Esther
Good morning and welcome to the Monday Morning Marketing Podcast, I'm Esther.
Melanie
And I'm Melanie.
Esther
And today we're talking about elevator pitches.
Melanie
Yes, the dreaded elevator pitch. It's something that we all have to get on top of. It's on the stage is the fastest and shortest way to get across a message, convey any problems that we can solve. And it becomes our techland sometimes or even our mission.
Esther
Yeah, it does. And I've been to a few networking events where people just go on and on and on. They must be on a skyscraper elevator because it takes them at least five minutes to describe what they do. And I still don't know what they do at the end of it. So this is why we're here today to give a few tips, because at the end of the day, when you go and do your elevator pitch, that is part of your marketing.
Melanie
Yeah. And at the end of the day, if you can't explain it clearly enough, then there's no way anybody's going to understand it.
Esther
Yes. So whatever your business, you need to know what it is that you do. OK, because, yes, you know what you do. But explain it to somebody who has never met you before.
Melanie
So it's normally 30 to 60 seconds long.
Esther
Yeah, but it takes a lot of practice to get it down to that length of time because especially as you grow as a business and add services and add things and you want to tell everybody everything that you do. But sometimes less is more.
Melanie
Yes, but it has to be good, clear language, powerful words, and preferably try and avoid jargon if you can.
Esther
Yeah, yeah. There's no point in me, for example, going and saying "we do SEO, VA, VR, AR" you know, and just spouting off a whole list of letters if people don't know what they mean in the first place. So some tips, Melanie. Let's give some tips.
Melanie
We'll have a hook.
Esther
What's a hook? Are we going fishing?
Melanie
The hook is normally a hook would be answering a problem. Now, one of the first things I would recommend you do before doing your elevator pitch is to listen because you can construct an elevator pitch to match the requirements of the person you're listening to. So once you've listened to them, you can create a hook. You can answer a problem that they're having.
Esther
Yes. And it's always a good idea when you're introducing yourself to somebody else to ask them to go first. So then you know what their problem is. And if you have practiced what you do beforehand, then you'll know what part of your elevator pitch to use.
Melanie
It's also helpful if you put in your pitch, because I know you're saying you want to solve a problem they're having, but you also need to say, you know, what do you want from the pitch as well?
Esther
Yes, so that's not just a one way street, it's not just, you know, yes, this is how I can help you, but you also want to say something, but you need help with as well.
Melanie
Oh, the way you can actually support the person. So have you got an elevator pitch, Esther?
Esther
I have a few, yes. Sometimes we're just asked to describe what we do in seven words or less.
Melanie
Gosh, good thing I don't have to do that.
Esther
The easiest one was three words. It's "all things digital" in my case, so sums it all up and then that then leaves it open for a lot of people to go, well, what all is that untill, you know, and it opens it up for more questions, because if you just go off and spite everything that you do, you lose people in the middle of it.
Melanie
Hmm.
Esther
But what about you, Melanie?
Melanie
Well.
Esther
What about you, Melanie?
Melanie
Um, well, mine is actually I don't know how it's managed. It's been over a few years now, but it's kind of walked into my mission now because my mission would be my elevator pitch to a certain extent. Um, but it's not seven words, but my mission is to support business owners, to manage their own social media and time better. And when they can no longer manage it for themselves, I manage it for them.
Esther
So first of all, you're providing a way for them to do it. Yes, and if they don't want that, then you're giving them a way out.
Melanie
Yeah. So but I like the fact that my mission is to empower others. I want them to understand what social media managers are doing. And because I'm sort of handing back the power to them.
Esther
Yeah. And that's what you were saying about using a powerful word, using a word like empower, encourage, support. Yeah. Yeah. So...
Melanie
Give me yours, give yours, you've seen mine, show me yours.
Esther
Well, like you were saying, they evolve and they go, you know, it depends on the situation that I'm in as well. Depends what networking group I'm talking to, what audiences
Melanie
You're not still not telling us
Esther
No, I'm not.
Melanie
Bring it on. Bring it on.
Esther
So IPA group is here to provide services for you to be seen online and be found for what you sell. We are here for you.
Melanie
Oh, my God. Feel like I want to cuddle you.
Esther
Because at the end of the day, it's not what we do is not about us, it's about what you get out of it at the end. You know,
Melanie
I'm saying the same thing, aren't I?. I'm saying at the end of the day, you get the power.
Esther
Yeah. Yeah. So how do you make people feel all warm and fuzzy with..
Melanie
Like that! Just like that!
Esther
I should have written that one down. You see in mine evolves in my head all the time.
Melanie
Yeah. Just listen to the podcast.
Esther
Well, listen, I can take notes, but it is
Melanie
It has to make people feel something.
Esther
It does. It does.
Melanie
Otherwise, it's not memorable. And I'm hoping that my message is memorable because it makes people feel supported and empowered.
Esther
Yeah. And depending on who your audience is depends on what power words you're going to be using. So if your audience is more male, then you're going to be using stronger, more masculine words. I glatz. Yeah. And that's what you notice all the time when you're meeting up with people as well, or you're on these online networkings, now that a lot of people have. You just have to read the room to know. But that's why you need to practice your elevator pitch. You need to script it maybe at the start and you know, whittle it down to the bare bones, don't be waffling on just for the sake of filling 60s, you know, if you're given two minutes, you don't need to fill the two minutes. If you're given 30 seconds, try to stick to 30 seconds.
Melanie
Yes, at the end of the day, it is something you need to keep practicing. But what I would always recommend and I always do to is please listen first, because you'd be amazed at how you can adjust what your pitch is to actually meet the expectations of the person you're speaking to.
Esther
Yes. And don't be afraid if there is another person in the room that does something very similar to you, Melanie and I do something very similar. But our pitches are completely different. Absolutely.
Melanie
And it's not just that people connect in different ways. Yeah, we have different mannerisms. We speak in different ways. We have different temperaments. And I know it's very difficult, you know, doing this and conveying this virtually. But we're so fortunate that we can use visual aids like Zoom or FaceTime or even what's up? Video that we can still read the other person quite clearly. So use this to your advantage is a very, very important networking tool.
Esther
Yeah. And it can also, like Melanie says, convert into your strapline or your tagline on your website as well and use it for your SEO and to grow your business that way, because if people are looking to be empowered, they will find Melanie. Right.
Melanie
And if somebody wants to feel a warm and fuzzy, they'll find stuff.
Esther
True, though. Thank you. I'm feeling all empowered by you.
Melanie
So when you actually constructing this wasn't done over five minutes, this has taken us years. And to sound confident about what you're saying also takes a very long time as well. Yeah. So this isn't something you're going to construct immediately and it's going to change and warp and adapt over time, especially as your services change, your confidence builds and obviously the audience you're in front of. So I'd really appreciate it if you practice yours today and if you've got any really nice strap lines or any elevator pitches you want to share with us, put it up on your social media and tag us.
Esther
Yes. Or put it at the bottom of our social media to comment on our social media podcast and when we shared it. So, yeah, that's it for today. Guys, thank you for joining us. And hopefully you can go now and start writing your elevator pitch, practice it in front of the mirror. It is. That's a mirror or a mirror. You want to say. All right, there we go. Practice it, record yourself doing it, then your confidence will go up.
Melanie
The more you say it and the more you practice it. And don't worry about getting it wrong or, you know, saying a few words out of order. Nobody's going to think less of you for that.
Esther
Have a good week, guys. Thanks for joining us again. And we'll be back next week for more Monday Money Marketing podcast.
