6 Essentials for Making Your Elevator Pitch Unforgettable

Your elevator pitch, so named because you time it for
the trip from one floor to the next, needs to succinctly
capture the essence of your company. However,
cramming the details of a complex business plan into an
opening the size of a few sentences can be
excruciatingly difficult, even more so when you’re trying
to stand out and make a great first impression.
Fortunately, with the right strategies, you can make sure
your elevator pitch is unforgettable.
Related: 6 Tips for Perfecting Your Elevator Pitch
1. Don’t lead with an introduction.
First things first: no matter what you do, don’t lead with
a basic introduction. Going up to a cold lead and saying
“Hi, my name is Kyle, and I work for X Corporation” is a
surefire way to get someone to stop listening to you. At
some networking events, this type of exchange is not
only expected, but encouraged, but while it may work as
a springboard for some personal interaction, it
won't compel or interest any of your prospects. The
reason? It’ s boring. It’s predictable. It isn’t unique. Find
a different way to lead into your pitch.
2. Use an emotional appeal.
One of the greatest alternatives to the straightforward
introduction is an emotional appeal. Even if you don’t
lead with it, including an emotional appeal is still an
important part of your pitch. Think about the needs your
business is trying to address. What emotions go along
with those needs?
For example, if you have a new solution for removing
snow or ice from cars in the winter, you could lead in
with “Have you ever felt frustrated trying to get into your
car after a snowstorm?” This statement immediately
conjures a memory or projection, and an emotion to go
along with it, that give you more footing to use for the
remainder of your pitch.
Related: How to Create an Elevator Pitch That Will Get
You Funded
3. Add something strange.
Straightforward business ideas tend to go in one ear and
out the other. Using conventional corporate buzzwords
and describing your business plainly might give a logical
and accurate description of your company, but won't
leave behind anything memorable. What’s strange about
your company? Compared to every other company in the
market, what makes yours different? It can be your
approach, your culture, your goals, your target market or
something completely different. The goal here is to find
some detail that really makes your company stand out.
4. Have some facts ready.
People like to hear factual information, especially if
they’re going to consider a financial transaction with
your company. It grounds your idea in a sense of reality;
rather than speculating about how your company could
fit into the current market, you’ll be proving it. Research
your facts, and have many of them ready before you
enter your pitch. Include a few in the start of your pitch,
but also keep a few in your back pocket for use as the
conversation continues.
5. Get your prospect involved.
Merely rambling about your company isn’t going to make
you memorable to people who hear dozens of pitches a
day. To making your pitch memorable, get your
participant involved in a dialogue. Ask direct questions
that require a response. Bring a prototype of your
product that your prospect can handle. Find a way to get
your prospect directly engaged with your presentation,
and make it an unforgettable, interactive experience.
6. Don’t rehearse excessively.
It’s important to practice your elevator pitch. In fact, it’s
crucial. Without a bit of practice, you could flounder or
leave out important details when you give your pitch for
real. But there’s a danger on the other end of the
spectrum as well. Over-rehearsing your elevator pitch
could ruin your chances of making a great first
impression.
When you practice too much, you become reliant on
specific words and phrases, in a specific order, to the
point you go on auto-pilot, and your prospect will likely
notice. Instead, practice sufficiently but trust your
natural conversation skills to guide your pitch.