The elevator pitch: what is it? How can this communication technique make an impact on your audience?

The term “elevator pitch” is used to describe a communication technique aimed at presenting yourself, an idea or a project, in a limited amount of time. Appealing to many professionals, this technique is based on the importance of conciseness.

The aim? Deliver a strong message to your prospect (or interlocutor) using as few words as possible. The key is to be convincing and impactful! The term “elevator pitch” owes its name to the idea that you should be able to get your message across to someone in the same amount of time it takes to have a brief encounter in an elevator shaft.

How do you make a success of your elevator pitch?

There you have it: a successful elevator pitch is a convincing pitch! To convince your interviewer in record time, it’s important to ask yourself the right questions! Here are a few tips to help you achieve your goal.

Define the stakes of your pitch

First of all, you need to determine why you’re launching into a pitch. The stakes are what should guide your pitch! Are you trying to convince a potential buyer? Land a job? Get information about a competitor? Whatever your objective, you need to keep in mind that the tone and content of your pitch are inextricably linked to it. You’ll then need to focus your pitch and choose the right words to capture your audience’s attention.

Get to the heart of the matter to capture the attention of your prospects or customers.

To grab your audience’s attention quickly, go straight to the point! Put aside all superfluous ideas and concentrate on the strong concepts you wish to convey. If you’re having trouble synthesizing your content, we recommend preparing a short list of words in advance that summarize what you want to say. For example, if you want to talk about a product you’ve been marketing for a short while, you can list the benefits of this product: value for money, ingredients used, etc. This will keep you focused on what you want to say. This will keep you focused on the main ideas you want to address.

It’s also crucial to choose your words carefully! The success of your elevator pitch lies in your choice of words. To be successful, you need to avoid superfluous ideas, which could do you a disservice and even discourage your interviewer! Stay focused on the substance of your message, and bear in mind that your interviewer needs to understand the overall idea you want to convey in just a few minutes!

For greater impact, we recommend you opt for a strong hook: a question, for example (“Did you know that the [cosmetic ingredient used in your products] is a fantastic health benefit?”), or a statistic designed to challenge (“Nearly [% of people] use cosmetic products that are harmful to the skin”), which will help to arouse your audience’s interest. This is just an example – be creative and innovative! 😊

Personalize your pitch

Depending on who you’re talking to and what your objectives are, it’s important to personalize your pitch. Indeed, your content will be significantly different if you want to convince a prospect to buy your products than if you want to land a job with their company, for example!

In the former case, you’ll tend to pitch your brand’s strengths (brand values, positive customer reviews, for example), while in the latter, you’ll focus more on your skills and background (studies, past experience, etc.).

Be relevant and convincing

To capture your interviewer’s attention, your pitch needs to be gripping from the very first seconds! First impressions are often the right ones, and the same applies to elevator pitches! To make sure you get the effect you’re aiming for, make sure you emphasize key points to maximize your chances of making a strong impact on your audience.

Emphasize what you stand for

Whether you’re presenting yourself, a product, an idea, a concept… it’s important to emphasize what you stand for! If you’re introducing yourself, for example, you’re encouraged to highlight your values, skills or experience. If you’re presenting a concept (or a product), it’s important to emphasize its potential, relevance and sustainability. At the end of your elevator pitch, your audience should want to trust you and invest in you.

End with a “call to action” to engage your audience

To guarantee a quality elevator pitch, we advise you to focus on the call to action, so that your audience feels involved in your project! If you’re presenting a product, for example, a small phrase of encouragement inviting your audience to buy it, such as “Join us now!” or “Support our ambitions”, will get your audience involved and eager to contribute to your success!

Prepare your elevator pitch in advance

Before taking action, it’s essential to prepare your elevator pitch! This communication technique relies not only on the right choice of words, but also on attitude. To succeed, you need to convey an inspiring image that your audience can identify with! Having prepared your speech in advance will make you feel more confident, and that’s something you’ll feel!

An example of a convincing elevator pitch

Here’s an example of a convincing elevator pitch that could easily captivate your audience:

“Hello,

Have you ever found yourself in [your bad situation]? At least, that’s what happens to X% of people who think [bad idea].

I’m [your name], founder of [your company name], an innovative company that I’ve been working for every day for [X years]. Our approach is based on [company values] and aims to offer unique products, made with high-quality ingredients, such as [natural ingredients used and where they come from]. Our ambition? To put all our energy into serving your needs and guaranteeing your complete satisfaction.

Would you like to support a team that cares about your skin and the planet? Join us!”

A quality elevator pitch is an excellent way of creating new business opportunities and boosting your brand image! Thanks to this increasingly popular communication technique, you can present your ideas in an effective and impactful way!