5 Tips to Perfect Your Elevator Pitch Communicate your value proposition quickly and effectively to win more business.
By Mauricio Umansky Edited by Russell Sicklick
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
A polished elevator pitch is essential in our fast-paced world. Not only will it allow you to quickly and effectively communicate your value proposition, but it can also help you win more business. In the luxury real estate industry, it is essential to demonstrate the ability to communicate who you are and what sets you apart quickly and effectively. This ensures that the important differentiators and value-driven items are conveyed clearly. I learned early on how important an elevator pitch was to my business. By mastering this brief and powerful statement, I've been able to grow my business, my network and the joy for what I do.
First things first, a real estate professional needs to master answering the question, why should I hire you to sell my home. The response should be quick and memorable in order to stand out in this competitive industry. As my business as an agent grew and the company expanded our services, I fine-tuned my pitch to better communicate our firm's unique value proposition. Whether you are an entrepreneur starting out or a CEO of a company, I've outlined five key tips to perfect your elevator pitch to ensure it is clear, concise and compelling.
1. Assess your audience
Having in-depth knowledge of your target audience is invaluable. Who do you intend to attract? What do they value most? How do your services and offerings align with these interests? Taking a moment to think about these questions will help steer your pitch in the right direction. Challenge yourself to pin down the top three things you want your audience to remember about you and your business. This will help keep your pitch succinct and answer why your target audience should choose you.
2. Be concise
Make sure your elevator pitch is as concise as possible. This requires thoughtful preparation on your part. A summary statement with a few supporting details is a clear way to construct your pitch. In today's world, messages need to be digestible in seconds. Utilize your brokerage's mission statement and business philosophy as a blueprint for your pitch. Knowing what you stand for and why your audience would want to join you and your team will help invigorate your presentation and provide tangible takeaways.
3. Perfect your value proposition
What are the unique attributes and selling points of your business? Is it marketing? Tech? Collaboration across markets? Understanding the value you bring will help you narrow down the key points you want to get across. Keep your consumer, competition and competencies front and center as you develop your value proposition. Utilizing these areas to outline your differentiators and how you are uniquely positioned to better solve problems than your competition will get your point across clearly and efficiently. And don't forget to adapt these selling points as your business changes or grows. My elevator pitch from when we started our company to now a decade later has advanced to reflect our growth. As you audit your business, audit how you're selling it as well.
4. Look for opportunities
In order to seize opportunities to articulate your elevator pitch, you have to be hyper-aware of your surroundings and circumstances. Expressing your value doesn't just happen in a meeting, a listing presentation or in an ad; it can take place in many casual settings and can flow quite naturally. It happens when you meet a friend for a drink, host a holiday party or start chatting with someone in line at the grocery store. The world is full of moments where you can present what you do, express the value behind it and form a valuable connection with a potential customer. So be aware, be genuine and seize opportunities when they arise.
5. Be confident
One of the most important elements in nailing an elevator pitch is confidence. Believing in yourself, your business and what you offer is key — it's what attracts people to you and gets them excited about your offering. Expressing confidently the qualities that differentiate you from your competitors will ensure that your audience both sees and believes it. Your sincerity and passion will shine through in your words, body language and demeanor. So, hold yourself proudly, speak clearly and use eye contact. Let the world see your brightest, authentic self.
Related: How to Be More Confident
Developing a memorable elevator pitch comes down to these key factors. Before you even begin rehearsing in front of a mirror, you must start by carving out your unique value proposition and crafting an effective and memorable presentation. Know who your audience is and how your mission aligns with their interests. Be concise and exude confidence. These are just a few of the ways you can develop a compelling pitch. Sharing it with confidence will be sure to get the attention of your audience.
