bob Dunham, conducted an experiment to find out if elevator pitches actually work. They enlisted the help of successful small business CEOs and asked them to give their elevator pitch to 2 random listeners.

And the results were shocking. The CEOs flopped at pitching their own businesses!

Their elevator pitches completely failed—feedback was mostly negative, and the listeners were not engaged at all.

But how could top CEOs fail at pitching their own businesses? Denning and Dunham had to find out.

They ran the same test again but with different groups this time. Like in the first experiment, the first couple of CEOs ran their pitch and got so-so feedback. But then Denning decided to test something different—he decided to turn the “pitch” into a conversation. Like this:

• Listener: Your turn.
• Peter: Before we start… are you interested in innovation?
• Listener: You bet. If my business does not come up with an innovative idea soon, we’ll be gone.
• Peter: I’m writing a book on how to succeed at innovation. Would you be interested in talking about it at lunch?
• Listener: Sure thing! But let’s get back to our work. What is your offer?
• Peter: I just made it.

And with that, Denning reinvented the elevator pitch, which the other CEOs failed at doing.

An amazing elevator pitch isn’t about giving a presentation. It’s about having a genuine conversation with someone.

It turns out, the CEOs were trying to spew out information about their businesses—how their businesses operated, what the sales numbers looked like, all that jazz.

But in reality, this doesn’t work. People don’t want information—they want connection.

So if your elevator pitch is fluid, conversational, and natural, your prospect is much more likely to want to meet up with you again than if it’s 100% information. They’ll understand you better, feel great after your pitch, and relate to you as a person.

How to Write The Perfect Elevator Pitch

Writing an elevator pitch is simple. Remember, sometimes it’s more about how you say your elevator pitch than what you say. Studies show the world’s greatest leaders use 2.9 times more appeals to emotion than logic.

With that in mind, here’s my “Delicious” Framework to craft an unforgettable elevator pitch:

#1. The Appetizer

First, grab a pen and paper and write down one line that describes you best.

Yep. Just ONE line.

I call this line the Appetizer. The purpose of the appetizer is to try to condense your entire pitch into one succinct sentence that answers the question: Who are you?

If you’re having trouble, think about what makes you unique compared to others. Try not to focus too much on the details—focus on a catchy, creative tagline that immediately makes others want to know more.

You can start with who you are, an interesting fact or statistic about your career, or even a conversation starter . Go with something that resonates!

My Appetizer: “Hi, I’m Vanessa and I’m a recovering awkward person.”

This is a go-to appetizer because it immediately creates question-asking opportunities: How was I an awkward person? How did I recover? What do I do now?

Some other examples of catchy, interesting one-liners:

• “I help 9th graders discover the magic of books.”
• “I’m a momtrepreneur.”
• “I’m a psychologist-turned-author.”

#2. Meat & Potatoes

Obviously, we’re not going to stop at the appetizer.

Next, we’re going to expand our one-liner with the Meat and Potatoes. Take your appetizer line and expand upon it:

• What is your mission statement? What is your WHY for your business or personal goals?
• What problems do you solve? Who’s your target audience, and what solutions do you bring to the table?
• How do you stand out? Do you have any USPs (unique selling points) or other characteristics that are different from your competitors’?
• What’s your unique process/workflow/product that makes you stand out from your competitors?

You can make this part as long or as short as you like. Don’t overthink it, as we’ll come back later and clean this part up.

Jot down as many relevant pieces of information as you’d like to include in your elevator pitch. Here’s my short and sweet edition…

My Meat and Potatoes: “I love helping people sound more confident, control their body and language to better express their ideas, and build stronger relationships. Throughout my work, I’ve been able to train thousands of students and change their lives forever. I’m so happy to help people feel just a little less awkward in their lives—now they can call themselves recovering awkward people too!”

#3. The Dessert

Finally, let’s take your expanded work and wrap it up with a question or call to action.

Since you’re likely going to be giving your pitch in a conversational manner, you want to ask a question to get to know them (remember how we hinted at empathy before?). For example, if your business is a project management company, you can ask something like: “What’s your biggest project management pain point?”

Or you can simply hand them your business card with the next steps to connect again.

My Dessert: “Do you ever feel a little awkward at times, or is that just me?”

#4. Your Spark Line

OK, so you’ve got your basic pitch ready. Now for the juicy part—time to add a Spark Line.

Your spark line is the major “wow” moment of your pitch. It can be a highlight that shows why you’re unique, a critical piece of information people wouldn’t guess just by looking at you, or something else that makes you stand out.

Your spark line is the most memorable part of your pitch.

Perhaps your spark line is already in your pitch. Whatever the case, make sure you have one big memorable point in your pitch—one that people will remember when they think back to you.

How do you know what part of your elevator pitch is the spark line?

Pitch your family and friends! Then ask them a couple of hours later what the most memorable line from your speech was. The phrase they remember the most will most likely be your spark line.

For example, I noticed that whenever I shared a meat and potatoes idea—“I love helping technically brilliant folks improve their people skills. I teach soft skills in a hard-skills way of thinking.”—people lit up! Now I always add it.

#5. Cut & Run

Time to turn on your editing brain.

Cut sentences that are too long or unclear, add in unique dopamine-boosting words or phrases, and change it up so it sounds more natural. It’s OK if you spend most of your time here or have a case of writer’s block—to avoid over-editing, set a timer for, say, 7 minutes, and whatever’s left, run with it.

Take your pitch and practice it—then refine it along the way!

Try to CUT any words that are confusing or unclear. (If someone needs a dictionary, cut it!)

Try to ADD words that get people excited or intrigued. (If someone raises their eyebrows at you, it means they are interested.)

Want extra help? Share your unique elevator pitch with the world! Leave a comment down below and ask the internet what they think.

#6. Practice

Time to record your pitch.

Grab your phone or camera gear and record your elevator pitch. Make sure you aren’t repeating any words, adding extra “uhs” and “hmms”, or coming off as too awkward or salesy.

If your elevator pitch is too long or short, check your cadence—are you talking too fast or is your pitch too long?

Pro Tip: Practice a lot, ideally with someone who knows you and your speaking style. Ask for feedback too. Do you sound natural? Is your elevator pitch conversational and free-flowing?

Fun Tip: Try watching Shark Tank pitches. Their pitches are a bit longer, but most entrepreneurs have amazing pitches that have been crafted to a T.

So you wrote your elevator pitch. Now what?

You can have the best pitch out there, but how you say it is often more important than what’s said. Here’s how to deliver an elevator pitch the charismatic way:

#7. Use Confident Body Language

First impressions matter. The key to setting up a great first impression is to set the tone yourself. Do you want to be friendly and approachable? Professional and calm? Cheerful and happy?

Your few seconds or minutes mean it’s crucial to deliver how you want to be perceived. Along with the right tone, keep in mind these critical body language cues:

• Strong eye contact . Making strong eye contact is a proven dopamine booster (i.e., really good for building trust!). Don’t overdo it—about 70–80% of the time is a good amount to be making eye contact.
• Open torso . When facing your prospect, you’ll ideally want to face them straight on with your torso open and turned toward them. This is called fronting. When you front, your arms are not crossed over your chest, and ideally there’s not a chair between you two to block you.
• Strong voice . If you’ve got some prep time, I strongly recommend trying some vocal warm-ups to optimize your voice. My favorite is the Goog exercise—you’ll be amazed at how much more confident you feel and sound after these warm-ups!
• The handshake . Are you planning on shaking hands? If you fail to give a handshake—or worse, give a cold, clammy one—then it can break all chances of nailing your elevator pitch.

The key is to make sure your body language is warm and open. Think hanging out with a good friend rather than talking to a stranger or enemy. Keep this in mind and your body language will naturally open up.

#8. Don’t Forget About Rapport

Sometimes you are making small talk with someone before they ask what you do. In fact, if you have been building rapport and having a great conversation, people are more likely to ask what you do.

Keep your conversation authentic. The more you connect with someone emotionally—by having fun, laughing, and showing some personality—the more they will want to meet up again with you later.

“But Vanessa, I don’t have social skills!”

Don’t worry! If you’re struggling to find the right words to say or topics to talk about, there are simple tips and tricks to help you get far:

• Learn to be funny . You don’t need to be a comedian—learn how to be funny using the rule of 3s, character switch, and real-life stories.
• Hold a conversation. What happens if your elevator pitch goes beyond a couple of minutes? I used to be terrible at having conversations, until I learned these conversational tricks.
• How to end a conversation. You can use your elevator pitch in pretty much any situation—so here’s the perfect resource for you to find that perfect ending (without being awkward!).

#9. End Well

After your conversation is over, you’ll want an easy way to meet up later. Try giving your own business card to them—and if you don’t have one, I have an article all about creating them here .

If you’ve got a couple of minutes to spare, you can also swap LinkedIn profiles (make sure your professional profile is up to date with these LinkedIn tips ).

I always like to end a conversation with something like:

• “It’s been great talking to you, let’s keep in touch.”
• “This has been fun, let’s connect on social media.”
• “Thank you for such a lovely conversation. Let’s do it again next week over coffee?”

Avoid these Common Elevator Pitch Mistakes

Great! Now you’re properly set up—but before we dive into how to deliver elevator pitches below, let’s look at 3 common mistakes I often see when people give their elevator pitches:

Don’t Overpolish

Entrepreneur Seth Godin says the best elevator pitch isn’t polished or memorized, like a college final exam.

It’s natural and sporadic, like chatting up a good friend you haven’t seen in months.

And this is where I see many of my students overdoing it—they’ve practiced their pitch so much that they lose their natural charm. Their pitch isn’t enthusiastic. And they start sounding more robotic. How boring!

Elevator Pitch Quick Tip: Ditch the script and go au naturel! I highly recommend NOT memorizing your pitch word for word. Simply remember the main BIG points you want to cover so that you sound more natural. Every time you give your elevator pitch, your brain won’t automatically “shut off” since you still have to “create” the words on the spot. You’ll sound more engaging. You’ll be more excited. And best of all, you won’t put your prospect to sleep.

Don’t Freeze

Got a bad case of stage fright? You’re not alone! Nearly 30% of Americans report that they’re “afraid or very afraid” of public speaking. When it comes to giving an elevator speech, you might not have enough prep time to do your vocal warm-ups or power pose.

Elevator Pitch Quick Tip: So what do you do if you run into the president of a famous company all of a sudden?

ALWAYS be prepared.

Not over-practiced, but over-prepared.

It might not get rid of your stage fright completely, but being prepared may greatly help your anxiety and give you that confidence boost you need during these crucial minutes. You can also work on your stage presence if you have time before your pitch.

Don’t be a Salesman

How many times have you heard the advice “Sell yourself”? I don’t use this phrase because you NEVER want to come off as a salesperson when giving an elevator pitch (unless you’re aiming for a sales role!).

And if you try too hard to be pushy, you might just ruin your first impression. So what do you do instead?

Elevator Pitch Quick Tip: Employ empathy. When you empathize with someone (yes, even a stranger), you’ll be more considerate of their needs and desires. And you won’t be hard-pressed to sell someone your product if they don’t even want it. To employ empathy, check out our article on how to cultivate compassion .

Elevator Pitch Examples

Some of our amazing readers submitted their elevator pitches for me to review and for us all to learn from. Thank you! I reviewed some reader-submitted pitches to give us all an opportunity to learn what to do… and what not to do.

Johnn the website analyst

“Hi! My name is Johnn and I’m a website analyst. I study the traffic on your website and find out where your website is leaving money on the table, where it’s losing leads, and what opportunities it’s missing to attract and engage your customers. The website data won’t tell us why people do what they do on your site, but it does tell us the story of what they do and how they do it. And I think this is an important and interesting story for your business to understand.”

Johnn’s Elevator Pitch Positives:

• Enunciation: great enunciation, you can hear him clearly
• Cadence: not too fast or robotic-sounding
• Open torso: no crossed arms or legs, not hiding behind objects

Johnn’s Elevator Pitch Negatives:

• Lack of movement: no head or body movement
• Lack of hand gestures: use hand gestures to avoid looking robotic
• Needs a story: include the “why” part of your pitch

Marcelo the neurologist

“Hi, my name’s Marcelo. I’m from Brazil. I’m 41. I’m married and I have a daughter—she’s 6. I love to be with my family as much as possible. When I wake up, it’s difficult to find the reason to go ahead. But after coffee, my brain realizes it’s the good things around me—like my wife and daughter. I’m a neurologist and my practice revolves around private autopsy and public health.”

Marcelo’s Elevator Pitch Positives:

• Shows passion: Marcelo clearly leads in with what he loves, and his passion shows
• Slight head nodding: he reaffirms what’s important by nodding slightly
• Eyebrow flash: flashing the eyebrows nonverbally keeps people engaged

Marcelo’s Elevator Pitch Negatives:

• Needs emotion: Marcelo could add some emotion, especially when talking about things he cares about
• Hand gestures: adding in a hand-over-heart gesture can really show sympathy and sincerity
• Smiling: Marcelo could smile more, which helps build trust and would make his face more full of energy

Cameron the business improver

“Hello! My name is Cameron and I’m a senior at the University of Alabama. I’m majoring in management information systems and I have a minor in computing technology and applications and a specialty in business administration. What we do, in my major, is we’ll look at a business process and decide how to improve it. We take what they have and we merge our own ideas. We end up saving them so much money and making their lives so much easier. Ever since I was young, I’ve been doing this over and over again ever since I’ve started my own business. I truly love people and the satisfaction I get when helping them.”

Cameron’s Elevator Pitch Positives:

• Shows the palms: the more you can show your hands, the more honesty you convey and trust you earn
• Use of hand gestures: great use of gestures keeps us entertained and engaged

Cameron’s Elevator Pitch Negatives:

• Self-soothing gestures: hand clasping can come off as insecure or unconfident
• Monotonous: try using more vocal variation
• Mouthful of technical terms: try adding in humor to spice things up

Where to Use Your Elevator Pitch

Unfortunately, it’s not often people meet just the right person at just the right time in the elevator… except in the movies.

Besides the elevator, more popular places to use your pitch include:

• booths and trade shows
• networking events
• chance encounters
• the airport

Any time you have a few minutes to impress, you can break out your elevator pitch.

How to Give Your Pitch… When You’ve Only Got 1 Floor to Go

The best piece of advice I can give if you’ve literally got 5 seconds to impress is to drop the elevator pitch altogether and hand them your business card.

This is also why you should always carry around a spare business card or two in your back pocket if you’re a job seeker or business owner.

It also helps if you’ve got a quick one-liner you can say, like “I’d love to bring you to my favorite coffee shop in town,” after your brief intro. This will help you avoid sounding rushed but keep it short and simple while still offering a way for your prospect to connect with you.

Bonus: Tell Me About Yourself

For job interviews, one question that almost always pops up is “Tell me about yourself.”

This is basically the extended version of an elevator pitch.

And just like an elevator pitch, this question can either make or break a job opportunity. Learn to master your answer with my special framework: How to Answer “Tell Me About Yourself” in 3 Simple Steps .

Bonus #2: Talk to VIPs

Are you pitching a VIP, such as the president of a company or a senior manager?

I used to be deathly afraid of VIPs, until I learned how to talk to them. If you’re struggling to talk to VIPs, check out my article: How to Talk to VIPs: 8 Unique Tips To Conquer Awkwardness .

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Fabulous Content! Loved your Book Too!!! Taking good notes and practicing!

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The Elevator Pitch: How to Master Your Own (+ 7 Real Elevator Pitch Examples to Learn From)

Think back to a time when a salesperson cold-approached you, and you actually kept talking to them (or even bought something). Did they stumble or seem unsure of themselves?

I doubt it. They most likely recited a short speech they’d practiced hundreds of times— their elevator pitch .

Somehow, they piqued your interest, either by demonstrating value or speaking to a pain point that mattered to you. That’s no coincidence. Without a doubt, they’ve refined that short speech to be so effective that you took the time to listen.

Whether you’re in sales, looking for a new job, or trying to get people interested in your latest business venture, refining your elevator pitch can literally change your life. 

In this guide, we’ll teach you what to include in your elevator pitch, how to master the delivery of that short elevator speech, and break down real-life examples of successful elevator pitches you can borrow from. 

What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a short speech that concisely describes an idea that you’re selling. The idea could be a product or service, an investment opportunity, or your own skill set. It should clearly explain your value proposition in 30 seconds, which is about the time you’d have on an elevator ride. 

Elevator pitches need to accomplish three fundamental things:

• Point out a need
• Show how you can uniquely solve it
• Provide a tangible next step

Here’s a basic example of an elevator pitch you could use if you were selling dent repair to people who have dents in their cars at gas stations (this has been used on me before):

When Would You Use an Elevator Speech?

Elevator pitches (sometimes called elevator speeches) can work for many situations, and they’ll change based on who you’re talking to and what you’re selling them. You might have multiple elevator pitches for different aspects of your life or job. You can even have an elevator pitch to get your kids to eat their vegetables (although your success rate might be lower than normal). 

Here, we’ll focus on three situations that most people design elevator pitches for:

• When you’re a sales professional selling products or services: Whether cold calling, emailing, talking to prospects at trade shows, or being introduced to new referrals, first impressions are key for sales pros. A great elevator pitch is adaptable to different buyer personas , so you can pitch your product in a compelling way, no matter who you’re talking to.
• When pitching your business or startup idea to investors: It’s not easy to get financing for a small business or startup. The first time you’re standing in front of potential investors, you need to prove there is a real market need, and that your product or service can uniquely solve that problem. A succinct 30-second pitch can also sell your business to prospective customers or job candidates you want to hire.
• When you’re in a job interview: There aren’t many questions more unnerving than, “Tell me about yourself.” Being prepared with an elevator pitch that distills your work experience and the value you can bring to the company can make all the difference. The best elevator pitch for a job seeker can be used with recruiters, hiring managers, at career fairs, or even as your LinkedIn summary.

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What to Say in a Good Elevator Pitch: 4 Essential Elements

To create the perfect elevator pitch for any situation, you’ll need to iron out each of the four elements below.  

1. Introduction

People need to know two things: Who are you? And why should I care? 

Remember, this isn’t all about you—if possible, try to include the problem you solve right in your introduction.

In a sales call, you might introduce yourself with something like this: “Hi, I’m Tom Callahan, I represent Callahan Auto, the most reliable brake pad manufacturer in the midwest.” 

By throwing in a simple one-liner that demonstrates value, Tommy Boy here has upped his introduction game to the next level. Not only does he say who he is, but why they should care. 

If you’re going into a job search and want to add value to your intro, you could use some compelling past results, “Hi, I’m Tom Callahan, best known for saving my family’s auto parts company from bankruptcy.” 

Here, Tommy Boy doesn’t just introduce himself but lets the recruiter/hiring manager know why he’s valuable. 

2. Mission Statement

An effective elevator pitch requires not just memorizing your mission statement, but feeling it. An effective pitch can convey that feeling to others. For example, one of our mission statements at Close is “Never again should a startup fail because they couldn’t figure out sales.” If you worked for our sales team, you would integrate this into your pitch. Potential customers would know that your goal isn’t just to sell them something, but to help their business succeed. 

If you were pitching yourself for a job interview, you’d want to have a mission statement that clearly states the impact you want to make. For example, your mission statement could be “I want to use my connections and skills to help this company IPO” or “I want to help this company grow because the product and the culture inspire me.” 

3. Unique Selling Point

Now, it’s time to sell your solution. Your elevator pitch should explain why you or your company can not only solve a problem but also why you are uniquely qualified to do so. This is why it’s called a ‘unique’ selling point. 

If you’re a sales rep, think about the competitive advantages you have. What’s something you offer that your competitors can’t touch? 

For example, if you’re selling Coca-Cola to a convenience store chain and are competing with products like Pepsi and RC Cola (remember that?), you could say, “Coca-Cola is the original cola; it’s the flavor that people expect. Without it in your fountain, customers will be left settling for a knock-off.” The uniqueness here is the originality and dominance of Coke over the competition. It conveys satisfying customer demand in a way that the competition can’t.

Whether you’re at a job fair, trying to get investors for your startup, or selling products and services, always remember to sell in a way that makes you unique. This could be your experience, the results you’ve produced in the past, or what drives you to make a positive change. 

4. Call to Action

Now that you’re nearing the end of your 30 seconds, it’s time to wrap things up with a tangible next step, i.e., a call to action. 

This will again vary based on the situation. If you’re pitching yourself to a recruiter for a job, the call to action could be to ask for a formal interview. If you’re selling a product, it could be to offer a more in-depth product demo. 

Don’t ask for too much. Give them a bite-size call to action that’s easy to commit to. A 30-minute product demo, 15-minute needs assessment call, or 20-minute investor presentation are all reasonable call-to-actions that should follow a 30-second pitch. 

If you’re doing an in-person pitch, don’t forget to leave a business card so they have something to remember you by and your contact information.

Our Quick, Simple, and Direct Elevator Pitch Template

Now that we have the four elements nailed down, here’s a simple template you can use to put your pitch together. Note that this is a sales pitch template, but can be easily adjusted for other situations. 

This is truly just a base template for you to start with and get ideas flowing. Feel free to add a compelling stat or fact, a story element, or a leading question that piques interest in your offering. 

The more creative, the more you’ll stand out. 

How to Craft and Execute Your Elevator Pitch: 6 Tips for Success

Knowing what to put in your elevator pitch is just the start. Now, here are six tips to keep your audience’s attention and get them excited about what you’re offering.

1. Have a Conversation Starter Ready to Go

Having a relevant and noteworthy discussion topic in your back pocket can help make your pitch more compelling. Use something that piques their interest, such as a stat or fact that impacts their business. This compelling opener should naturally transition into your elevator pitch. 

2. Focus on One Clear Benefit

You don’t have the time to rattle off all the benefits you provide in 30 seconds. Instead, go all in on the strongest benefit you provide. For us here at Close, it’s helping our customers master the sales process . If you aren’t sure what this is, talk to your customers or look at your product’s online reviews. 

3. Use Numbers to Make It Real

In business, numbers are everything. Use a compelling number in your pitch that calls out an important pain point. For example: “80 percent of small businesses that don’t streamline their sales process fail within five years.” (I have no idea if that’s true, but you get the idea.)

4. Take a Breath and Speak Slowly

Speaking slowly and from your diaphragm rather than your throat conveys confidence. If you speak too quickly and from too high up in your throat, you sound either unsure of yourself or desperate. By calming yourself with a deep breath and speaking confidently, you put your best voice forward . 

Also, speaking slowly can help improve your overall body language, making you seem like a calm and trustworthy person rather than a shaky mess. 

5. Avoid Useless Jargon

The last thing you want is to stop your pitch and explain some obscure industry jargon (there go your 30 seconds). Worse, you don’t want to isolate your audience by speaking in a language they don’t understand. Don’t use jargon unless you’re 100 percent confident that they’ll understand it and that your pitch will be better for it. Otherwise, avoid it. 

6. Practice until You Can Recite This Elevator Pitch in Your Sleep

You should literally be ready to give your elevator pitch to an important person in an elevator, just like the cliche. Practice and practice until you can recite your pitch hanging upside down with your eyes closed while monkeys throw rotten bananas at you. 

When I was in software sales, I recited my pitch so many times I could think about other stuff while saying it, kind of like when you read a page of your book but don’t remember it because you were thinking about something else. I’m not saying think of other stuff while reciting your pitch, but that is the level you should aim for. 

Source: SalesHigher

7 Elevator Pitch Examples From Real Humans You Can Learn From

To give you real-life examples of effective elevator pitches, I surveyed a group of small business owners and entrepreneurs, and the results were fantastic. Below, I’ll break down why these pitches work so you can take away some pointers to use on your own.  

Robert Kaskel, Chief People Officer, Checkr

Robert is an HR veteran for a prominent background check company with a ton of experience and notable clients. This is a pitch he could use at professional networking events or when talking to prospective new clients. 

Why this works:

• Robert’s introduction doesn’t just mention his title but also touts noteworthy clients. This lets you know his company is legit. 
• After the introduction, a pain point is introduced. This identifies a problem that the prospect may have. If they have this issue, they’ll keep listening. 
• His pitch demonstrates why his company is unique (built-in fairness/more human) and the impact it makes (vastly more efficient).

Gillian Dewar, Chief Financial Officer, Crediful  

Gillian’s pitch is for a personal finance site offering objective advice to help consumers pay down debt, learn to invest, and achieve their most important life goals.

• Gillian leads with a strong stat that her audience can relate to—it’s a great and empathetic conversation starter for someone struggling with their finances. 
• She differentiates her company from others by pointing out their mistakes, then makes her company unique and valuable by offering simplicity and trust. 
• It ends with giving her prospect hope for a better future, which is what they need most in their financial life. 

Marshal Davis , President, Ascendly Marketing

Marshal is the President of a digital marketing agency with over a decade of experience running and managing small to medium-sized enterprises.

• When introducing the company, Marshal delivers a strong value statement and clear benefits, which would get his ideal customers to listen. 
• He calls out ‘vanity metrics,’ i.e., meaningless data points that don’t deliver ROI, which is something many companies can relate to. 
• He provides a valuable free offer and mentions that he wants to ‘prove our worth,’ which humbles his company and shows that he is willing to earn their trust. 
• The ending reiterates the pain point that too many companies face and then demonstrates how he will solve that. 

Emma Zerner , Co-Founder & Content Strategist, Icecartel

Emma is the Co-founder and Content Strategist for a prominent e-commerce website specializing in jewelry. She has mastered the art of crafting compelling narratives for her brand. 

• As a whole, this pitch speaks very well to a specific persona that wants elegant, timeless jewelry. 
• It provides a strong mission statement, “We bring artistry and craftsmanship to the digital realm.” In the two sentences of the intro and the mission statement, you can identify what this company is all about. 
• Their unique selling proposition is catering to people who want to invest in an experience and view jewelry differently. In truth, not everyone fits their buyer persona, but for those who do, this hits home. 

Simon Hughes , Founder & Creative Director, Design & Build Co.

Simon’s agency helps eCommerce brands in the fashion, luxury, and beauty sectors enhance their online visibility through social media.

Note that this is the elevator pitch that Simon uses for prospective clients at networking events. 

• He starts with a great conversation starter that may take people aback for a second, and then they realize he’s talking about their brand. Nice! 
• He identifies a problem that his ideal customers may not have solved yet, which is moving beyond advertising to creating a brand identity that identifies with real people.  
• He shows how his company uniquely solves the problem by making clear promises and delivering on them. He also mentions building trust, which his customers need.
• It finishes with a clear and easy call to action. It doesn’t take a whole lot for prospects to say yes. 

Brian Nagele, CEO, Restaurant Clicks

Brian is a former restauranteur who went on to start Restaurant Clicks, an agency that does digital marketing for the food industry. 

• He leads with a strong conversation starter and pain point. Many restaurant owners will be able to relate to this. 
• Brian points out why his agency is unique compared to those other ones who have ‘never laid their hands on a chef’s knife.’ He is someone they can relate to and trust. 
• He finishes by providing value by sharing his expertise and growing his prospect's business. 

Samantha Odo, a Real Estate Representative for Precondo

Samantha showcases her dedication and expertise when pitching potential clients for her Canadian real estate agent business. 

• The intro shows that she’s a local and an expert, both of which convey trust to potentially nervous buyers. 
• Her uniqueness comes from her abundant knowledge and experience, plus her proven track record. Getting real estate clients is all about trust and she continues to build it here. 
• In the end, she states the outcome she will provide (an informed decision) and invites the prospect to achieve their goals with her—an inspirational and non-pushy call to action. 

Our Elevator Pitch to You (I Mean, We Couldn’t Not)

Whether you’re a salesperson, small business owner, or startup founder, you’re going to be delivering a ton of elevator pitches. How you manage, record, and follow up on those pitches is equally important to how you deliver them. If you don’t have a system for tracking your efforts, they are doomed to fail. 

Close is the perfect customer relationship management tool (CRM) for sales teams, small businesses , and startups to track all the information on who they’re delivering elevator pitches to, the opportunity those pitches create, and when you need to follow up. It’s built to help businesses like yours master the game of sales. 

Learn more about how Close can be the fast, modern, and simple CRM that your business needs.

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Perfect Pitch: How to Nail Your Elevator Speech

You ride the subway, grab a coffee, and get to the office. It’s your typical Monday morning—until, bam ! You step in the elevator and find yourself face-to-face with the CEO of your dream company or the client you’ve been dying to land.

She smiles and says, “Hi. What do you do?”

Scary? Absolutely. But it could happen to you—tomorrow—and you’ll want to be prepared.

The aptly named “elevator speech” or “elevator pitch” is a concise, compelling introduction that can be communicated in the amount of time it takes someone to ride the elevator to her floor.

Even if you’re never caught heading up to the 39th with someone important, this is a good skill to master when you’re introducing yourself during an interview, a sales pitch, or a networking event. People are busy, and being able to communicate who you are and what you do quickly and effectively will ensure that you get your most important points across, no matter how short the conversation.

Not quite ready for the elevator ride of your life? Check out our step-by-step guide to crafting—and perfecting—your pitch.

1. Start With a Blank Canvas

Take a blank piece of paper and number it from one to 10. Then, fill in the most important bits of information that you want to convey about yourself, your service or product, or your company.

What, exactly, do you do? What have you achieved, and what are your goals? Who does your company serve and why? Focus on the most interesting or memorable facts—the ones that really make you stand out from others.

2. Red Pen It

Using a different color pen, edit what you’ve drafted with a critical eye. Eliminate any redundancies, unnecessary or unclear information, and broad business jargon .

More importantly, hone and enhance the good stuff. “I’m great at sales” isn’t likely to pique anyone’s interest, but “I’ve exceeded my sales goals every quarter for the last two years” sure might.

3. Pick a Card

Grab five index cards, and label them “Who I Am,” “What I Do,” “How I Do It,” “Why I Do It,” and “Who I Do It For.” Add each item on the list you’ve created to the card where it fits best.

Ideally, you’ll have two compelling sentences underneath each heading, so fill in any gaps if you need to.

4. Get in Order

Organize the cards in a logical order, making sure the most important information is first.

Remember, you often only have a few seconds to communicate with someone. If you get cut off, what would you want her to walk away remembering?

5. Add an Attention-Getter

Add an interesting fact or stat to use at the beginning of your speech. Your goal is to immediately engage someone so that he or she is intrigued and wants to learn more.

6. Practice!

Recite your pitch to someone close who can be objective, and ask for constructive feedback (although we love our friends and families, sometimes they think we can do no wrong!).

What may seem clear in your mind might come across as convoluted, long-winded, or fragmented to an outside observer.

7. Record Your Pitch

Once you’ve gotten feedback and honed your pitch even further, record yourself saying it. Listen to your tone—make sure it’s friendly, non-threatening, and that you’re not talking a mile a minute (knowing you only have a few moments to speak may subconsciously increase your pace).

Really listen to what you’re saying—make sure you’re not repeating words and that you’re sending the message you really want to convey.

8. Ride the Elevator

The next time you ride an elevator (alone), practice your speech .

First, give yourself some time by going to the highest floor. Then, try giving your pitch from a middle floor and from the first to the third floor, too. Having to make just a few brief moments count will help you to hone the words you need and scrap the ones you don’t!

This week, set aside some time to craft your elevator pitch (or dust off the one you’ve used before). You just never know who you might face tomorrow morning.

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How to Create an Elevator Pitch With Examples

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BY   ALISON DOYLE  | Updated January 27, 2021 | 6-minute read Source:  The Balance Careers

What’s an elevator pitch, and how can it help your career? An elevator pitch—also known as an elevator speech—is a quick synopsis of your background and experience. The reason it’s called an elevator pitch is that it should be short enough to present during a brief elevator ride.

This speech is all about you: who you are, what you do, and what you want to do (if you’re job hunting).

💡  Tip:  Your elevator pitch is a way to share your expertise and credentials quickly and effectively with people who don’t know you.

Done right, this short speech helps you introduce yourself to career and business connections in a compelling way. It can help you build your network, land a job, or connect with new colleagues on your first day of work.

When and How to Use an Elevator Speech

If you’re job searching, you can use your elevator pitch at job fairs and career expos, and online in your LinkedIn summary or Twitter bio, for example. An elevator speech is a great way to gain confidence in introducing yourself to hiring managers and company representatives.

You can also use your elevator pitch to introduce yourself at  networking events  and mixers. If you’re attending professional association programs and activities, or any other type of gathering, have your pitch ready to share with those you meet.

Your elevator pitch can be used during  job interviews , especially when you’re asked about yourself. Interviewers often begin with the question, “ Tell me about yourself ” — think of your elevator pitch as a super-condensed version of your response to that request.

What to Say

Your elevator speech should be brief . Restrict the speech to 30-60 seconds. You don’t need to include your entire work history and career objectives. Your pitch should be a short recap of who you are and what you do.

You need to be persuasive.  Even though it’s a short pitch, your elevator speech should be compelling enough to spark the listener’s interest in your idea, organization, or background.

Share your skills.  Your elevator pitch should explain who you are and what qualifications and  skills  you have. Try to focus on assets that add value in many situations. This is your chance to brag a bit — avoid sounding boastful, but do share what you bring to the table.

Practice, practice, practice.  The best way to feel comfortable about giving an elevator speech is to practice it until the speed and “pitch” come naturally, without sounding robotic. You will get used to varying the conversation as you practice doing so. The more you practice, the easier it will be to deliver it when you’re at a career networking event or job interview.

💡  Tip:  Practice giving your speech to a friend or recording it. This will help you know whether you’re keeping within the time limit and giving a coherent message.

Be positive and flexible.  You often aren’t interviewing for a specific position when you deliver your pitch, so you want to appear open-minded and flexible. Don’t lead with the stuff you’d rather not be doing. (For example, if you don’t want to travel a lot for work, that’s completely legitimate – but you needn’t volunteer that information right off the bat.) This is your chance to make a great first impression with a potential employer. Don’t waste it.

Mention your goals.  You don’t need to get too specific. An overly targeted goal isn’t helpful since your pitch will be used in many circumstances, and with many different types of people. But do remember to say what you’re looking for. For instance, you might say, “a role in accounting” or “an opportunity to apply my sales skills to a new market” or “to relocate to San Francisco with a job in this same industry.”

Know your audience, and speak to them.  In some cases, using jargon can be a powerful move — it demonstrates your industry knowledge. But be wary of using jargon during an elevator pitch, particularly if you’re speaking to recruiters, who may find the terms unfamiliar and off-putting. Keep it simple and focused.

Have a business card ready.  If you have a business card, offer it at the end of the conversation as a way to continue the dialog. If you don’t, you could offer to use your smartphone to share your contact information. A copy of your  resume , if you’re at a job fair or a professional networking event, will also demonstrate your enthusiasm and preparedness.

What Not to Say and Do During Your Elevator Speech

Don’t speak too fast.  Yes, you only have a short time to convey a lot of information. But don’t try to fix this dilemma by speaking quickly. This will only make it hard for listeners to absorb your message.

Avoid rambling.  This is why it’s so important to practice your elevator speech. While you don’t want to over-rehearse, and subsequently sound stilted, you also don’t want to have unfocused or unclear sentences in your pitch, or get off-track. Give the person you’re talking to an opportunity to interject or respond.

Don’t frown, or speak in a monotone way.  Here’s one of the downsides to rehearsing: it can leave you more focused on remembering the exact words you want to use, and less on how you’re carrying yourself. Keep your energy level high, confident, and enthusiastic.

💡  Tip:  Modulate your voice to keep listeners interested, keep your facial expression friendly, and smile.

Don’t restrict yourself to a single elevator pitch.  Maybe you’re interested in pursuing two fields — public relations and content strategy. Many of your communication skills will apply to both those fields, but you’ll want to tailor your pitch depending on who you are speaking to. You may also want to have a more casual, personal pitch prepared for social settings.

Elevator Pitch Examples

Use these examples as guidelines in crafting your own elevator pitch. Make sure your speech includes details on your background, as well as what you’d provide an employer with:

• I recently graduated from college with a degree in communications. I worked on the college newspaper as a reporter, and eventually, as the editor of the arts section. I’m looking for a job that will put my skills as a journalist to work.
• I have a decade’s worth of experience in accounting, working primarily with small and midsize firms. If your company is ever in need of an extra set of hands, I’d be thrilled to consult.
• My name is Bob, and after years of working at other dentists’ offices, I’m taking the plunge and opening my own office. If you know anyone who’s looking for a new dentist, I hope you’ll send them my way!
• I create illustrations for websites and brands. My passion is coming up with creative ways to express a message, and drawing illustrations that people share on social media.
• I’m a lawyer with the government, based out of D.C. I grew up in Ohio, though, and I’m looking to relocate closer to my roots, and join a family-friendly firm. I specialize in labor law and worked for ABC firm before joining the government.
• My name is Sarah, and I run a trucking company. It’s a family-owned business, and we think the personal touch makes a big difference to our customers. Not only do we guarantee on-time delivery, but my father and I personally answer the phones, not an automated system.

🔎Key Takeaways

KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET:  Your elevator speech is a sales pitch. Be sure you can deliver your message in 60 seconds or less.

FOCUS ON THE ESSENTIALS:  Say who you are, what you do, and what you want to achieve.

BE POSITIVE AND PERSUASIVE:  Your time is limited. Focus on what you want to do, not what you don’t want to do. Be upbeat and flexible.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE:  Deliver your speech to a friend or record it, so that you can be sure that your message is clear.

Best Elevator Pitch With Examples For Job Seekers

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Interview Preparation | Networking

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

In this article, I’m going to quickly show you some great elevator pitch examples for job seekers, plus how to go create your own quickly and easily so you can find a job faster.

What Is An Elevator Pitch?

Essentially it’s a short summary about yourself and what you do, in the time it takes to ride an elevator. You have to be able to deliver and convince in that time frame. That’s the famous 30-second “elevator pitch.” And it can be for anything. Finding a new job, going to a networking event, starting a sales relationship, etc. Here’s the thing about an elevator pitch- you have one whether you know it or not.  Any time somebody asks you about your work or asks what you do, you’re saying something… right? And if you’re looking for a new job, your elevator pitch is going to be a big part of how you respond when they ask, “tell me about yourself” . This could be a phone conversation with a recruiter , or an in-person interview when you first sit down. If you’re at a networking event , your elevator pitch will be the information you share when somebody asks what type of work you do. It’s your one and only chance to get their attention and set the tone for how they view the rest of what you tell them. That’s why it’s so important.

Here are the 2 best elevator pitch methods, with examples…

Method 1: Elevator Pitch for Job Seekers

There are a few key pieces that your elevator pitch should contain. This is assuming you are looking for a job or looking to grow your network. If you’re trying to create an elevator pitch while working in sales , it’ll be a bit different and you should read the alternate method below this first method.

Here are the key pieces to creating a perfect elevator pitch…

1. Who Are You And What Do You Do?

The first piece of what you actually say needs to tell them who you are. This might include a bit about your background, what you do, what your skills and interests are, etc. This is where you need to tailor your answer to fit the outcome you want. If you describe yourself as an expert in finance, do you think people will pay attention to you on financial topics? Yes! But what if you made yourself sound more like a generalist who knows a little about many areas, and finance is just one of them? Nobody is going to respect your opinion nearly as much, and they might not even remember you mentioned it. That’s why it’s important to tailor your answer to fit the result you’re hoping to achieve and what you want to be known/remembered for.

To recap, the first part of your elevator pitch might sound like this example: “Hi,  I’m David. I’m a Scientist with a background in chemistry. I specialize in research and development, and new product discovery. ”

2. Why Should They Care?

Now you want to get a bit more specific and draw their attention in. What are you working on right now or what have you accomplished recently?

Here’s an example:

“I currently work at Johnson & Johnson and my team is working on developing a new antibacterial cream that’s set to go into clinical trials this month.”

Now they know your expertise, and assuming it’s relevant to them, you’ve caught their attention and opened up the conversation. This is why the first step was so important though… if you don’t decide what you want to be known for, and tailor your answer to emphasize those strengths, you’ve lost them!The same goes for job interviews . If you’re applying to be a supervisor, don’t talk about how you love focusing on your individual goals in your job interview answers . Talk about how you’re a good manager or how you take the lead on projects.

I can’t emphasize this enough- it’s all about deciding what you want your audience to remember you for. And you need to pick only one or two things. If you mention more, they’ll assume you’re not particularly talented in any!

3. What Do You Want?

After the two steps above, you need to conclude your elevator pitch and this is your chance to be upfront and tell them your objective. Why are you in this conversation to begin with? If you’re at a networking event because you’re starting a job search soon, say something like this:

“So, I’m interested in meeting people with similar backgrounds, and I’m considering changing jobs this year so I’m curious to learn about the work environments in different companies.”

It’s rare that someone would turn down the chance to hear about how another company does things, so you’ve offered a pretty good trade-off! They might also ask why you’re considering a job change. Either way, you’ve opened up multiple ways for them to expand the conversation. Get comfortable with these three steps and you will have a MUCH easier time answering basic interview questions , introducing yourself at networking events, and more.

Full Elevator Pitch Example Based On The 3 Steps Above:

“I’m a Scientist specializing in chemistry and new product discovery. I currently work at Johnson & Johnson and my team is working on developing a new antibacterial cream that’s set to go into clinical trials this month. So, I’m interested in meeting people with similar backgrounds, and I’m also considering changing jobs this year so I’m hoping to learn about the work environments in different companies.”

Method 2: For Business Owners, Salespeople, And Job Seekers Who Want A More Direct Elevator Pitch

The method above can work for pretty much anybody, but it’s really designed to create the best elevator pitch possible for job seekers. But if you own a business or you work in sales, you should be much more direct… I recently came across a great formula and have yet to find anything better in terms of a very specific, direct elevator pitch. So I’ll share the formula here and then give you some elevator pitch examples with this method.

I suggest you try it if you want a more direct approach.

The Basic Formula/Template:

I help who wants to get without having to . Do you know any who wants to get ?

Elevator Pitch Example With This Method:

“I help job seekers who want to advance their careers and find a job in 60 days or less, without having to memorize hundreds of answers or spend hours studying. Do you know any job seekers who want to find a job in 60 days or less?”

Use a definitive period of time if possible. Don’t just say “fast.” And narrow down your market as much as possible. I didn’t say “working professionals.” I said, “job seekers who want to advance their careers.”

Another Example:

“I help restaurants with multiple locations organize their customer data and boost their sales up to 10%, without having to spend any additional time or money on advertising. Do you know any restaurants with multiple locations that want to boost their sales up to 10%?”

This direct approach could be adapted back to your job search too. Let’s look at one final example of this second method for a job search:

“I’m an R&D Scientist who helps companies use their existing patents and technologies to develop new skincare products. Right now at Johnson & Johnson, I’m finishing a successful project for an antibacterial cream and I’m looking for my next challenge. Do you know any companies that are involved in discovering and developing new skincare products?”

How To Deliver Your Elevator Pitch

Now that we covered how to create the best possible elevator pitch… with plenty of elevator pitch examples… there’s something just as important we should talk about.

You need to be convincing and memorable. Without this, the content won’t matter.

The First Impression

People want to know they are talking to a good, honest, reliable person that they can trust and perhaps even like. They won’t get this by looking at your resume. You need to open up by having great body language and being confident and excited about what you’re saying. You have to appear like you know they’ll be interested. You cannot be hesitant here so practice. And pay attention to body language too. Smile, look confident, and stand or sit up straight. When you’re slouched over, not only are you not using the full potential of your brain (yes, there’s been research ), you also look untrustworthy.

Make Them Feel Important

Who doesn’t like to hear that their own background or story is interesting? Or that you feel their opinion is needed on something! So, here are ways to make the other person feel important, which will help you be more memorable and convincing to them!

• Ask Questions When they tell you something about their background or give their own elevator pitch, show interest and ask a follow-up question. Don’t just sit there waiting for your turn to talk.
• Compliment Their Expertise If you are asking them a question or hoping to get information from them, compliment their experience first and give a reason why you’d value their response. Example (in a job interview): “You mentioned working here for ten years and rising from an entry level position to Manager. What tips for success can you offer if I were to start in this role?”
• Remember The Facts Don’t make somebody repeat important pieces about their background. How do you feel if somebody can’t remember your name or a story you just shared? So if they’re taking the time to tell you about their latest project, try to capture the details. You don’t want to be standing there two minutes later asking, “wait, you said you were involved in a research project, right?” It’ll immediately make them take less interest in what you’re saying as well.

When you’re nervous or anxious, you breathe with short, shallow breaths in the upper chest. Here’s how you should breathe:

Use your stomach and take long, deep breaths. I had to teach myself this, it didn’t feel natural at first. I couldn’t figure out how to breathe in a way that’d get my stomach to go in and out, at least not when I was paying attention and “trying.” I was filling my upper chest with as much air as possible but my stomach wasn’t moving. That’s not the right way.

Practice, figure it out, and then use it as a way to relax when you’re waiting for a job interview or a meeting.

Nothing comes out perfect the first time. Having the best elevator pitch is useless if you don’t practice. Give it a test run a few times and make sure you’re hitting the key points and keeping it short. 30 or 60 seconds is about as long as your elevator speech should take. It’s a good idea to practice job interview questions and answers, too. In general, practicing makes your responses better. Don’t try to memorize your elevator pitch or interview answers word-for-word, though. It’ll come out sounding scripted and rehearsed (not good). Instead, focus on hitting the key points you want to mention. It might sound a bit different each time but if you have three key points to hit, and you go through a few elevator pitch practice runs and hit all three, you’re ready to go!

What Happens If You Don’t Prepare An Elevator Pitch?

You only get one chance to make a first impression. If you sound unsure of yourself and don’t have a clear story of what it is you do, you’re going to be less convincing and immediately turn people off! And they’ll be less likely to remember you when you follow-up by email after an interview , or after meeting them at any type of networking event.

I’ve learned this myself the hard way. I’ve met new people, mentioned five different things I do, and just came across like I was average (or worse) at all five. People want to meet experts that they can feel confident in, not generalists that know a bit about everything but can’t really lead the way on any given topic! Your elevator pitch needs to come out smoothly and be designed to share your strengths and facts that relate to the direction you’re heading in. And that doesn’t happen without practice. Even if you outline an average elevator pitch and just practice it a few times in your head, it will be so much better than making it up on the spot!

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

36 thoughts on “Best Elevator Pitch With Examples For Job Seekers”

Very helpful. After being out of the workforce for a while it’s a big help.

Excellent information with examples. Great and effective approach. Even I was consumed with the initial intro and info (about you). Although I am prepping for a far different career, and have a basic bus mgmnt degree under my belt, I shall follow your examples here. Starting a new career and haven’t interviewed in years, oh my. But, maybe I will make it now, gulp. Not sunk yet, shiver, (lol). You’re one of the best teachers for this kind of stuff. Thank you, thank you.

Hey, i saw your video and i have this question – i am a undergraduate and want to go for a consulting interview and i dont have much internships so how can i make my answer more interesting

Talk about what you’ve studied, projects you’ve led or participated in, etc. You just have to do the best you can and talk about the most relevant/interesting things you have done in your elevator pitch.

We’re all searching for that almost PERFECT, direct, clear, concise and TOTALLY USABLE place/template of advice. We rarely find it. , Most of the time, it’s not even close. YET this material is the best I have seen” it is PERFECT in terms of the message, need, delivery and ease of use.

Thanks, These were useful

This was awesome.

Very good information on the small ins and out on the interviewing process( especially on the elevator part of the interview).

A sincere thank you! You are precise, to the point and relevant. Your integrity shows so again, thank you, Biron

Can somebody give a good engaging pitch of IT field Student

Thanks for sharing, some really good suggestions

I’m so nervous about interviewing and Biron’s advice makes me feel like I can do it. I especially like when he comments about being nervous, i.e. even if I only remember 70% … I am so much more prepared for the whole process.

Thank you Biron. It was really helpful. I am looking for a job, would you please share some tips or do’s and don’s.

My background is customer service representative in call centers. My last job is a phone banker. I’ve worked in different call centers so I have experience in different fields. Do you have examples that I can use for my elevator pitch along with the question on why I want to work for the company I’m applying for? I’ve been on several interviews where I have the experience but I’m getting turned down a lot.

Thank you so much for the help this I will sure use to my advantage on my next interview, greatly appreciated

This is wonderful advice and so practical . What about those of is who haven’t worked in a long time? I have been a SAHM for 18 years , always meaning to go back to work but always was busy w my son’s sports , academics or Church . I have a master’s degree but not had an interview in 4 years . I have applied for over 40 jobs at my Alma mater , all entry level jobs except a handful that required my degree . I can’t afford to retrain . I wanted to to an accelerated BSN program but can’t afford the 50k price tag . We need to move to pay instate tuition, but my husband refuses . I’m in a hole feeling quite hopeless . Thanks

Great guide! Thank you!

I’m this kid with good grades in class but so naive about the real world. this info is just incredible for me.

very helpful..

I hate these standard interview questions.It is really meaningless.When I had interview I asked from recruiter please dont ask me standard interview questions:)

How did that turn out for you? Telling the recruiter which questions they can ask? :)

I’m an unemployed top producing sales executive re-entering the workforce. I need your help, for a fee, to develop my elevator pitch.

Hi Paula, I appreciate the request. Unfortunately I’m not available for one-on-one consulting/coaching right now, or in the near future. Sorry I couldn’t help more directly on this.

You are never ready for any interview until you have read through Biron’s work!!!!!

Haha thanks, appreciate that :)

What if your resume looks like a jumper. You’ve held temp jobs for the last five years. How do you answer to get out of the stigma while at a job career fair?

Biron, thank you very much for the excellent tips! Examples you provide make it very clear how a good elevator pitch should look like, and are a great help to write my own. Kudos! :)

Thank you Biron you the best :) .

Glad it helped Darin :) Good luck!

What are most common interview questions and answers

You can find a lot of them in this article:

https://careersidekick.com/what-to-say-in-a-job-interview-questions-and-answers/

Great information and thanks for sharing.

You’re welcome, Angela. Glad you found it helpful!

Thanks Biron

I was an hour away from blowing up my chance … thanks,you saved the planet

This video was extremely helpful ! It helped me understand what I really want in a job more towards a career. Thank you so much

Comments are closed.

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How to use ChatGPT-4o to write amazing Elevator Pitches

9:23 am June 17, 2024 By Julian Horsey

If you are in a situation where you need to quickly and effectively communicate your idea, product, or service, an elevator pitch comes in handy. With the help of the latest ChatGPT-4o Omni AI model from OpenAI, you can craft an engaging and concise pitch that captures attention and leaves a lasting impression.

What is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive speech that you can use to spark interest in what your organization does. It should be succinct enough to be delivered in the duration of an elevator ride, typically 30 to 60 seconds. The goal of an elevator pitch is to quickly convey the essence of your idea, product, or service in a compelling way that captures the listener’s attention and interest.

Key Components of an Elevator Pitch:

• Introduction : Start with a strong opening that grabs attention. This could be a provocative question, a surprising fact, or a compelling statement.
• Problem Statement : Clearly identify the problem that your product or service addresses. This helps the listener understand the relevance and necessity of your offering.
• Solution : Explain how your product or service solves the problem. Highlight its unique features and benefits.
• Value Proposition : Describe the unique value your solution provides. What makes it better or different from existing solutions?
• Target Audience : Mention who your product or service is for. This can help in personalizing the pitch to the listener if they belong to the target audience.
• Call to Action : End with a clear call to action, such as setting up a meeting, providing contact information, or asking for feedback.

How to use ChatGPT-4 to write elevator pitches :

• Define Your Objective: Clearly state the purpose of your elevator pitch.
• Input Key Points: Provide ChatGPT-4 with the main points you want to cover.
• Use Prompts: Ask ChatGPT-4 to generate a draft based on your key points.
• Refine and Edit: Review the generated pitch and make necessary adjustments.
• Practice Delivery: Use the refined pitch to practice your delivery for maximum impact.

Writing Elevator Pitches Using ChatGPT-4o

First, you need to define your core message. What is the most important thing you want your audience to remember? ChatGPT-4 can assist you in identifying and refining this message. Simply input your initial thoughts, and the AI will help you distill them into a clear and compelling statement. This ensures that your pitch is focused and impactful.

Next, consider the structure of your pitch. A well-organized elevator pitch typically includes an introduction, a brief explanation of the problem, your solution, and a call to action. ChatGPT-4 can provide you with a template or even generate a complete draft based on your inputs. By using this AI tool, you can ensure that your pitch flows logically and persuasively.

Finally, don’t forget to personalize your pitch. ChatGPT-4 can help you tailor your message to different audiences, whether you’re speaking to potential investors, customers, or partners. By adjusting the tone and content to suit your audience, you increase the chances of making a strong connection and achieving your desired outcome.

By leveraging the power of ChatGPT-4, you can create elevator pitches that are not only effective but also memorable. This AI tool simplifies the process, allowing you to focus on delivering your message with confidence and clarity.

Unlock the Power of an AI Assistant

Imagine standing in front of a potential investor, and you have just a few seconds to make a lasting impression. This is where the magic of an elevator pitch comes into play. With ChatGPT-4, you can effortlessly create compelling and concise pitches that capture attention and spark interest. By leveraging this advanced AI tool, you can ensure your message is clear, engaging, and memorable.

ChatGPT-4 offers several benefits that make it an invaluable resource for crafting elevator pitches:

• Time Efficiency: Instead of spending hours brainstorming and refining your pitch, ChatGPT-4 can generate a polished version in minutes.
• Consistency: The AI ensures that your pitch remains consistent in tone and style, which is crucial for maintaining a professional image.
• Creativity: ChatGPT-4 can provide unique and innovative angles that you might not have considered, giving your pitch a fresh and engaging twist.
• Customization: You can tailor the generated pitch to suit different audiences, ensuring that your message resonates with whoever you’re speaking to.

By using ChatGPT-4, you can focus on delivering your pitch with confidence, knowing that the content is top-notch. Whether you’re pitching to investors, clients, or partners, this AI tool can help you articulate your ideas clearly and persuasively. Embrace the power of ChatGPT-4 and transform your elevator pitches into powerful tools for success.

Elevator Pitches Using AI Step-by-Step

• Define Your Objective: Clearly state the purpose of your elevator pitch. Are you trying to sell a product, attract investors, or promote a service?
• Gather Key Information: Collect all the essential details about your product, service, or idea. This includes unique selling points, target audience, and any relevant statistics or achievements.
• Open ChatGPT-4: Access the ChatGPT-4 platform through your preferred interface, whether it’s a web application, mobile app, or API integration.
• Input Your Objective: Start by telling ChatGPT what you aim to achieve with your elevator pitch. For example, “I need an elevator pitch to attract investors for my new tech startup.”
• Provide Key Information: Enter the gathered information into ChatGPT-4. Be as detailed as possible to ensure the AI understands your needs. For instance, “Our startup has developed an AI-driven platform that reduces customer service costs by 30%.”
• Request a Draft: Ask ChatGPT-4o to generate a draft of your elevator pitch. You can say, “Please create an elevator pitch based on the provided information.”
• Review and Refine: Carefully review the generated pitch. Look for areas that need improvement or additional details. You can ask ChatGPT-4 to refine specific sections by providing feedback like, “Can you make the opening more engaging?”
• Incorporate Feedback: If you have feedback from colleagues or mentors, incorporate it into the pitch. You can input this feedback into ChatGPT-4 for further refinement.
• Practice Delivery: Once you have a polished elevator pitch, practice delivering it. Use GPT-4o to simulate different scenarios and responses to ensure you’re prepared for any situation.
• Finalize and Save: After multiple iterations and practice sessions, finalize your elevator pitch. Save the final version for easy access and future use.

Elevator Pitch Tips and Tricks

Ensure Clear Instructions

When using ChatGPT-4 to create compelling elevator pitches, you might encounter some challenges. To effectively troubleshoot these issues, start by providing clear instructions. Make sure to offer specific details about your product or service, and clearly state your target audience and key benefits. This foundational step ensures the AI understands the context and objectives of your pitch.

Refine Your Prompts

Next, refine your prompts. Use precise language to guide the AI, and include examples of what you consider a good elevator pitch. This helps the model align with your expectations and deliver more relevant outputs.

Iterative Feedback

As you generate pitches, iterative feedback becomes crucial. Review the generated pitch, provide constructive feedback, and ask the AI to revise based on your comments. This iterative process hones the pitch to better meet your needs.

Experiment with Different Approaches

Experimenting with different approaches can also enhance the results. If the output isn’t satisfactory, try rephrasing your prompts. Experiment with various tones and styles to see what resonates best. By following these steps, you can optimize the use of ChatGPT-4 to create engaging and persuasive elevator pitches.

When using ChatGPT-4 to create compelling elevator pitches, start by providing clear instructions. Make sure to offer specific details about your product or service, and clearly state your target audience and key benefits. This foundational step ensures the AI understands the context and objectives of your pitch.

Use precise language to guide the AI, and include examples of what you consider a good elevator pitch. This helps the model align with your expectations and deliver more relevant outputs.

Craft a Strong Opening

Begin your elevator pitch with a strong opening sentence that grabs attention. Aim to keep your pitch to around 30-60 seconds in length. This brevity ensures your message is delivered effectively within a short time frame.

Highlight Key Points

Identify the core message you want to convey and focus on the unique value proposition of your product or idea. This clarity helps your audience quickly grasp the essence of your pitch.

Use Engaging Language

Enhance your pitch by using engaging language. Incorporate action verbs and descriptive adjectives while avoiding jargon and overly technical terms. This makes your pitch more relatable and memorable.

Tailor to Your Audience

Consider who you are speaking to and what they care about, adjusting your pitch to address their specific needs and interests. This personalization increases the relevance and impact of your message.

Practice and Refine

Finally, practice and refine your pitch. Use ChatGPT-4 to generate multiple versions and continuously tweak and improve them until you find the most effective version. By implementing these tips, you can create elevator pitches that are both compelling and effective using ChatGPT-4.

By following these tips and leveraging the capabilities of ChatGPT-4, you’ll be well on your way to creating elevator pitches that are both impactful and memorable. By using ChatGPT-4 to craft your elevator pitches can significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively and persuasively.

By using this advanced tool, you can ensure that your pitches are not only concise but also impactful. Remember, the key to a successful elevator pitch lies in its ability to capture attention quickly and leave a lasting impression. With ChatGPT-4, you have the power to create pitches that are both engaging and memorable. So, take advantage of this technology to elevate your communication skills and make every pitch count.

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Jonathan Groff Finally Won His First Tony Award, And His Seriously Emotional Speech Will Probably Make You Cry

“Even if they didn't always understand me, my family knew the lifesaving power of fanning the flame of a young person's passions without judgment.”

BuzzFeed Staff

On Sunday, esteemed musical theater star Jonathan Groff finally won his first Tony Award, and people everywhere were left feeling seriously emotional about it.

For context, Jonathan first found Broadway success all the way back in 2006, when he originated the role of Melchior Gabor in Spring Awakening , for which he earned his first Tony nomination.

He then found TV and movie success, with a recurring role in the Fox series Glee , and as the voice of both Kristoff and Sven in Disney’s Frozen franchise.

In 2015, Jonathan returned to Broadway to play King George III in the original production of Hamilton . He was critically acclaimed for his performance at the time, and would regularly earn standing ovations during the show. 

He was nominated for his second Tony Award the following year, but lost out to his Hamilton costar Daveed Diggs .

In 2022, Jonathan starred alongside Daniel Radcliffe in an off-Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along , which moved to the Hudson Theatre on Broadway in September.

This marked the first time the show had been on Broadway since its 1981 original production, and it was a huge success as it broke the house record for sold-out audiences, and grossed more than $1.3 million. 

And it appears that the Tony Awards Management Committee agrees with the hype, with Merrily We Roll Along dominating this year’s ceremony with seven nominations and an impressive four wins.

The show won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Orchestrations, with Daniel Radcliffe winning the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical award, and Jonathan taking home the Tony for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical.

And after previously admitting that he couldn’t stop crying when he first found out that he was nominated, Jonathan seemed totally overwhelmed as he took to the stage to deliver his emotional winner’s speech, which has won high praise online.

The star started by thanking his parents, saying to them: “Thank you for letting me dress up as Mary Poppins when I was 3, thank you for letting me act out scenes from I Love Lucy on my 10th birthday, thank you for always allowing my freak flag to fly without ever making me feel weird about it.”

“Even if they didn't always understand me, my family knew the lifesaving power of fanning the flame of a young person's passions without judgment,” Jonathan went on. “I walk through life with an open heart because you let me know that I could; thank you, I love you.”

After thanking his teachers in his home state of Pennsylvania, Jonathan added: “I moved to New York exactly 20 years ago this year, and I got a job waiting tables and became a volunteer for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS , and all I wanted was to be a part of this community.”

“Thank you to everyone involved in Spring Awakening , who not only made that dream come true, but also inspired me to come out of the closet when I was 23,” Jonathan shared. “I'm now 39, and musical theater is still saving my soul.”

The star then audibly fought back tears as he name-checked the people he has worked alongside for Merrily , saying: “Maria Friedman, thank you for letting me be your Franklin Shepard in this production of Merrily and allowing me the chance to accept, respect, and express both the lightest and darkest parts of myself.”

“Daniel Radcliffe and Lindsay Mendez, you are more than old friends; you are soulmates, and I'm looking forward to watching each other change for the rest of our lives,” Jonathan said. “Thank you to every member of the extraordinary cast for lifting this Merrily into the spiritual stratosphere. Thank you to everyone working inside the Hudson Theatre.”

“And finally, I just want to say, when I was a kid in Pennsylvania, I used to record the Tony Awards on a VHS tape and watch the performances over and over again,” Jonathan recalled. “And to actually be able to be a part of making theater in this city, and just this much to be able to watch the work of this incredible, incredible community has been the greatest gift and pleasure of my life, and I thank you. And thank you so much for this honor.”

And Jonathan’s moving words struck a chord with people at home, with one viral tweet reading: “I’m gonna need every future award winner to take notes from Jonathan Groff’s Tonys speech, because damnnnnnn.”

I’m gonna need every future award winner to take notes from Jonathan Groff’s Tonys speech, because damnnnnnn #TonyAwards pic.twitter.com/7ZtOgfL5iq — Spencer Althouse (@SpencerAlthouse) June 17, 2024

The tweet, from BuzzFeed’s Spencer Althouse, has racked up tens of thousands of likes and retweets, with one of the quote tweets reading : “this is so pure. and so earnest. and the way he thanks everyone - not just by saying 'thank you' - but actually thanks them for something specific they’ve given to him. THAT’S a speech.”

“Give him another award for this speech!!!” another user joked . One more added : “no because why did i start sobbing even more every time his voice broke like i genuinely can’t watch this without crying i love seeing good people getting celebrated and recognised.”

“i love this man so much and i'm giving his family a standing ovation for how they nurtured his wonderful and kind creative spirit,” somebody else tweeted .

While another person concluded : “i just woke up and now I'm crying oh he deserves this so much it's been 17 years since that first nomination and i couldn't be happier for him.”

And one more summarized : “for those who don’t watch musical theatre jonathan groff winning the tony is like dicaprio winning the oscar.”

Looking for more LGBTQ+ or Pride content? Then check out all of BuzzFeed's posts celebrating Pride 2024 .

Topics in this article

• Jonathan Groff
• Daniel Radcliffe

Breaking News

Immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens protected from deportation under Biden’s latest action

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President Biden will announce executive actions Tuesday aimed at shielding from deportation hundreds of thousands of immigrants who lack lawful status, according to senior administration officials.

One of Biden’s actions will protect immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens who have lived consecutively in the country for at least a decade, the officials said in a call with reporters Monday. The move allows those immigrants to quickly access a pathway to U.S. citizenship to which they are entitled through marriage.

Biden is expected to make the announcement at a White House event Tuesday marking the 12th anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Obama-era program that protected more than 800,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

The protections for spouses of citizens come two weeks after Biden announced a separate executive action narrowing access to asylum at the southern border.

Tired and confused, first migrants reach California border after Biden’s asylum order

How President Biden’s executive order limiting asylum is playing out on the California-Mexico border.

June 5, 2024

With the election five months away, the president is attempting to appeal to a wide range of voters. The asylum rule was a move to the right that could help him win support from moderates, while the latest announcement appeals to the left, which was angered by the asylum restriction. Polls have shown many voters are concerned about immigration as the number of people crossing the Mexico border has swelled. Former President Trump has made criticism of Biden’s immigration policy a cornerstone of his campaign to win back the White House.

The administration officials said the actions, along with the previous announcement, demonstrate the president’s commitment to securing the border, keeping families together and ensuring the immigration system is fairer.

How will the program for immigrant spouses work?

The administration will use a program known as “parole in place,” which allows people to work legally and adjust their immigration status without having to leave the country.

Currently, immigrants who enter the country lawfully and marry U.S. citizens can obtain green cards that make them legal residents. But the vast majority those who enter illegally and marry must, as a penalty for skirting immigration law, return to their home countries and cannot come back for years, often at least a decade.

Many such immigrants have instead opted to stay in the U.S. without lawful status and continue to risk deportation.

Parole in place allows the government to disregard the illegal entry, allowing people to more seamlessly continue the process to become legal residents.

How many people could be protected?

Administration officials said the action will protect about 500,000 immigrant spouses of U.S. citizens, and about 50,000 immigrant youth with a U.S. citizen stepparent.

To qualify, immigrants must have resided in the U.S. for 10 or more years as of June 17 and be legally married to a citizen. On average, those eligible for the process have lived in the U.S. for 23 years.

Eligible immigrant children must be under 21, unmarried and their parents must have been married before the child turned 18.

Applications, which are expected to open by the end of summer, will be considered on a case-by-case basis, officials said. Those approved will become eligible for work authorization for up to three years. They’ll also have three years to apply for permanent residency.

Anyone who poses a threat to national security or public safety will be detained and expelled by the Department of Homeland Security or referred to other federal agencies for further investigation, the officials said.

Officials said they expect most applications to come from immigrants from Mexico, as well as many from Central America.

Those who lack legal status and are married to U.S. military members have qualified for a similar benefit since 2010.

What else is the White House planning?

In a separate move, the Biden administration is also making it easier for undocumented immigrants, including those with DACA and other so-called Dreamers, to more quickly receive work visas.

The change applies to those who graduated from a U.S. college and have received a job offer in a field related to their degree. Some work visas, such as the H-1B for workers in specialty occupations, offer a pathway to citizenship, though severe backlogs mean the process can take decades for people from certain countries.

More than a million could die waiting for green cards as U.S. immigration buckles amid COVID

Delays processing millions of visas, work permits, green cards, naturalization petitions and cases languishing in immigration courts are so severe that experts say they can’t be resolved without significant reforms.

Aug. 4, 2022

Under U.S. law, anyone without legal status must leave the U.S. before applying for a visa and being permitted to return. Officials said the guidance will provide more certainty and speed around that process for workers who lack such status.

What are supporters saying?

Business groups and other advocates have urged Biden for months to extend protections and work authorization to certain longtime immigrants without legal status.

“This is a tremendous step forward from President Biden, and a much-needed fulfillment of the promise to keep families together,” said Todd Schulte, president of the advocacy organization FWD.us. “We celebrate alongside millions whose futures are brighter today, stand with those still awaiting similar protections, and renew our commitment to protecting this progress and fixing every aspect of our failed immigration system — including giving a pathway to citizenship to those who have waited too long.”

California Sen. Alex Padilla, a Democrat, commended Biden for “taking bold action” to give immigrants hope.

“The individuals and families who will benefit from these protections contribute immensely to our economy and our country,” Padilla said. “They are living proof that the American dream still exists — and today that American dream moves forward.”

Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-San Pedro), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said caucus leaders met with Biden in May to request that he utilize the parole in place authority to protect more immigrants.

“Today is a happy day for many immigrant families across America,” she said. “There will be tears of joy paired with sighs of relief as the significance of these executive actions by President Biden sets in for these families.”

What are critics saying?

Critics said the move amounts to another example of Biden skirting Congress and abusing parole authority. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) called it an election-year stunt.

“This is what the Border Patrol calls a pull factor,” Cornyn said in a Senate floor speech Monday . “It’s like a magnet, attracting people into the United States who know that if they wait long enough, President Biden will find some way to allow them to stay in the United States, even though they circumvent legal means of coming into the country.”

Others said the visa change will bog down the backlog of immigrants waiting for green cards, and were skeptical that the federal government could get through hundreds of thousands of applications before the election and possible administration change.

In a statement, the immigrant rights organization DREAM Team LA called for immigration reform instead of “more Band-Aids.”

“We have tears: tears of children translating English documents for their parents that their status of adjustments were denied; tears when families take their mother to the airport for her deportation; tears when children return to an empty home because both parents were taken away by CBP with no explanation, no authority to look after them,” DREAM Team LA wrote. “No, the Democratic Party gets no credit for wiping away the tears they themselves cause.”

The new rule is anticipated to face legal challenges, but Biden administration officials said Monday that they feel they are on strong legal footing.

More to Read

Opinion: Why Biden’s new border plan is a terrible idea

June 6, 2024

Photos: A visual report from the border following President Biden’s rollout of asylum restrictions

Biden signs order tightening border with Mexico when crossings surge

June 4, 2024

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Andrea Castillo covers immigration. Before joining the Los Angeles Times, she covered immigrant, ethnic and LGBTQ+ communities for the Fresno Bee. She got her start at the Oregonian in Portland. A native of Seattle, she’s been making her way down the West Coast since her graduation from Washington State University.

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Shein's CEO is so low-profile his employees don't even recognize him: report

• Shein's CEO Xu Yangtian is staying out of the spotlight despite a hotly-anticipated IPO.
• Xu is so under the radar that his own employees don't recognize him in the office, the SCMP reported.
• Shein's executive chairman is more public, but he sparked scrutiny in a recent speech.

Fast-fashion giant Shein is gearing up for its widely-anticipated debut as a public company . But one key figure has stayed out of the spotlight: CEO Xu Yangtian, also known as Sky Xu.

The reclusive 40-year-old CEO, earlier referred to as Chris Xu, has avoided the kind of attention executives typically attract. He doesn't give interviews, speak at conferences, or have any public social media footprint despite leading a company boosted by TikTok .

Even Xu's own employees don't recognize him in the office, the South China Morning Post reported on Monday.

Shein senior advisor Frances Townsend told The Wall Street Journal — which ran an illustration of Xu in a December profile — that when she was in Shein's Guangzhou office last summer, nobody acknowledged the CEO sharing the elevator with them. Townsend highlighted the lack of interaction to Xu, who told her, "That's not our culture."

No verified photos of Xu exist, internally or externally. The SCMP said Xu's company photo is a basic landscape with the phrase: "If you have dreams, you are remarkable."

Bloomberg ranks Shein's founder as the 86th richest man in the world, with a net worth of $21.5 billion, based on the private company's scant filings. Bloomberg said a Shein spokesperson disputed that figure without explaining what was wrong.

Shein is expected to go public this year, although the big details, like when and for how much, are still under wraps. The Wall Street Journal reported in late May that a London filing could come weeks after the company faced roadblocks in the US.

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If and when the company starts trading, Xu may finally emerge on the public stage. As a public company CEO, he'll be expected to participate in regular updates — UK companies are not required to have quarterly earnings calls, but most do — and interact with investors.

American culture celebrates founders who turn ideas into multi-billion-dollar companies. But Chinese executives must take care not to invite too much attention from party officials, who can exert significant power over their companies and personal lives. Alibaba founder Jack Ma disappeared from public for years after criticizing the government, and several other Chinese billionaires have similarly vanished in recent years .

Loyalty to China under scrutiny

So far, Shein's public face has been executive chairman Donald Tang. The Shanghai-born businessman, who became a US citizen as an adult, moved up the ranks at now-defunct investment bank Bear Stearns and joined Shein in 2021.

A recent speech Tang gave underscores the careful tightrope all Chinese executives walk — and why Xu may be staying out of public view. At the Milken Institute last month, Tang said Shein's roots are Chinese, while its headquarters make it Singaporean, but its ethos is American.

Tang's attempt to pacify officials on both sides of the Pacific attracted significant attention in Beijing. The company is still waiting for officials to greenlight its application to list outside of China.

"It raises questions of loyalty to China that some in Beijing find uncomfortable," a person familiar with the listing issue told the Financial Times on Friday.

Two Chinese business writers told the FT that Shein pressured them to skip writing about Tang's apparent gaffe, and the Milken Institute removed a video of the speech. The group did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment sent outside standard business hours, nor to the FT.

Shein did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.

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