If you had 30 seconds to tell someone about your business, could you do it? If you answered yes, could you do it in an interesting and captivating way? It’s never too late to work on your elevator pitch!

An elevator pitch is a brief way of introducing yourself, getting across a key point or two, and making a connection. Some tips for perfecting your pitch include:

Identify your goal: Do you wish to sell a product, get someone to attend an event, or build a relationship? Before you create your pitch, consider what you want to accomplish.

Know your audience: Along with your goal, think about the different people you will be communicating with. You may have different pitches for different audiences.

Keep it short: The shorter, the better, as long as you include all the necessary information. Start with what you want to say, then continue making it more concise if you can.

Make it compelling: How can you spark the listener’s interest? You want to not only convey your information, but get them excited and wanting to know more.

Write it down: Putting your pitch down on paper will help you remember it better, and also give you something physical to look at and edit.

Practice: Once you have your pitch, practice, practice, practice! Say it in the mirror, practice it to a friend or family member, and say it when you get the opportunity as much as possible. The more you say it, the more comfortable you will get.

Be prepared for follow-up: Make sure you have business cards or other materials with you, in case your elevator pitch is successful and people want to follow-up.

No matter what kind of business or organization you represent, it’s always a good idea to have an elevator pitch. Start working on yours today!

This article was published in the Venango Chamber’s May 2022 VenangoWorks! Newsletter.