elevator speech writer

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.

Don't forget to share this post!

Related articles.

The 13 Best Networking Apps Every Sales Professional Needs

7 Expert Tips to Improve Your Networking Skills

The Complete Guide to Business Networking [+8 Key Tips You Should Leverage]

Why Networking is Important [+ How to Get it Right]

Making the Most of Virtual Networking [+How to Get it Right]

How to Network Remotely in Sales [+ Tips]

How to Make the Most of Sales Networking – Tips, Mistakes, and Examples

The Best Networking Email Subject Lines, According to HubSpot Reps

How to Use Your Networking Skills to Win Back Lost Customers

15 Social Media Sales Groups to Build Your Network In

Powerful and easy-to-use sales software that drives productivity, enables customer connection, and supports growing sales orgs

Explore Jobs

• Jobs Near Me
• Remote Jobs
• Full Time Jobs
• Part Time Jobs
• Entry Level Jobs
• Work From Home Jobs

Find Specific Jobs

• $15 Per Hour Jobs
• $20 Per Hour Jobs
• Hiring Immediately Jobs
• High School Jobs
• H1b Visa Jobs

Explore Careers

• Business And Financial
• Architecture And Engineering
• Computer And Mathematical

Explore Professions

• What They Do
• Certifications
• Demographics

Best Companies

• Health Care
• Fortune 500

Explore Companies

• CEO And Executies
• Resume Builder
• Career Advice
• Explore Majors
• Questions And Answers
• Interview Questions

How To Write An Awesome Elevator Pitch (With Examples)

• How To Answer Tell Me About Yourself?
• Elevator Pitch
• Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?
• What Are Your Career Goals?
• When Can You Start?
• How Do You Define Success?
• Describe Your Work Ethic
• Where Are Your Current Duties?
• What Are Your Learning Goals?
• Intrinsic Vs Extrinsic Motivation
• What Is Your Desired Salary?
• What Makes You Unique?
• Why Are You The Best Person For This Job?
• Reasons For Termination
• What Are Your Work Values
• How To Make A Hard Decision?
• What Are You Most Proud Of?
• Personal Code Of Ethics
• Problem Solving Interview Questions
• Taking Initiative Example
• How Do You Prioritize Your Work
• Explain Gaps In Employment
• Most Rewarding College Experience
• What Is Your Work Style
• Tell Me About A Time When You Made A Mistake On The Job
• Tell Me About Gaps In Employment
• What Are You Passionate About
• What Skills Would You Bring To The Job
• Who Is Your Mentor?
• How To Answer Tell Me About A Time You Disagreed With Your Boss
• How To Answer Common Screening Questions

Find a Job You Really Want In

Summary. When writing your elevator pitch should answer who you are, what you do, and what you are looking for. You should first introduce yourself and write about what you do. You should make sure that you describe what you want out of the interaction with the listener. Be sure to thank the listener after the interaction. When you’re at a professional networking event, you’ll likely find yourself needing to explain who you are and what you do to a wide variety of people in a short amount of time. This is where having a polished elevator pitch will come in handy. We’re here to explain the key elements of an effective elevator pitch, walk you through the process of writing your own, and show you some examples of elevator pitches for different situations. Key Takeaways Your elevator pitch should be about 30 seconds long or about 75 words long . The goal of your elevator pitch is to convince someone that you’re interesting enough to have a longer conversation with. In your elevator pitch you should introduce yourself, talk about what you do, and describe what you’re looking for and what you offer. In This Article    Skip to section How to Write an Elevator Pitch Example of an Elevator Pitch What Is an Elevator Pitch? Where You’ll Use an Elevator Pitch Who You’re Writing an Elevator Pitch For How to Prepare to Give Your Elevator Pitch Tips for Writing an Elevator Pitch Common Elevator Pitch Mistakes Elevator Pitch FAQ References Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More How to Write an Elevator Pitch

Your elevator pitch should answer three main questions:

Who are you?

What do you do?

What are you looking for?

With that in mind, let’s turn to the step-by-step process for writing and delivering an elevator pitch:

Introduce yourself. If you’re just meeting someone, smile, shake their hand, and say “it’s nice to meet you.” If you’re in a bigger group or you’re asked directly about yourself, you can skip this step and get right into talking about who you are.

Write about what you do. You can give a job title, but it’s far more interesting to describe what you do. If you’re a recent graduate , you’ll talk more about your time in school, whereas a seasoned professional would highlight their most interesting and important work experience or expertise.

When you start writing, don’t limit yourself — you’ll probably end up with too much at first, but that’s when you can begin to cut unnecessary stuff or leave room for alternate topics depending on your audience.

Think of those accomplishments on your resume that you’re most proud of when you’re writing this part. Just remember, your elevator pitch has to be a coherent narrative, so make sure one point flows into the next naturally.

Describe what you want. This is the “pitch” part of the equation. Whether you’re after a job, an internship , or just another valuable person to add to your network, there needs to be an “ask” in there somewhere.

You’ve already set the scene for who you are; now it’s time to turn the focus to your audience. Think of ways that you can benefit them or their company because if you have nothing to offer, they have no reason to engage you in conversation a second time.

Always be closing. Not really, but definitely finish with a strong call to action. Don’t be vague or confusing; clearly state what you’d like to happen next.

Whether that’s asking to be kept in mind for job opportunities or just asking if you can follow up with an email, make sure your listener knows what you want. It can be intimidating when you’ve just met a person, so keep your “ask” low-pressure and low-effort on their part.

Thank the listener. If they accept your request, thank them. Even if they don’t give you a concrete “yes,” thank them for taking the time to listen. It’s just good manners.

Example of an Elevator Pitch

To be marketable for any position, you have to be able to sell yourself. You may be an amazing candidate, but that doesn’t matter one bit if you can’t communicate that.

An elevator pitch is a brief, persuasive speech that you can use to spark interest in who you are and what you do. You can also use one to create interest in a project, idea, or product – and that includes yourself.

“Hello, I’m John Smith, nice to meet you. I’m a writer with five years of professional experience in the online content writing industry. My core skill sets are online content writing and social media engineering. I’m endlessly curious and all my colleagues and coworkers look to me for answers – they know that either I know it or I’ll find out. As I’ve always been exceptionally passionate about social issues, I’m looking to write for publications/websites focused on climate change so that I can create content and campaigns urging others to take action and ensure sustainable cacao production for future generations.”

Well done. That was masterful. You said who you were and described your experience. You inserted details that address your listener’s interests and needs.

Just remember, it is not, in the words of O’Rourke: “An opportunity to exploit, use, bore, or terrorize someone trapped in an elevator with you.”

What Is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch is a 30-second speech that gives a quick summary of your professional background. It can also be a brief speech about a product, service, or company.

The goal of an elevator pitch isn’t to immediately snag a job; it’s to generate enough interest to land a second, more thorough conversation. Elevator pitches are short, and if you’re writing yours down to practice, aim for around 75 words.

With an effective elevator pitch, you’ll have an easier time introducing yourself professionally and creating more connections within your field. Your elevator speech, while not necessarily life and death, is a crucial piece of your job-seeking toolkit.

Whether it’s bumping into a hiring manager on an elevator or just a former classmate in a Starbucks – being able to sell yourself quickly and succinctly is the difference between an awkward “see ya” and “Hey, so there’s this position at my company…”

This is how you sharpen that pitch. This is how you nail that introduction.

Where You’ll Use an Elevator Pitch

If you spend any time socializing with human beings, someone’s going to ask you about yourself.

You should be able to rap off your elevator pitch in the following situations:

Job interviews. An elevator pitch is basically the perfect answer to “ tell me about yourself .” It’s impactful, to the point, and sets the stage for follow-up questions. Consider cutting some elements, though, so you don’t cannibalize your answers for other common interview questions .

Social events. Elevator pitches aren’t just for the professional world. They’re also a great answer to the question “ what do you do ” that you’ll hear a lot at social events and when meeting people for the first time.

Obviously, you’ll tone down the “selling yourself” part of your pitch when it’s just casual conversation , but even chance encounters can lead to professional opportunities.

Career fairs. This is where you’ll be really happy you prepared an elevator pitch. You’ll deliver it countless times throughout the day, making career fairs a great place to practice and hone your elevator pitch. Just be sure to mix it up depending on the recruiter .

Resume summary statement. A resume summary statement is, more or less, an elevator pitch specifically tailored for the company you’re applying to. It just takes a few tweaks like shortening the introduction and removing the call to action entirely, and bam, you’ve got a winning resume summary statement.

Professional profiles. LinkedIn also has a profile summary section, which should look very similar to a resume summary statement . The only difference is that you can’t tailor it for a specific audience. So if you can generalize your elevator pitch to the widest possible audience, you’ve finished that section of your LinkedIn profile .

Business conferences. Whether you’re there to learn, network , or just get a company-sponsored trip somewhere nice, you’ll meet a lot of people at business conferences.

If you’re not actively looking for anything (a job, new connections, a mentor , etc.), then you can simply drop the “pitch” part and elaborate more on your introduction.

Elevators. I mean, we had to include it, right?

As you can see, having an elevator pitch handy will help you be prepared for a number of situations.

Who You’re Writing an Elevator Pitch For

Pretty much anyone who will listen, but in particular it’s for people who can help you in some way. That sounds a little selfish, but that’s how it is.

To narrow it down, anyone who asks you the following gets your elevator pitch:

Can you tell me about yourself ?

What makes you…you?

How to Prepare to Give Your Elevator Pitch

In order to deliver a stellar elevator pitch, you need to do more than just write one. Here are some ways you can prepare to give your elevator pitch with confidence at a moment’s notice.

Practice in the mirror. This definitely sounds (and will probably feel) cheesy, but it’s a surprisingly good way to get used to delivering your elevator pitch. You get to hear yourself and check to make sure you aren’t making any weird facial expressions.

Practice with someone else. Then ask for feedback on your speed, tone, energy levels, and clarity.

Remind yourself to smile. It may sound weird, but remembering to smile before you begin speaking can help your voice and facial expressions to come across more positively.

Check your teeth. To help boost your confidence and remove any distractions, take a quick peek to make sure you don’t have anything stuck in your teeth if there’s a high likelihood you’re going to give your elevator pitch in the immediate future.

Tips for Writing an Elevator Pitch

Identify Your Goal and Explain What You Do

The first part begins with asking yourself a few questions about your goals and answering them.

This step of the process – focusing on yourself and determining your goals – is more difficult than it seems, but defining that will streamline everything from writing your resume summary statement to answering the most common interview questions .

“Hello, I’m [your name]. I’m a writer with five years of professional experience in the online content writing industry and I’m looking for opportunities in the San Francisco area with both online and print companies.”

That bit would take maybe ten seconds.

Get Your Selling Point Across

This doesn’t have to be complicated – just mention something about yourself that adds value to your description.

A phrase you might hear for this is your unique selling proposition – that’s just a fancy way of saying what makes you special and desirable.

“Hello, I’m [your name]. I’m a writer with five years of professional experience in the online content writing industry. My editors applaud my endless curiosity and ability to chase any lead – and always in time to make deadlines! I’m looking for opportunities in the San Francisco area with both online and print companies.”

That’s another five seconds.

Engage Your Listener

Since you’re selling yourself to your listener – and make no mistake, that’s what you’re doing – you need to tailor what you say to your market.

Elevator speeches are sometimes called elevator pitches because you’d use a similar format to pitch your product or company to the listener – another good reason to master the skill.

Think about the last time you heard a sales pitch. Did it sound rehearsed? Do you think the salesperson gave the same spiel to everyone?

It’s a turn off. So when you’re giving your speech, consider your audience and adjust accordingly:

How big is the company?

What differentiates it from other companies?

How would you fit in?

You can also ask them a question that requires a response. It shows them that you’re thinking about them. And since they’ve been wondering “what’s in it for me?” the whole time, that’s the right step.

“Hello, I’m [your name]. I’m a writer with five years of professional experience in the online content writing industry. I’m a bit of a jack-of-all-trades – my boss pretty much sends everything she doesn’t understand my way! Since this is such a fast-moving industry, I keep myself relevant by learning new skills. So many companies have needs for online content but don’t want to hire an agency, so I’m looking for a place that needs someone with my skillset in video marketing and Photoshop. I hear you manage your own practice, have you seen any success with video marketing?”

Oh, well done, you sly dog.

Common Elevator Pitch Mistakes

As you prepare your elevator pitch, there are a few common mistakes you’ll want to avoid:

Forget the listener’s needs. An elevator pitch is mostly about you, but not entirely. A common mistake people make is simply listing their great achievements but forgetting to mention how they’re relevant for what the listener wants out of the interaction.

Being vague. You need to be specific about what you do, which, we understand is tough in about 75 words. The key is to pick a quick story that embodies what you do and why it’s so effective. Numbers and attention-grabbing facts will engage your listener more than broad statements.

Speaking too fast. You may have heard that 30-second goal and thought, “well, if I speed it up, I can fit more words in, right?” Wrong.

You want your listener to be able to process all the great information you’re saying, so calm those nerves and slow your speaking speed down. Confidence is key, and rapid speech is a sign of nervousness or a rehearsed script.

Sounding rehearsed. It’s great to write down your elevator pitch in full, but don’t memorize it and give the same spiel each and every time. For starters, your audience will impact what points you decide to emphasize.

More than that though, people don’t like listening to scripted pitches. You want to sound like a natural human being. To that end, we recommend writing bullet points once you’ve got a full elevator pitch written.

That way, you’ll always hit the most important points, but your speech patterns will change each time and sound more organic.

Rambling. Your goal is to interest the listener in learning more, not to tell your whole life story. It’s okay to be selfish about who you give the speech to; it’s not ok to be selfish about how much of their time you take.

Full of jargon. You need to make your pitch easy for anyone to understand, so avoid industry-specific words and a bunch of acronyms. The goal is to start a conversation , and too much jargon might leave your listener with no quality follow-up questions to ask you.

Elevator Pitch FAQ

What are three things your elevator pitch should include?

Your elevator pitch should include who you are, what you do, and what you are looking for. Answering those will help give the person you are giving your pitch to a better understanding of who you are. It’s important to not be vague and provide enough information to the listener so they know who you are.

What is a common mistake when doing an elevator pitch?

A common mistake when doing an elevator pitch is forgetting the listener’s needs. It’s important to let the listener know how you can benefit them. This will help them have a better understanding as to why you are doing an elevator pitch.

How long is an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch should be a 30 second speech, or around 75 words. You should make it long enough that you could tell someone your pitch in enough time that it takes to ride the elevator. You will be able to use an elevator pitch at job interviews, career fairs, and as a resume summary statement.

Princeton University – What is an elevator pitch and why do I need one?

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

David Luther was the Content Marketing Editor for the Zippia Advice blog. He developed partnerships with external reporting agencies in addition to generating original research and reporting for the Zippia Career Advice blog. David obtained his BA from UNC Chapel Hill.

Related posts

How To Answer “Why Do You Want To Be A Police Officer?”

How To Answer “What Does Customer Service Mean To You?” (With Examples)

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation (With Examples)

How To Answer “What Did You Like Least About Your Last Job?” (With Examples)

• Career Advice >
• Interview Questions >
• Common Questions >
• Awesome Elevator Pitch

My Speech Class

Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

Elevator Speech [Outline + 13 Examples]

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Capturing your background, skills, and objectives into a short and clever elevator speech can be difficult. How do you know what to keep and what to leave out? How do you make an impression in such a short time?

Standing out with your elevator speech doesn’t have to be complicated. With a little practice, you’ll gain confidence in introducing yourself at a job interview, career fair, and, of course, on an elevator ride! Here’s a quick guide to help you craft the perfect pitch along with several elevator speech examples.

In this article:

Tips for Creating a Good Elevator Speech

A sample elevator speech outline, checklist for fine-tuning, elevator speech examples.

The elements that make up a great elevator speech outline are pretty straightforward. You need to describe who you are, what you do, and what your goal is. While the elevator speech template stays the same whether you’re speaking with a potential employer or a sales prospect, you might add other elements to match your unique situation.

Here are a few tips for crafting your personal elevator pitch:

Can We Write Your Speech?

Get your audience blown away with help from a professional speechwriter. Free proofreading and copy-editing included.

• Keep it 30 to 60 seconds long.
• Use persuasive speech to spark your listener’s interest.
• Showcase your qualifications or skills.
• For a sales pitch, try starting with an open-ended question.
• Describe who you help and what problem you aim to help them solve.
• Be ready to customize your speech to fit your target audience.

Whether you’re a business owner preparing for a networking event or a job seeker attending a job fair, you can benefit from perfecting a succinct and effective elevator pitch. A go-to elevator speech comes in handy when you’re introducing yourself to new people in general. Have a business card on hand and ready to deliver as well.

Your elevator speech can also provide the right content for social media bios or a resume objective statement. This statement represents your personal brand, so keep it consistent across all social media channels.

Be sure to practice your elevator statement over and over so that you’re able to deliver it naturally, even in a moment’s notice. If you’re stumped for ideas, draw from the elevator speech examples listed below.

This model suggestion plan assists you to avoid creating a sales pitch. It must be  from  your mouth and supporting body language gestures, and  about  your skills and abilities. Use each idea to write one short powerful sentence.

The 10 speech topics I will explicate right now in the next paragraphs are primers to write a carefully planned and prepared presentation that grabs attention and says a lot in a few words.

Remember: tweak till it fits your personality and decisive nature.

ABOUT YOU 1. Smile to your counterpart, and open with a statement or question that grabs attention: a  hook  that prompt your listener to ask questions. 2. Tell who you are: describe you and your company. 3. Tell what you do and show enthusiasm.

WHAT DO YOU OFFER 4. Tell what problems have solved or contributions you have made. 5. Offer a vivid example. 6. Tell why you are interested in your listener.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS 7. Tell what very special service, product or solutions you can offer him or her. 8. What are the advantages of working with you? In what do you differ from competative companies?

HOW DO YOU DO IT 9. Give a concrete example or tell a short story, show your uniqueness and provide illustrations on how you work.

CALL FOR ACTION 10. What is the most wanted response? Do you want a business card, a referral or an  corporate appointment for a presentation after your elevator speech ?

OTHER BUSINESS QUESTIONS

These are other points, questions and business subjects you could ask:

• Who is your target?
• How large is your market volume?
• How do you make profits?
• What are the background, major milestones and achievements of your team?
• Who are your competitors, how do they solve a problem? What is your strength and advantage compared to them? What is your Unique Selling Proposition?
• Are there special patents or technology? Do you have a special approach in client management? And so on.

STEP 1: First write down all that comes up in your mind.

STEP 2: Then cut the jargon and details. Make strong short and powerful sentences. Eliminate unnecessary words.

STEP 3: Connect phrases to each other. Your elevator speech address has to flow natural and smoothly. Do not rush, keep eye contact all the time and work steady to the grande finale: the call to action.

STEP 4: Memorize key points and practice out loud – test it with a close relative in the safe environment of your home.

STEP 5: Have you really answered  the  key question of your listener:  What’s In It For Me?

STEP 6: Create different versions for different business situations of your elevator speech. Note them on professional business cards:

Perfect your own elevator presentation by learning from others. Here are a few effective elevator pitch examples to help you craft your own:

1. Job Seeker Elevator Pitch Example

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH0Thez9gvA

You run into all kinds of people at the elevator, even a hiring manager. This sample elevator speech is a good example for those looking for a job interview. It shows how you can highlight your skills and experience even when you’re caught off guard. Notice how she also has a business card ready?

“I’m excited to hear back because the position helps me to use my brand management and social media skills…”

2. Recent Graduate Great Elevator Pitch

This is an excellent example for those who recently graduated with a bachelor degree in business. Notice that she states exactly what she’s looking for – an internship or job opportunity. In just 41 seconds, she states her experience, skills, and some good details about her personality that make her the perfect job candidate.

“I hope to incorporate my business knowledge into consumer trend analysis and strengthening relationships among consumers…”

3. College Student Personal Elevator Speech

This college freshman opens with her interest in the company. She states her major and reflects on high school experiences, also sharing relevant awards she has won for her skills.

“I’ve gotten awards for my leadership skills and I’m very involved with my college…”

4. Personal Brand Elevator Pitch Template

This college graduate pitches his personal brand through stating the skills he acquired in his education, the type of job he is looking for, and why he wants to work in that type of job. He offers a good mix of talking about his own experience while also focusing on how he’ll help clients. He ends his speech with the call to action of directing his audience to his website.

“I strive to lead a team on various projects one day.”

5. Personal Brand Pitch with a Personal Touch

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_paOrg5Zpg

Video pitches are becoming increasingly popular for those looking to connect with brands online. This college student’s personal brand sales pitch stands out because it opens and closes with inspirational music. She explains her personal promise and future plans to receive her master degree.

“I promise to always bring positivity to the table and to remain hard working and dedicated no matter what the task.”

6. Business Plan Effective Elevator Speech

This example is perfect for a small business owner looking to pitch a product. The speaker opens with a compelling situation that appeals to his target market, offers his solution and details the features and benefits, announces his promise, and states his objective – all in 51 seconds.

“Don’t let frost bite your buns. Get the hot seat!”

7. Small Business Elevator Speech Sample

Opening with an interesting fact of how much Americans spend on fishing each year, the speaker follows up with an open-ended question to immediately grab audience attention from her target market. This is a great example of a sales pitch to investors, as the speaker outlines her plan for marketing her product and making their ROI (Return on Investment).

“Our goal is to revolutionize the economics of fishing in favor of the customer.”

8. Financial Advisor Elevator Speech

Ron Coleman explains who he is as a financial advisor, who he works for, and what exactly he helps his clients do. Additionally, he explains the type of people who benefit from his services.

“I’m confident that if given the opportunity I can provide you with the service and the coverage you need in order to protect your business, you, and your family from a variety of different risks.”

9. The Career Fair Elevator Pitch

This funny elevator speech example is the perfect model for a job seeker attending a job fair. The speaker highlights the importance of expressing interest in the company by acknowledging their work and asking a related open-ended question. Of course, lead with your own experience and skills that are relevant to the company representative whom you’re speaking with.

“I read on your website that you are the only company that has increased efficiency by employing mannequins. Can you tell me a bit more about that process?”

10. Good Elevator Speech for Speed Networking

This example from a holistic marketing mentor shows how you can sum up who you are, what you do, and the people you can help in one quick and savvy sentence.

“I help wellness professionals find additional revenue streams so that they can help more people and live a life of ease and grace.”

11. Extreme Sale Pitch Example with Iron Man Jericho Missile Test Scene

Sure, you might not ever get the opportunity to pitch a missile system, but you can take away a lot from Robert Downey Jr.’s confidence as Iron Man. Notice how he opens with a thought-provoking question, offers his guarantee, and humbly ends with a bonus.

“That’s how Dad did it, that’s how America did it, and it’s worked out pretty well so far.”

12. Don Draper’s Funny but Effective Sales Pitch

This funny elevator speech example shows the importance of using a tagline for your personal brand.

“From a basket of kisses she picks one. It makes her unique. It colors her kiss. And her kiss, well, it colors her man. Mark your man.”

13. Real Estate Elevator Speech Example

This is the perfect elevator pitch example for real estate agents. Stacy talks about what she specializes in and highlights her experience in the real estate industry.

“If you know of someone who is looking for a real estate agent in the metropolitan Kansas City, Missouri area that is professional, knowledgeable, and technologically savvy, that’s me!”

Best Man Speech Outline [Examples + Template]

Father of the Bride Speech [With Outlines and Examples]

Leave a Comment

I accept the Privacy Policy

Reach out to us for sponsorship opportunities

Vivamus integer non suscipit taciti mus etiam at primis tempor sagittis euismod libero facilisi.

© 2024 My Speech Class

ELEVATOR SPEECH GENERATOR

Script an elevator speech in nine simple interactive steps..

Does your work address a pressing problem? Then this tool is an easy way to get started with creating  a script for your elevator speech. Simply fill out the text boxes below. When done, click the “Save as Word” button on the bottom to download your Elevator Speech in Microsoft Word format.

STEP 1: Title

Elevator Speech for Fundraising

STEP 2: Audience

Potential Donors

STEP 3: Brevity & Clarity

Make a solemn vow to stay clear and brief.

The Message House Generator automatically analyzes your text for clarity.  Green means very clear, orange means less clear, red means unclear. To increase clarity, use shorter sentences and shorter words. Also, try to keep the length of your texts below the limit indicated below each input box.

STEP 4: The “What”

We’re a nonprofit selling solar panels. They cost half the normal price and can be self-installed. We make energy freedom possible for everyone.

STEP 5: The Why, summarized

Look, we all have a big problem. Climate change is an existential threat for all of us.

STEP 6: The “Why” in examples

For example, just last week, 3 million homes in Northern California went dark because the power company had to shut down the power to prevent wildfires. At the same time, fossil-fuel dependent power plants are heating up our planet. It all happens faster than the worst predictions. Scientists now fear the climate could change within decades instead of centuries. It’s a do-or-die situation.

STEP 7: The solution, summarized

We offer an inexpensive and easy solution for producing your own green energy.

STEP 8: The solution in examples

Just twenty of our solar panels are enough to power a small business operation, like a dentist office. We make switching easy. For example, installing one of our panels only takes thirty minutes. All you need is a Phillips-head screwdriver. You can do it all by yourself. And because our battery system uses a novel form of Lithium Ion, you’ll be able to keep the lights and ACs on even at night.

STEP 9: Validators

The State of California recently bought 1,000 of our solar sets for a test installation in Sacramento. Inc Magazine named us among its Top 100 Planet Savers.

STEP 10: Personalization

Climate change is personal to me. My parents lost their home in the 2018 Camp Fire, California’s worst wildfire in history. This was my childhood home. They are lucky to still be alive. And now they live in a temporary home whose power gets shut down almost every other week.

STEP 11: Urgency Recap

As I said, it’s a do or die situation. So we are doing something.

STEP 12: Call to action

One thing you can do is visit superdupersolarpanels.com. And if you see me standing around during the breaks at this conference, please come up and say hello.

Click “Save as Word” to download your Message House in Microsoft Word format.

PS: This page will redisplay all text entered when you return (in this browser only), unless you click “Clear all texts.”

Readability open source code from: GITHUB • MIT  •  @wooorm

• Overview PDF
• Privacy Policy
• Trainee Testimonials
• Cancellation & Money Back Policy
• Fiscal Sponsor
• Schedule a 5-min call
• Payment Terms

Elevator Speech Training is a 501(c)(3)  fiscal sponsorship project  of  NEO Philanthropy .

Let’s start something.

• Book a session
• Recommend Marc

Privacy Overview

The Admissions Strategist

How to create a perfect elevator pitch (examples included).

“Tell me about yourself”

“What do you do?

“So, what’s your story?”

These are common questions asked during networking events and interviews. They’re difficult to answer because you can respond with almost anything.

How should you start and end your response? What’s an appropriate response length? What should I include in my response?

Luckily, there is a foolproof way to answer these questions: by using your elevator pitch.

This guide will explain the importance of your elevator pitch. It will also help you craft an incredible pitch that you can use for interviews, networking events, and other social gatherings.

Let’s get started!

Click above to watch a video on Elevator Pitches.

What is an Elevator Pitch? When Should I Use It?

An elevator pitch, otherwise known as an elevator speech, is a short but powerful response you give to someone who asks about your background.

There are three kinds of elevator pitches:

• Two-minute pitch

Use the two-minute pitch for interviews. This is the perfect response to the “Tell me about yourself” question.

• 45-second pitch

Use the 45-second pitch for formal networking events. Your response will establish your background and qualifications.

• 15-second pitch

Use the 15-second pitch for informal gatherings. This is an excellent response for when you meet someone on a train or at dinner.

Why is an Elevator Pitch Important?

It is said that 93% of human communication is nonverbal, while only 7% is verbal.

• This means that “how” you say something is more important than what you actually say.

An elevator pitch helps you explain your background and qualifications with confidence. When you know what you’re going to say, you’ll state it with passion and clarity.

The elevator pitch also demonstrates that you’ve done your due diligence.

• Specifically, people who can convey their background with clarity inspire confidence in others.

It also demonstrates strong soft skills, which all CEOs and other high-performing professionals possess.

Well, How Do I Create a Great Elevator Pitch?

Your elevator pitch is just one part of networking with skill . Therefore, you need to supplement it with the following.

Confident Body Language

• Firm handshake
• Shoulders back
• Neck straight
• Eye contact
• Fluidity of speech

Make sure to practice your pitch in front of a mirror. If that’s too hard, you can stand up in the middle an empty room and pretend to speak with someone.

• You can also practice your pitch while cooking, brushing your teeth, or running errands. All you need to do is know what you want to say and state it slowly.

In my opinion, the best way to practice is with a trusted friend. In a no-judgment zone, state your elevator pitch. Do this until you get it right 10 times in a row. It’ll be hard at first, but this experience will greatly improve your confidence.

Don’t rush through your elevator pitch. After stating one or two lines, take a deep breath and collect yourself.

Not only will this calm you down, but it’ll also help you think of your next lines.

Start Your Elevator Pitch From Scratch

Get a blank piece of paper, Word or Google Doc, flash cards, or pull up a notepad app on your phone.

This is where you’ll record the first draft of your elevator pitch.

What Should I Include In My Elevator Pitch?

Generally, there are three critical aspects of a two-minute elevator pitch. It’s best to first create the two-minute pitch and then cut it down for the shorter versions.

You’re going to include these four elements:

• Top-line introduction
• What I’ve Done
• What I’m Doing
• Where I Want to Go

You can order these parts in your elevator pitch any way you like. I recommend prioritizing the things you want people to remember.

You might get interrupted during your elevator pitch, so order it according to importance.

What does each part mean?

Part 1: The Introduction

This section is straightforward. In one or two sentences, what are you best known for? What do you want people to know you as?

This can include:

• Your professional role

For example: Computer engineer , developer, political assistant, manager of operations, chief executive officer, head accountant, founder

• Informal title

For example: Entrepreneur, writer, mentor, journalist

Then, put your introduction together:

I’m Jason Patel, the founder of Transizion, a college and career prep company with a 100% client satisfaction rate. We help students get into the top schools in the country.

Hey, I’m Sean McVay. I serve as a head developer at GSOT IT Systems. I’m also a mentor to 11 young men who aspire to become business leaders .

Get personalized advice!

Part 2: what i’ve done.

This is where you’ll mention pertinent qualifications from your academic or work history.

Hint: If you’re several years out of school, there’s no need to mention academic history.

Before beginning this section, think about whether you need to custom-tailor your elevator pitch for a specific industry. This is important if you’re:

• Applying for an internship or job
• Meeting professionals at an industry event
• Networking with investors who want to know more about your background

Otherwise, you can mention top-line or sweeping aspects of your background.

In this section, you can include:

• Past job duties
• Career-defining moments
• Accomplishments or projects you’re proud of
• Numbers, figures, and percentages that highlight your successes
• Results you’ve procured
• Companies you’ve worked for and with
• Certifications and/or degrees earned
• What drives and motivates you
• A personal story that represents you well

Now, let’s combine this part with the intro (Part 1). The bolded parts are what we added:

For example:

Hi, my name is Jason Patel, and I’m the founder of Transizion, a college and career prep company that features a 100% client-satisfaction rate. We also donate a portion of profits to veterans and young professionals in need of college and career help. I am a graduate of the George Washington University with a degree in political communication. I have served as a college coach for several years. My work has taken me to cities across the world, where I’ve helped students and professionals with college applications, writing, professional branding, and job searching.

Here’s another example:

Hey, I’m Sean McVay. I serve as a head developer at GSOT IT Systems. I’m also a mentor to 11 young men who aspire to become business leaders. I’ve worked on building AI systems for creative purposes, such as musical instruction and autonomous learning. In the past, I’ve also built highly responsive websites for major e-commerce platforms in the apparel and electronics industries.

Part 3: What I’m Doing

In this section, you’ll mention what you’re working on right now. This can include work, major projects, dissertations, or earning a degree or certification.

It’s best to communicate qualifications that relate to the industry you’re pursuing.

In other words, don’t talk about your interpersonal qualifications when you’re seeking a position as a financial analyst. Instead, mention your ability to work with numbers, balance tasks, and provide recommendations to clients.

Hint: If you’re looking for a job, try to avoid the generic-sounding “Currently seeking a position.” Instead, discuss how you’re sharpening your skills while looking for work.

If you’re a professional, you can discuss the following:

• Current job duties
• Projects you’re working on
• Clients or industries you serve
• Skills you’re sharpening
• Initiatives keeping you busy

If you’re a student, discuss the classes, major, or projects you’re working on.

Let’s combine this section with the two previous sections – the Intro (Part 1) and What I’ve Done (Part 2). Again, the bolded parts are what we added:

Hi, my name is Jason Patel, and I’m the founder of Transizion, a college and career prep company that features a 100% client-satisfaction rate. We also donate a portion of profits to veterans and young professionals in need of college and career help. I am a graduate of the George Washington University with a degree in political communication. I have served as a college coach for several years. My work has taken me to cities across the world, where I’ve helped students and professionals with college applications, writing, professional branding, and job searching. Our customers love us, and our instruction and tutoring work. We’re a growing brand that has sent students to the best schools in the country, including Stanford, NYU, UC Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon. I work with my team to design college mentorship, college application, and career success boot camps that help our students succeed. We pay strong attention to customer service and make sure that our families have the resources and access to thrive during the stressful college process. I make sure each student partners with an awesome college mentor who will him or her with college planning, essays, and narrative building. We also serve college students and professionals who need help with finding internships and jobs. We’re the best at resume critiques, building interview skills, and professional brand building. It’s my job to make sure our product is the best in industry. I’m always building my management and marketing skills. I want students and families to know that we want to solve their problems, so I’m improving my SEO skills to ensure website visitors know they can reach out to us if they have questions. Although I’m a leader, I know I’m a work in progress.

Hey, I’m Sean McVay. I serve as a head developer at GSOT IT Systems. I’m also a mentor to 11 young men who aspire to become business leaders. I’ve worked on building AI systems for creative purposes, such as musical instruction and autonomous learning. In the past, I’ve also built highly responsive websites for major e-commerce platforms in the apparel and electronics industries. Currently, I’m building customer portals to bring retail, brick-and-mortar businesses online. It’s a challenging project, but I’m thankful for it. I get a chance to learn more about transferring memberships from a point-of-sale system to the online gateway system. We’re working to integrate Stripe, a payment platform, to our website so our customers can purchase their products online. So far, we’ve grown 14% from last year and are looking to grow 50% over the entire year. Better yet, I’m also working to integrate the payment system to the logistics gateway. You know what that means? We’re working on delivery! During the summer and holiday seasons, our customers across the state will be able to purchase products and have them delivered within a specific window. No more waiting in lines. That’s what I love doing. Growing businesses and helping them acquire customers.

Part 3: Where I Want to Go

In this final section, you’ll discuss your goals. You can elaborate on your goals in the following windows. This will help you simplify your goal setting.

1. Short-term goals (within 3 years) can include:

• Switching fields
• Getting your first job
• Starting business
• Graduating from college
• Finishing a book

2. Intermediate-term goals (within 5-7 years) can include:

• Finding your place within an industry
• Starting and publishing a study
• Climbing the managerial ladder
• Starting a family
• Growing a business
• Raising venture capital
• Training to join a new industry
• Going back to college

3. Long-term goals (7+ years)

• Joining the C-suite
• Getting your business acquired
• Raising your kids
• Writing an autobiography

If you’re planning on creating your elevator pitch for professional networking events in an industry you want to stay in, choose goals that relate to the industry.

Picking irrelevant goals runs the risk of coming off as uninterested or unmotivated.

Let’s combine this section with the three previous sections – the Intro (Part 1) and What I’ve Done (Part 2), and What I’m Doing (Part 3). As usual, the bolded parts are what we added:

Hi, my name is Jason Patel, and I’m the founder of Transizion, a college and career prep company that features a 100% client-satisfaction rate. We also donate a portion of profits to veterans and young professionals in need of college and career help. I am a graduate of the George Washington University with a degree in political communication. I have served as a college coach for several years. My work has taken me to cities across the world, where I’ve helped students and professionals with college applications, writing, professional branding, and job searching. Our customers love us, and our instruction and tutoring work. We’re a growing brand that has sent students to the best schools in the country, including Stanford, NYU, UC Berkeley, and Carnegie Mellon. I work with my team to design college mentorship, college application, and career success boot camps that help our students succeed. We pay strong attention to customer service and make sure that our families have the resources and access to thrive during the stressful college process. I make sure each student partners with an awesome college mentor who will them him or her with college planning, essays, and narrative building. We also serve college students and professionals who need help with finding internships and jobs. We’re the best at resume critiques, building interview skills , and professional brand building. It’s my job to make sure our product is the best in industry. I’m always building my management and marketing skills. I want students and families to know that we want to solve their problems, so I’m improving my SEO skills to ensure website visitors know they can reach out to us if they have questions. Although I’m a leader, I know I’m a work in progress. Eventually, I want to grow Transizion into the foremost college and career prep company in the world. We’re going to be a force in closing the Opportunity Divide in America. The robots are coming. Automation is coming. It’s my job as an entrepreneur to prepare my customers and the greater public for the challenges ahead. An additional goal is to increase our product offering and expand the network of college and career mentors that we hire. Our brand should precede us – people should know that our name stands for excellent customer service and outstanding mentorship. Previous generations fought wars, totalitarianism, and fascism. Our generation’s job is to fight the Opportunity Divide. I want to become a leader that changes people’s attitudes toward the class divide in America. Only we can save the country. Only we can save each other.

Hey, I’m Sean McVay. I serve as a head developer at GSOT IT Systems. I’m also a mentor to 11 young men who aspire to become business leaders. I’ve worked on building AI systems for creative purposes, such as musical instruction and autonomous learning. In the past, I’ve also built highly responsive websites for major e-commerce platforms in the apparel and electronics industries. Currently, I’m building customer portals to bring retail, brick-and-mortar businesses online. It’s a challenging project, but I’m thankful for it. I get a chance to learn more about transferring memberships from a point-of-sale system to the online gateway system. We’re working to integrate Stripe, a payment platform, to our website so our customers can purchase their products online. So far, we’ve grown 14% from last year and are looking to grow 50% over the entire year. Better yet, I’m also working to integrate the payment system to the logistics gateway. You know what that means? We’re working on delivery! During the summer and holiday seasons, our customers across the state will be able to purchase products and have them delivered within a specific window. No more waiting in lines. That’s what I love doing. Growing businesses and helping them acquire customers. In that vector, I do want to start my own marketing company in the next 3-5 years. The company would focus on bringing complete marketing solutions to small and large businesses. Solutions would include email marketing, website building, social media branding, and all forms of inbound and outbound marketing. Assembling a brand around our products is the dream. Hey, maybe we can create plug-ins and software to compete in the SaaS space. To be honest with you, another goal of mine is to travel. I’ve been working so hard over the years that I think a few months of exploring new cultures and perspectives would be healthy for my professional growth. I’ve been thriving in this bubble, but it’s important to expand my reach. This will help me further develop my vision.

More Elevator Pitch Examples

A young professional in Washington, DC:

My name is Mandy. I’m a legislative aide at the United States Capitol. I spend much of my time corresponding with constituents and aides from other offices on a wide range of issues. I graduated from the George Washington University with a political science degree. I’m planning on attending part-time graduate school to pursue a master’s in health administration. Eventually, I want to work as a lobbyist for healthcare issues. I want to help expand Medicaid and lower the cost of prescription drugs.

From an MBA at Carnegie Mellon:

I’m Ben, and I attend Carnegie Mellon, where I’m pursuing a master’s in business administration. Two summers ago, I interned at AT&T. This past summer, I interned at Verizon, where I learned about operations management, human resources, and project management. I want to stay in the communications technology sector because I know I can build a wide range of operations-related skills here. Right now, I am also studying for my PMP, so that’s taking up a lot of my time. My hope is to leverage it for opportunities in the tech sector – I want to lead teams to success.

This one’s from an analyst:

Hey there, I’m Dom. I work as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs. Since my goal is to become an investment banker, I’m putting in long hours helping my wing with investment decisions. Right now, I’m getting a lot of practice with analyzing data in the energy sector. This job is demanding, and so are my colleagues. The opportunity has given me the chance to improve my communication and self-management skills. I want to stay in the financial sector because I love numbers. Down the road, I’d like to work in venture capital or start my own investment-banking firm. I’m setting up the foundation for my dream by networking with established investors who can give me access to their connections.

From a mother entering the full-time workforce after raising children and working on side projects:

Hello, I’m Cynthia. For the past 10 years, I’ve worked with over 40 clients – from small businesses to law firms – helping them with their graphic design needs. I’m a skilled designer who can create infographics, brochures, booklets, covers, magazines, and branding assets from scratch. I have the self-discipline to work remotely and address client needs in a timely manner. I always beat deadlines – it’s a part of my personal creed. Whether clients need help with Photoshop or InDesign, I’m your girl. I know how to create design assets that work for customers.

An artist who wants to develop his skills:

My name is Nick. As the founder of Nick’s Art & Graphics Studios, I bring over 5 years of experience in all kinds of photography. I’ve worked weddings, galas, diplomatic occasions, and sporting events. To be a skilled photographer, you need to know lighting, lens, and direction. But the most important thing is patience. Getting the right shot is never easy, but I have the experience to give you photos you’ll love. I want to develop my expertise in multimedia so I can improve my product offering to customers. That’s why I’m learning Adobe After Effects to learn more about motion graphics. I’ve also hired two assistants and an intern to help me create beautiful media for my clients. I want to help them convey their brands to the world. Eventually, I’d like to become the dominant media company in my city. I want to become the go-to resource for anyone, from students to professionals, who needs help with creating beautiful media. We’re expanding right now, so I’m doing all I can to better my skills.

From a student:

Hi, I’m Megan. Right now, I’m pursuing a degree in psychology from Ohio State. My coursework includes child and criminal psychology. To supplement my studies, I’m interning as a child-care specialist with Hope for Kiddos, where we work with students individually by talking about their problems at home and bettering their interpersonal skills with team activities. I want to become a child psychologist because I love children and want to cultivate their young minds healthily. Hopefully, after putting in all my training hours, I can open up my own office. Down the road, I’d love to write a book on best practices for childcare psychologists and parents.

Advice from Professionals and Experts

We’ve taken the liberty to cite successful professionals and industry experts.

These opinions offer a first-person perspective on what makes a great elevator pitch.

Darshan Somashekar, founder of Minesweeper Challenge :

In the small time you have, make sure you tell a story. It’s important to capture someone’s attention and emotionally connect. Talk about the problem you’re hoping to solve, or the background on what motivates you. Ask if your audience can relate. If you can hook them to your story, you’re setting yourself up to succeed

Melissa Richards, vice president for communications and enrollment management at Sweet Briar College:

An elevator pitch is called that for a reason. If someone in an elevator asked you about your organization, what would you say in the 20-30 seconds before you reached your floor? Your reply needs to be branded, use plain speech and flow like dialogue. Content basics include what your organization does, how it does it differently than others, for whom and where. The listener must understand all those things without asking for clarification. Avoid complex and run-on sentences, jargon and acronyms. Emphasize your organization’s brand pillars, brand personality and competitive advantages. Practice reading it out loud dozens of times to internalize it but use your own speaking pace, intonation and natural breaks and breaths. It should not sound memorized.

Brian Lim, CEO of iHeartRaves , who appeared on Shark Tank and received deals from Mark Cuban and Daymond John:

If possible, get proof of concept before pitching. We focused on building our business without any outside funding for many years before pitching on Shark Tank and the numbers we presented validated our business better than anything I could say. Know all key metrics around your business and be ready to answer all the basic questions. Shark Tank had a standard pitch format. Two minutes to pitch the Sharks and to be as entertaining as possible and then it jumps into Q&A for hours. We did excellent on the pitch and Q&A by preparing and doing mock pitches and Q&A’s. We presented our success and showcased that we were ready to scale. I had to imagine myself as an investor and check off boxes that I would want to see if I were going to invest money into a company.

Zach Bellas, an American musician, producer, writer, and founder of SMB Records :

Make it relatable – This is a particular problem for musicians. They want to throw out a hundred genres and artist they have the slightest resemblance to and end up confusing everyone they pitch with an endless barrage of information. Make it fun. – People respond to good energy, so it’s not just what you say but how you say it. Put yourself in a good mood, make strong eye contact and speak genuinely from the heart. At the end of the day that is what people buy into.

Laura Prestwich, client coordinator and lead copywriter at Fuze Branding :

Crafting an elevator pitch can be tricky. I think people often want to fall into the trap of using industry buzzwords, and those don’t always translate well outside of industry insiders. Use plain language. What problem are you solving or what barrier are you smashing? How are you doing that in a unique and personal way?

In order to answer those questions, you have to know your target really well. Don’t be afraid to craft multiple elevator pitches based on a specific target or goal. Just like your resume should be specific to the company and position you’re targeting, your pitch should be personal too.

Joy Altimare, chief engagement and brand officer at EHE :

Capture their attention from the first sentence. Studies show that most people remember what you say at the beginning and the end of the conversation. So, you want to start strong and immediately answer the question: “Who are you” and “what makes you different” than others in your field or with your background. You want to establish a relationship with the other person while delivering a firm understanding that you’re the best option for the opportunity/role.

Creatively establish your qualifications by leveraging the art of storytelling. For me, it’s not interesting when someone just list their background and previous roles; I love it when someone can demonstrate the connective tissue between the experiences and can express a common theme that sums up their experiences. So, when you walk away, you leave the person with a very positive – and memorable – expression.

End with a focus on them – the listener. You’ve told them about you, now tell them how you can help them. This demonstrates that you’ve either 1) done a little homework or 2) you understand their category and can quickly access their key issues and provide tangible action items to help them succeed. This will round out the conversation and lean towards a great partnership.

Dr. Kara Fasone, co-founder and Chief Wellness Officer at  Wise & Well Academy :

Your elevator pitch will not stay the same! In fact, you should adapt it based on the situation. So, an elevator pitch I use at an internal networking event will be slightly different from the one I use at an industry-specific conference which will also be different from the one I use at a leadership retreat.

Spend 3 minutes reviewing and updating your elevator speech each time you sign-up for a new event that requires use of your pitch. This allows you to ensure your spiel is relevant while providing an opportunity to practice, practice, practice.

The key is to get to a point where your pitch sounds conversational and unrehearsed. You don’t want to come off as scripted and disingenuous as you’re meeting new people.

Rich Franklin, president of KBC Staffing :

Unless you are certain of your audience and their precise level of comprehension, don’t throw too much new information at them. Too much industry-specific, technical jargon or less-than-universal acronyms can cause mental saturation. Having industry expertise is great but make sure to demonstrate it without sacrificing clear communication.

Make sure your value proposition, customer segments, monetization strategy, and differentiators are easily understood – Clearly describe a) what you do, b) who you do it for, c) how you make money doing it and d) what makes you special or prevents someone else from doing the same thing.

Depending on your audience and the situation, you may not bring up all these areas in your short elevator pitch but you should know how to clearly explain them all. If you explain it to your grandmother and she doesn’t “get it,” your pitch might need some work. If you pitch it to twenty potential cofounders and none of them “get it,” your pitch definitely needs work.

Gennady Litvin, attorney at Moshes Law :

There’s a tendency to ramble and rush when giving an elevator pitch because the time allotted is so short but don’t. Instead, take your time and make sure you’re speaking clear enough so they can understand what is being said. You’ll find that rushing through it does more harm than good.

What’s the point of pitching them if they can’t even follow what you’re saying? Be concise with your message, this is easy if you understand what you sell, who you’re selling to, and how it benefits them as I stated before. And be conversational, even though this is a pitch find a way to include them and turn this pitch into a conversation. Pitches only last for about 30 seconds but a conversation can go on for hours.

Marina Shumaieva, co-founder and CTO of CruiseBe :

The main thing in this short pitch is practice. You should work on speed, intonation, readiness to respond to questions and interruptions. As for the proper construction of sentences describing your company, I’d like to recommend you a good game practice. Write down 5-10 large companies that were founded as startups. Try to write one-sentence pitches that could be the basis of their elevator pitches. Then try to find examples of pitches and compare the results.

Conclusion: How to Craft an Amazing Elevator Pitch

The elevator pitch, also known as the elevator speeech, is one component of successful networking . It will help you network confidently. When giving your elevator pitch, stand up straight, give a firm handshake, and look your partner in the eye.

Keys to crafting an excellent elevator pitch include practice, organization, and discipline. Take your time, take it slow, and start from scratch.

Last, be sure to include pertinent information in your elevator pitch. Stick to the important facts and elements of your story.

Good luck! Let us know if you have any questions.

Learn how we can help you with college and career guidance! Check out our YouTube channel!

Click Here to Schedule a Free Consult!

Set a foundation for a successful career and pursue the best professional opportunities.

• Ethics & Honesty
• Privacy Policy
• Join Our Team

(732) 339-3835

[email protected]

• Remember me Not recommended on shared computers

Forgot your password?

Signup for our email:

• Get notified of new posts
• Get the S.W.I.P.E.S. Email
• Get a masterclass in copy

Calendar Events

• Aug 22 Office Hours (08-22-2024) August 22, 2024
• Aug 29 Office Hours (08-29-2024) August 29, 2024
• Sep 05 Office Hours (09-05-2024) September 05, 2024

All Activity

• Stream Options
• Set as your default stream
• Remove as default stream

This stream auto-updates

•  Condensed
•  Expanded

How to style LinkedIn posts

• 2 hours ago

Alexander Horsman replied to Alexander Horsman 's topic in Social Media

• social media
• copywriting

Tagged with:

Get them to understand how important user engagement

• 3 hours ago

Alexander Horsman posted a topic in Emails

hazel.huitzy's Journal

• 4 hours ago

hazel.huitzy replied to hazel.huitzy 's topic in Goals, Introductions, and Accountability Journals

• Work Journal

5th email in sequence click the link

Vince McDonnell replied to Vince McDonnell 's topic in Emails

Explorer Cold Brew Social Media Ad

• 7 hours ago

Neville posted a topic in Swipe File

From my email list

• 11 hours ago

Purvesh Lengare replied to Purvesh Lengare 's topic in Web Pages

Neville     Karma Pandya

Neville posted a new status update on Karma Pandya's profile

Karma Pandya's Journal

• 14 hours ago

Karma Pandya posted a topic in Goals, Introductions, and Accountability Journals

LinkedIn call to action for newsletter

• 21 hours ago

Johnny replied to Alexander Horsman 's topic in Social Media

Johan Aussenac's Journal

Johnny replied to Johan Aussenac 's topic in Goals, Introductions, and Accountability Journals

erlundbe's Journal

Johnny replied to erlundbe 's topic in Goals, Introductions, and Accountability Journals

Alex Puryear's Journal

Johnny replied to Alex Puryear 's topic in Goals, Introductions, and Accountability Journals

William Salas's Journal

Johnny replied to William Salas 's topic in Goals, Introductions, and Accountability Journals

Homepage Reviews (Real reviews from real clients)

• Yesterday at 08:08 AM

karelle chienkoua commented on Neville 's lesson in Website Writing

Brilliant Earth Groom Wedding Ring Ad

• Yesterday at 06:29 AM

Building WTF Divorce 'Courses'

• Yesterday at 12:25 AM

Rob Roseman replied to Rob Roseman 's topic in Copywriting & Content

Click on a CTA to request their health information or book a free pre-screening call.

• Saturday at 09:09 PM

Johnny replied to Aaron Langman 's topic in Emails

How much should you pay for referral email subscribers?

• Saturday at 09:06 PM

Johnny replied to Mony Simeonov 's topic in Copywriting & Content

Doodle Graphics!

• Saturday at 07:30 PM

jason paris replied to Nathaniel McCallister 's topic in Images, Graphics, Visuals

Thanks for helping me build and promote my course! HR

• Saturday at 07:01 PM

Aaron Langman's Journal

• Saturday at 06:43 PM

Susana Crofton replied to Aaron Langman 's topic in Goals, Introductions, and Accountability Journals

Neville     Alexander Horsman

• Saturday at 05:10 PM

Neville posted a new status update on Alexander Horsman's profile

Pat Walls List of Projects and Outcomes

• Saturday at 06:17 AM

Neville     Alex Puryear

• Friday at 02:10 PM

Neville posted a new status update on Alex Puryear's profile

CopyWork: Schweppes Ad

• Friday at 01:29 PM

Purvesh Lengare commented on Neville 's lesson in Assignments

• Load more activity

Elevator Pitch Generator w/ Examples & Templates

• April 6, 2017

You get into an elevator, and an important investor gets on with you. You strike up a quick conversation and have less than one minute to explain yourself, your business, your goals and your passions. Can you do it? If you tend to stumble around on your words like I do, it may help to have a pre-written and memorized elevator pitch ready. This is especially to have at conferences, investor meetings, job fairs, or meetups. We've built you a totally free and private Elevator Pitch Generator. Just fill out these few fields and it will spit out an elevator pitch you can memorize: 

Fill out this Elevator Pitch Generator :

  HERE'S YOUR CUSTOM 10-FLOOR ELEVATOR PITCH : This is the full version of your elevator pitch:

• Our product is 3x faster than Oracle.
• We only charge you if you get leads.
• We provide a 24/7 support engineer for a full year.

Select All and Copy to Clipboard

  HERE'S YOUR CUSTOM 3-FLOOR ELEVATOR PITCH : This is the super short version of your elevator pitch:

Some tips for a good elevator pitch :

Now there's no "formal" rules on what constitutes a good elevator pitch, but here are some general guidelines and tips to follow. 

TIP #1.) It should be 30 seconds or less .

If you're going up the elevator with someone, and they ask what your company does, you should be able to answer it in that brief amount of time.Keeping your pitch brief also makes YOU narrow down what your business is. If someone explains their business to me and it takes longer than 1 minute to explain, it's 95% likely THEY barely understand it either!   

TIP #2.) There should be a goal (or ask) .

You need have an "ask" in your pitch. This means at the end of the pitch you should ask for some sort of action. The action doesn't have to be asking for an investment or something heavy like that, it can be simple as asking for the person to visit your website. Here's some example "asks" you can use at the end of your pitch:

• "...you should checkout our website."
• "...would you be interested in a free demo?"
• "...you should signup to our email list, it's really helpful."
• "...we could have our engineer integrate our software for you."
• "...we're almost done with out Series A round, would you be interested?"
• "...if you ever have any brutally honest feedback for us we'd love to hear it."

TIP #3.) It can help narrow down what your business does .  

I've heard businesses take many many minutes to just explain what they do.  This means THEY have no idea what they do.Narrowing down a long-winded explanation of what your businesses does can be incredibly helpful for the business owner, the employees, and especially the customers! For the 60 Second Pitch:There’s a lot that can be communicated in a minute. Choose what you want to include carefully.The order of your pitch may be different, but here’s a template for those precious 60 seconds:

Introduce yourself — 5 seconds. Explain who you are and what you do — 5 seconds. Get their attention with a statement or question — 5 seconds. Discuss your USP and how it’s unique — 10 seconds. Share your accomplishments — 10 seconds. Communicate your goal — 5 seconds. Offer a follow-up meeting. Give/take business card — 15 seconds.  

Elevator Pitch for Students and Interns :

A common elevator pitch is for students and interns looking for jobs at a job fair. When meeting a lot of people in a short amount of time, it really really really helps to have a solid elevator pitch for yourself. This could be something like:

We're essentially following a similar pattern to the investor pitches above, but just modifying it to fit a job hunter. Knowing how to pitch yourself at something like a job fair is important because you'll be repeating the same thing over and over, and getting your pitch down solid is very helpful for telling people what you're looking for. You'll also save a lot of time, because if the company is NOT looking for someone with your qualifications, with this elevator pitch you'll both know it's not a right fit immediately.  

User Feedback

Recommended comments.

There are no comments to display.

Join 55,000+ people getting our newsletter

- Get notified of new posts - - Get weekly S.W.I.P.E.S. Email - - Get a free masterclass in copy - - People love our emails, see testimonials -

• Yesterday at 12:08 PM
• Yesterday at 10:29 AM
• Yesterday at 04:25 AM
• Yesterday at 01:09 AM
• Yesterday at 01:06 AM
• Saturday at 11:30 PM
• Saturday at 11:01 PM
• Saturday at 10:43 PM
• Saturday at 09:10 PM
• Saturday at 10:17 AM
• Friday at 06:10 PM
• Friday at 05:29 PM
• Existing user? Sign In
• Join Newsletter (←do it)
• Member Wins
• Subscriptions
• Why join CC?
• Free Copywriting Guides:
• AIDA Formula
• B2B Cold Email Templates
• Become A Full Stack Writer
• Become a Triple Threat
• Billboard Advertising Guide
• Blog Content Strategy
• Blog Post Idea Generator
• Blog Post Titles
• Book Profit Calculator
• Book Title Generator
• Business Idea Generator
• Caffeine Calculator
• Can AI Replace A Writer?
• Choosing The Right Photos
• Client Questionnaires
• Clincher Sentences
• Cold Email Calculator
• Cold Email Like A Boss
• Company Buyout Calculator
• Consulting As A Side Job
• Content Writing Vs Copywriting
• Conversion Rate Calculator
• Copywriting Books and Courses
• Copywriting Command Center
• Copywriting Examples
• Copywriting Exercises
• Copywriting Mistakes
• Copywriting Portfolio
• Copywriting Software
• Copywriting Tips
• Copywriting Tools
• Copywriting Quotes
• Cost Analysis Calculator
• Creativity, What Is?
• Death Calculator
• Different Pricing Examples
• Direct Mail Marketing Guide
• Easiest Font To Read
• Ecommerce Holiday Planning
• Ecommerce Promo Emails
• Effective Sales Letters
• Eliminate BuzzWords
• Email Blasts Guide
• Email List Ideas (and Generator)
• Email Open Rate Examples
• Follow Up Email Templates
• Freelance Pricing Calculator
• Freelance Writing Course
• Freelance Writing for Beginners
• Google Docs For Writers
• Gross Profit Calculator
• Growth Levers Calculator
• Headlines That Sell
• Home Office For Video Calls
• How To Become A Copywriter
• How To Create A Tagline
• How to Get Your Posts Seen
• How To Write A Brochure
• How To Write A Hook
• How To Write A Memo
• How To Write A Mission Statement
• How To Write A Newsletter
• How To Write A Testimonial
• How To Write An About Page
• Introduction Email Templates
• Joe Sugarman Triggers
• LinkedIn Recommendations
• Make A Target Customer Profile
• Marketing Company Name Gen
• Meeting Request Templates
• Money Back Guarantees
• Monthly Goal Planner
• Newspaper Name Generator
• One Pager Examples
• Plain Language Course
• Podcast Show Notes
• Podcast Name Generator
• Power & Trigger Words For Sales
• Product Name Generator
• Product Pricing Calculator
• Real Estate Flyers
• Recurring Revenue Calculator
• Relearn To Type
• Restaurant Name Generator
• Sell Me This Pen
• Social Proof
• Subject Line Generator
• T-Shirt Marketing
• Three Tiered Pricing
• Title Generator
• Tone Of Voice In Copywriting
• Value Based Pricing Calculator
• Website Optimization Calculator
• What Is Scaling?
• What Is Content Marketing?
• What Is Copywriting?
• Why Use Images Vs Text
• Work From Home Successfully
• Writing Advertorials
• Writing Strategies
• Andrew Warner of Mixergy
• Ayman Al-Abdullah of AppSumo
• Ayman Al-Abdullah on scaling
• Cathryn Lavery of BestSelf.co
• Chandler Bolt on Self Publishing
• Chris Dunn of We Talk Money
• Codie Sanchez Contrarian Thinking
• Dan Martell of SaaS Acadamy
• Danny Miranda about Podcast
• David Perell on Twitter
• Doctor Natasha Kathuria
• Eric Bandholz of Beardbrand
• Gagan Biyani of Udemy
• Jack Butcher of Visualize Value
• Jason Cohen of WPengine
• Jason Gourd of Sorek
• Jay Clouse of Creator Science
• Matt Kepnes of NomadicMatt.com
• Mike Feldstein of Jaspr Air
• Nathan Barry of ConvertKit
• Nick Gray of NickGray.net
• Nick Huber of Sweaty Startup
• Noah Kagan of AppSumo
• Noah Kagan on Book Launch
• Paul Yacoubian of Copy.ai
• Peep Laja of ConversionXL
• Peter Keller of Fringe Sport
• Ross Hudgens of Siege Media
• Ross Hudgens of Siege Media (2)
• Ryan Moran of Capitalism.com
• Sam Parr on Books
• Sam Parr of TheHustle
• Sam Parr of TheHustle (2)
• Sujan Patel of MailShake
• Follow Us & Contact
• Grab the book
• Consulting & 1-On-1
• Join the Newsletter
• Create New...

• Product overview
• All features
• Latest feature release
• App integrations

CAPABILITIES

• project icon Project management
• Project views
• Custom fields
• Status updates
• goal icon Goals and reporting
• Reporting dashboards
• workflow icon Workflows and automation
• portfolio icon Resource management
• Capacity planning
• Time tracking
• my-task icon Admin and security
• Admin console
• asana-intelligence icon Asana AI
• list icon Personal
• premium icon Starter
• briefcase icon Advanced
• Goal management
• Organizational planning
• Campaign management
• Creative production
• Content calendars
• Marketing strategic planning
• Resource planning
• Project intake
• Product launches
• Employee onboarding
• View all uses arrow-right icon
• Project plans
• Team goals & objectives
• Team continuity
• Meeting agenda
• View all templates arrow-right icon
• Work management resources Discover best practices, watch webinars, get insights
• Customer stories See how the world's best organizations drive work innovation with Asana
• Help Center Get lots of tips, tricks, and advice to get the most from Asana
• Asana Academy Sign up for interactive courses and webinars to learn Asana
• Developers Learn more about building apps on the Asana platform
• Community programs Connect with and learn from Asana customers around the world
• Events Find out about upcoming events near you
• Partners Learn more about our partner programs
• Asana for nonprofits Get more information on our nonprofit discount program, and apply.

Featured Reads

• Business strategy |
• 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? 

We’ve put together 15 creative elevator pitch examples that will help you nail your next client meeting or virtual networking event. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a seasoned professional, our examples cover any situation you might find yourself in. 

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. This includes situations where you need to "tell me about yourself" to recruiters or hiring managers. Therefore, preparing your next pitch becomes 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. 

Whether you're pitching a new product, a startup idea, or your work experience to a potential employer, 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 effective 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.

Step 1: Introduce yourself

All good pitches start with a short introduction. It could be as simple as stating your name and who you work for if those details apply. But the more personal you can make it, the more natural your elevator pitch will seem. Nonverbal communication skills like body language and eye contact are  also an important part of a solid introduction. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when introducing yourself to a new prospect. 

Greet your audience in a compelling way that's appropriate for the occasion.

Use a formal greeting for a business pitch or when meeting with hiring managers.

Opt for a more casual greeting for a fun event or informal networking opportunity.

For virtual business meetings and professional networking events, get creative with your introductions over video chat.

In virtual networking events, focus on making a strong first impression, as it can be more challenging than in-person meetings.

Consider starting with a lighthearted joke to break the ice, ensuring it's relevant to your target audience. This can be particularly effective at career fairs or when giving your elevator speech to recruiters. 

Step 2: Present the problem

All solutions start with a problem. Whatever you or your business is trying to solve, it’s important to get the point across early on in your elevator pitch to set the theme for the rest of your speech. An example problem: coordinating work between teams is chaotic.  

If possible, relate the problem back to your audience by using real-world examples. This will help make the problem more relevant and, hopefully, grab your audience’s attention. If your problem isn’t easy to explain, try using more than one example or a visual to really paint a picture for your audience. 

Step 3: 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. 

Step 4: Explain your value proposition

Now that you’ve piqued your audience’s attention, it’s time to seal the deal by explaining why your solution is better than anyone else's. An example value proposition is: Asana is the only platform that connects goals with the work needed to achieve them. 

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

If you're pitching during a job search or to build your network, your value proposition should highlight your unique skills, career path, and how they align with the company's or individual's goals.

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.   

Step 5: 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. Don't forget to include a clear call to action, whether it's scheduling a follow-up meeting, exchanging business cards, or connecting on LinkedIn. Lastly, don’t forget to swap contact information, such as a business card, if you don’t already have it. 

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 the best elevator pitch 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. 

Common elevator pitch mistakes to avoid

Even with the best elevator pitch examples at your disposal, it's easy to fall into common pitfalls. Here are four mistakes to avoid when crafting your pitch:

1. Rambling and using too much jargon

One of the biggest mistakes in delivering an elevator pitch is exceeding the optimal amount of time and filling it with industry jargon. Remember, the best elevator pitch is concise and easily understood. Avoid technical terms that might confuse your audience, whether they're hiring managers, potential clients, or fellow professionals at a networking event.

2. Not communicating your value proposition in a compelling way

Your elevator speech should quickly and effectively convey your unique value. Whether you're job hunting or pitching a new business, clearly articulate what sets you apart. This is especially crucial when addressing a potential employer or investors. Your value proposition should be one of the key points that stick with your audience long after the conversation ends.

3. Not tailoring your pitch to your target audience

A one-size-fits-all approach rarely works for an elevator pitch. Tailor your message to your specific audience, whether you're at a career fair, a networking event, or even crafting cover letters. For instance, if you're pitching to a nonprofit, focus on impact and mission alignment rather than just profitability.

4. Forgetting to include a call to action

An effective elevator pitch should end with a clear next step. Whether it's exchanging business cards, setting up a follow-up meeting, or inviting them to subscribe to your newsletter, always include a call to action. This gives your audience a concrete way to continue the conversation and build your network.

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.

FAQ: Writing the perfect elevator pitch

What should an elevator pitch say? 

An effective elevator pitch should concisely communicate who you are, what you do, and your unique value proposition. It should highlight your skills, experience, or product offering in a compelling way. For those in a job search, your pitch should answer the interview question "Tell me about yourself" while focusing on career goals that resonate with your target audience.

What are the three C's for an elevator pitch? 

The three C's for an elevator pitch are Clear, Concise, and Compelling. A clear pitch uses simple language without jargon. Concise means keeping it brief, ideally 30 seconds or less. A compelling pitch is interesting and relevant, encouraging further conversation, whether you're networking or in a job search.

How can I improve my elevator pitch? 

To improve your elevator pitch, practice in front of a mirror to refine your delivery and body language. Record yourself to identify areas for improvement. Seek feedback from others and continuously refine your pitch. Tailor it for different scenarios, from job interviews to networking events. Regular practice will make your pitch more natural and effective in your job search or business endeavors.

How do I prepare for unexpected elevator pitch opportunities? 

To prepare for unexpected elevator pitch opportunities, have a basic pitch ready that you can adapt on the spot. Keep business cards handy and stay informed about your industry. Practice regularly so your pitch feels natural, even during a short elevator ride. Aim for an authentic conversation tailored to your audience, whether at a networking event or during an unexpected professional encounter. For product or service pitches, focus on quickly capturing interest to turn listeners into subscribers or leads.

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

🤖 AI Elevator Pitch Generator

Elevate your communication game with AI-generated elevator pitches that captivate, persuade, and leave a lasting impression.

In today’s fast-paced world, making a strong impression quickly is essential, especially when it comes to presenting your ideas or products. The elevator pitch, a concise and compelling summary of your message delivered within the span of an elevator ride, is a powerful tool that can open doors, secure opportunities, and win over potential investors, clients, or customers. However, crafting an effective elevator pitch can be a daunting task. That’s where the power of AI comes in.

With AI technology, you can now generate compelling elevator pitches effortlessly. By leveraging the capabilities of artificial intelligence, you can create concise and persuasive messages that grab attention, convey your unique value proposition, and engage your audience. Whether you’re a startup founder, a sales professional, or an aspiring entrepreneur, using an AI-powered elevator pitch generator can give you a competitive edge and help you succeed in various domains.

What Is an Elevator Pitch Generator?

An elevator pitch generator is an AI-powered tool designed to assist individuals in crafting effective elevator pitches quickly and easily. By utilizing natural language processing and machine learning algorithms, these generators analyze your input and generate a concise and persuasive elevator pitch that encapsulates your message in a compelling manner.

This AI technology takes into account various factors such as your target audience, key benefits, unique selling points, and industry-specific jargon to create a pitch that resonates with your listeners. The elevator pitch generator acts as your virtual assistant, helping you distill complex ideas into a concise and engaging format.

Why Use an Elevator Pitch Generator?

• Save Time and Effort: Crafting a captivating elevator pitch can be time-consuming and challenging. With an AI-powered generator, you can save valuable time and effort by automating the process. Focus on refining your pitch rather than spending hours brainstorming the right words and structure.
• Increase Impact: AI-generated elevator pitches are designed to captivate and engage your audience from the very first sentence. The carefully crafted wording and persuasive structure ensure that your message stands out and leaves a lasting impression.
• Tailored to Your Audience: An elevator pitch generator takes into account your target audience and their specific needs. By customizing the generated pitch based on the preferences, interests, and pain points of your listeners, you can enhance its relevance and effectiveness.
• Consistency and Clarity: An AI-powered generator ensures consistency in your pitch. It helps you avoid rambling, stay focused, and communicate your message clearly, ensuring that your elevator pitch remains concise, coherent, and impactful.

Using an elevator pitch generator powered by AI is a game-changer for individuals seeking to make a memorable impression in a short amount of time. By harnessing the power of AI, you can elevate your communication skills, refine your message, and confidently present your ideas or products to any audience.

How To Create an Elevator Pitch With This Generator

• Click “Use Generator” to create a project instantly in your workspace.
• Click “Save Generator” to create a reusable template for you and your team.
• Customize your project , make it your own, and get work done!

Here and Now

Listen live.

Today Explained

Today, Explained is Vox's daily explainer podcast. Hosts Sean Rameswaram and Noel King will guide you through the most important stories of the day.

• Politics & Policy

How to watch this year’s Democratic National Convention

The gathering runs monday–thursday at the united center in chicago. broadcast outlets will air prime-time speeches, and the dnc will stream on youtube and other platforms..

• Associated Press
• Meg Kinnard

When is the DNC?

What channel is carrying the convention, related content.

Harris and Walz to campaign by bus in Pa. before the DNC in Chicago

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will campaign by bus in southwestern Pennsylvania before they arrive in Chicago for their party's political convention.

Where is the DNC taking place?

Who will be on stage, what’s up next.

Get daily updates from WHYY News!

The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

You may also like

The DNC starts Monday. Here’s what you need to know

The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago, just a month after the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

3 hours ago

What we know — and don’t know — about the Harris policy agenda

Here is where Kamala Harris stands on the economy, health care, reproductive rights, immigration and foreign policy.

19 hours ago

Trump zigzags between economic remarks and personal insults at Pa. rally

In northeastern Pennsylvania on Saturday, Trump discussed economic policy and delivered insults and impressions of President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron.

About Associated Press

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal