I’ve written before about the elevator pitch – your value proposition or a personal infomercial. This pitch is a brief introduction to you with a focus on what you have to offer your target audience. I’ve offered tips about writing a succinct pitch that is useful and to the point.
Recently, I presented on this topic to a group of women considering making changes in their lives and careers. In my presentation, I suggested an elevator pitch of 35 words or less.
Netshare Inc’s blog focuses on the “micro pitch,” which is an “escalator” pitch that is complete in 140 characters, the number allowed on Twitter. The key is to “get to the point.”
Since not everyone will need to condense a pitch to 20 words or less, I’m suggesting thinking of the answer to the question, “What do you do?” in 35 words or less.
Answer these questions in your pitch:
- What do you do? What do you offer? What makes you special and unique? (Relative to the person you’re meeting.)
- What is your goal/objective? What do you WANT to do?
- What impact do you have? What results do you create?
- How do you create positive results?
- Why should the person care? (Target your pitch so it’s relevant to each person you meet.)
Use this template. Note that the information doesn’t need to be in this exact order (see sample):
I work with (target audience) to (situation/solve what problem_). This is how (results/impact).
Here’s a sample pitch for me and Keppie Careers:
As an author, speaker and coach, I help job seekers and small business owners achieve their goals by writing resumes and marketing materials and by teaching them how to leverage the power of social networks. (35 words)
What’s your short pitch? Share it in the comments.
Learn more about how to pitch and many more tips in You Need a Job: 5 Steps to Get One, which I co-authored with Hannah Morgan.
photo by mikeandanna