Have you heard of an ‘elevator pitch’?
Basically, it is a statement that sums up what you do in your business that can be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator – about 60 seconds or so.
I don’t know about you, but often people will ask me – “so what do you do?” And I’ll sit there tongue-tied for a few moments while I work out just what the heck to tell them.
I still suffer from a fear of telling people that I’m “just an artisan/crafter”.
Which is, really, rather ridiculous. I guess I’ve got a little hubris going on, and am afraid that people won’t take me seriously like they did back when I could say “I’m studying to become a scientist” or “I’m a teacher”.
The fact of the matter is – yes, I am an artisan, a maker – but I’m also much more than that, and I’ve struggled to fit all that I do into a short paragraph when confronted with that question.
I decided it was about time for me to come up with my own ‘elevator pitch’ so I didn’t need to sit there tongue-tied in future.
My elevator pitch is:
“I’m a creative entrepreneur and silversmith. I create sleek, modern, eco-friendly sterling silver jewellery under the brand Epheriell, and I teach people how to have a successful online handmade business via my site Create & Thrive. I’m passionate about helping people realise their dream to have a lifestyle and business they love, like I do!”
I’m happy that this statement does a great job of summing up not only what I do – but how I feel about it. It’s probably a little ‘close-ended’ to be a traditional elevator pitch – but hopefully this statement would leave the listener wanting to know more about me and what I do…
So – what would be in your elevator pitch? Consider:
- what you do
- who are your customers/target market
- what makes you special/sets you apart
- what’s your story
- what emotions do you want to convey
Need a little more help? Why not try the Harvard Business School elevator pitch builder
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{image by Stefan Witte}
