elevator speech self introduction

4. Don't under-emphasize the problem you're solving.

It's possible that you may run into issues when putting reports together for your boss. For instance, things may go awry every once in a while, such as disappearing data or disagreeing sources. With AnswerASAP, you can lay those worries to rest. We have a few features that will help you with those issues if you ever run into them.

• It treats a customer problem as a possibility and not an urgent reality.
• It's vague ("things may go awry") and doesn't emphasize how those issues can hurt the prospect.
• It doesn't specify the product features that will solve the prospect's challenges.
• Because it never goes into detail, it shows little research and care.

Remember, an elevator pitch should only come at someone else's prompting. If you're spontaneously reciting it to random people, you're not doing yourself any favors. But if they ask, you want to be prepared with an interesting, well-crafted pitch.

Elevator Speech Best Practices

1. Keep it brief.

The purpose of an elevator speech is to be as brief as possible while capturing a prospect's attention. Try to stay under sixty seconds — including your introduction. Even if you're delivering your elevator speech during a formal presentation, where you have time to elaborate if needed, keep the bulk of your pitch under sixty seconds.

If you don't, you won't be able to use your pitch when you're chatting with prospects in situations with tighter time constraints — such as a tradeshow or a chance meeting.

2. Practice multiple times beforehand.

You may have written the most incredible elevator speech for your product, but if you hamper the delivery by misremembering or even forgetting parts of your pitch, it won't be an effective tool. Be sure to practice by yourself, with your manager, and with your colleagues.

The goal isn't just to memorize it, but to practice your tone, pace, and overall delivery.

3. Come prepared with additional materials.

When you're delivering your elevator pitch, be prepared to provide your prospect with what they need to continue the conversation. Whether that's a business card, a brochure, or a short demo, carry all that you might need with you.

The elevator speech is your opportunity to begin a deal on the right foot and speed the nurturing process. Typically, you might take weeks emailing a prospect before they're ready to schedule a meeting with you, but an elevator pitch speeds that work. You want to have the materials you need to keep the conversation going.

4. Be positive and enthusiastic.

It's essential to show your personality during your elevator pitch, but whether you're a quiet, calm introvert or a charming, excitable extrovert, you should still convey positivity and enthusiasm.

You can use your body language and expression to keep things positive, even if your tone is quiet and calm. You might highlight the amazing benefits your prospect will enjoy if they sign up, or tell a positive story from one of your previous clients.

Most importantly, you should make it obvious that you want to help your prospect more than anything — which will make you sound positive by default.

5. Vary the tone of your voice.

As you deliver your pitch, vary your tone and modulation to keep your listener engaged. This will help you emphasize the most important parts of your speech — such as the benefits — while keeping your prospect's attention. The pitch may be short, but you'll be surprised at how easily people can tune out based on your tone alone. We don't want to risk it! Especially if it's a prospect you've never spoken with.

Reel in Clients with an Effective Elevator Pitch

While a short speech may seem insignificant, those first conversations can hold some weight. With a well-crafted pitch, you can turn a single conversation with a prospect into a long-lasting customer, or even into a business partner. We hope you found these examples helpful and are inspired to craft your own effective elevator pitch.

Editor's note: This post was originally published in August 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Can you impress someone within 30 seconds?

You sure are wondering if it is even possible, let alone make it happen within 30 seconds. We have a genie that can do that for you.

Say hello to the elevator pitch.

An elevator pitch is a brief introductory speech that you give to spellbound listeners.

According to statistics, 80% of people believe that a career can be grown through professional networking . An elevator pitch can help to broaden your networking as you will be able to connect with professionals when you introduce yourself.

To make an everlasting impact from an elevator pitch, let us first look at the most frequently asked questions related to the elevator pitch.

• What is an elevator pitch
• Why is an elevator pitch important
• When to use elevator pitch
• Elevator pitch examples
• Elevator pitch examples for students
• Elevator pitch examples for business
• Mistakes to avoid in an elevator pitch

What Is an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch, also known as an elevator speech, is a brief but persuasive speech you give to introduce yourself, your company, or your product. The elevator pitch must be such that it ignites the spark to know more about you in the minds of the listener.

Wondering why an introductory speech is called an elevator pitch?

A business professional is a busy person and you cannot expect them to sit with you for an hour listening to who you are, what you do, or what your product or service is. Therefore, all you have is 30 seconds to earn their interest.

Imagine an elevator ride. How much does an elevator take to go up and down the building? Approximately 30-60 seconds. That’s the time you too have with the business person and hence, the speech is called an elevator pitch.

Why is An Elevator Pitch Important?

An elevator pitch is significant for anyone who is job hunting or wants to expand their business. You never know when you get the opportunity to interact with a person who can be of great help in networking. Keeping a good elevator pitch ready can help you seize the opportunity.

A unique elevator pitch will demonstrate your key skills and strengths by suggesting that you are a person with a lot of potential. It can help you answer the most common “tell me about yourself” or “what do you do” questions.

When to Use an Elevator Pitch?

An elevator pitch can be used for a multitude of reasons. From expecting a job to expanding a business, this 30-second speech can do wonders for your career. Let us look at the situations where it can be used.

At a Career Fair

A career fair has lots of professionals who can assist you in landing your dream job or push you forward in the right direction. Thus, keeping an engaging introduction can quickly help to create a first good impression.

For a Job Interview

Professional growth is determined by the job you do and how much satisfaction you are driving out of it. An elevator pitch can answer the “tell me about yourself” question. Remember to follow the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) formula and compel the person to listen to you.

To Build Your Network

It might happen that you are looking to connect with potential clients or professionals who can refer you to a better job opportunity. In such cases, having a strong network can be helpful and an elevator pitch can be the beginning of a story that you might be thankful for forever.

To Create a Captivating Online Presence

A written version of the elevator pitch can help recruiters reach out to you. If your goals and skills match theirs, you are sure to receive a message from them.

Elevator Pitch Examples

Although there is a time constraint while delivering an elevator pitch, this does not mean you will deliver a 5-minute essay in 30 seconds by speaking at lightning speed.

Here’s how to write an elevator pitch without sounding like Howard D. Doyle from Intolerable Cruelty when you speak it.

• Add a conversation starter
• Start with who you are
• Include what you do and how you do it
• Identify a problem
• Explain your achievements
• Add a little spice of what makes you unique (offer a solution to the problem)
• Add how does the current opportunity relate to your goals and aspirations

Some last minute but important points to keep in mind are:

• Edit the draft
• Keep the words that you use in speech than writing
• Make it sound natural
• Practice and revise

Elevator Pitch Example 1

Hi, My name is Jane Doe. I work as a Project Manager and I specialize in the initiation to execution of projects. In my 5 years of professional experience, I have realized that every organization needs coordination and communication without which handling can be chaotic. I have worked on applications that can organize project communication and handling in one place. Would you like to know more about it?

Elevator Pitch Example 2

Hi, so pleased to meet you. I am Adrianna Rich. I recently graduated from Utah University in Journalism and Communication. I have worked with the college editorial board as a newspaper editor. Do you know 95% of the headline that catches readers' attention is sensationalist stories? I am looking forward to covering such stories and building a career in the same.

Elevator Pitch Example 3

Good Afternoon. I am Anwar. I work for TLS Connections as a Sales Manager. Due to the pandemic, most of the workforce shifted online, and reaching out to clients became a tough task. Thankfully we managed to connect through our in-house sales application that has connected our clients to one place. Every company opts for different tools but ours have shown an increase in sales productivity. If you would like to know more about my sales strategies, we can connect over a call.

Elevator Pitch Examples for Students

For students who do not have much experience, what could be spoken in an elevator pitch? Let us have look at some examples.

Elevator Pitch for Students Example 1

Hi, my name is Joanna. I am a recent graduate from the University of Delhi. I work as a freelance content writer for an education consulting company. I also write movie reviews for Delhi Times. Recently, one of my movie reviews about Kashmir Files trended on Twitter. You might have come across it. Would you be interested in sending me some contacts who are looking for engaging and buzz-worthy content?

Elevator Pitch for Students Example 2

Hi, I am Abraham. I am in the final semester of my MBA in Hospitality and Communications, which I am pursuing at the University of North Texas. I have done an internship as Junior Customer Assistant with XYZ Company. Offering tailor-made solution to every customer satiates me. Working for XYZ Company, I improved their mobile application performance by heeding customer feedback. I also increased their customer retention to 38% and now I am looking forward to creating more such results for your company.

Elevator Pitch for Students Example 3

My name is John and since childhood, I have been completely interested in programming. My father helped me write a basic algorithm to build a game. It amused me so much that I took up a Computer Science degree to pursue my education. Currently, I am in my sophomore year and I have been reading a lot about generating sales by creating user-friendly mobile applications. Would you allow me to connect with you anytime soon so that we can discuss this in detail?

Elevator Pitch Examples for Business

A business professional always comes with a lot of experience. The elevator pitch for them could be slightly different from the fresher. Here are a few elevator pitch examples for business.

Elevator Pitch for Business Example 1

Hello, my name is Adrian. I represent the Rein water purifier. Do you know about 1.3 million people in the world die due to inaccessibility to clean water? We at Rein have found a way to tackle the problem of inaccessibility by providing clean and safe water. We are opening up some new markets and I hope to bring you to the forefront of our brand new campaign. Our products are manufactured using a new filtration system designed to supply healthy water free of harmful minerals and other types of pollutants. We are setting up our campaign booth tomorrow and I hope you would come. Here is my business card in case you have any queries.

Elevator Pitch for Business Example 2

Hello, my name is Kathy. My company develops and designs personalized online sales funnels. We offer online customers to enjoy the perfect user experience tailored to their needs and interests, and also give them automated solutions that dramatically increase sales. We helped our last client increase their online sales by 120% month-on-month. Does your company have experience in e-commerce automation?

Elevator Pitch for Business Example 3

Has it ever happened to you that you rushed towards your car and then you realize that you forgot your car keys? Relatable, right? In fact, on average, a person misplaces their car keys more than 5 times per month. To fix this problem, I have built a low-cost key tracker that can find keys in no time. Currently, we are working on the prototype and hoping to raise funds for large-scale production to get to the market within the next 4months. Would you like to connect to discuss my idea further?

Mistakes to Avoid in Elevator Pitch

Often people end up speaking irrelevant things that might even be of no importance to the listener. We have talked about the points that must be kept in mind while framing an elevator pitch.

Now is the time to quickly look at what not to do in an elevator pitch:

• Do not speak fast
• Do not use one pitch for all occasions
• Do not use a lot of technical jargon that recruiters cannot decipher
• Do not make it one-sided. Instead, make it conversational.
• Do not sound underconfident. Practice as much as possible to sound natural.

Key Takeaways

Now that we have come to the end of our discussion on how to write an elevator pitch, let us keep in mind a few key takeaways

• An elevator pitch is a powerful representation of you, your company, or your product.
• It can help you get a job or expand your business by building networks.
• An elevator speech can be used in a career fair, in an interview, in expanding an online network, or in building offline networks too.
• To write an effective elevator speech, add a conversation starter, introduce yourself briefly, target the problem, offer a solution, and talk about how the current opportunity can add value to you and vice versa.
• Edit your draft as many times as needed. Practice in front of friends and seek feedback.
• Avoid rushing your elevator pitch. Speak slowly and confidently.

Now that you know how to write an elevator pitch, pen down your own 30-second impressive elevator pitch.

Alternatively, you can go to Hiration’s Career Activator Platform which has 24/7 chat support and get professional assistance with all your job & career-related queries.

You can also write to us at [email protected] .

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How to Write a Speech Introducing Yourself

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 3,781,672 times.

First impressions have a big impact on how others perceive you, so how you introduce yourself to others is extremely important. Many people call an introductory speech an elevator speech, because it should be succinct enough that you could introduce yourself and tell someone about your goals or interests in the time it takes to ride an elevator. It may also be called an "icebreaker" speech, as it breaks the ice and lets others get to know you. [1] X Research source Consider your words carefully when you write a speech introducing yourself. Crafting a good self-introduction can either build or harm your credibility.

Sample Speeches

Preparing Your Speech

• State your name in the very first sentence of your speech. This can be very straightforward: "Good afternoon!/Good morning! My name is Deshawn Smith, and I am a computer programming student at the University of Arkansas."
• If the introduction is work-related, mention your interests and your career goals together in the same sentence. This will save on time and convey that your personal interests can serve your professional goals. For example, "I am working on an app that allows people to order pizza from their Twitter account."
• You may want to mention your education or professional training background, if it is relevant and appropriate. "This is the fifth app I've designed. My second app, which helped people locate dog parks near them, won an award at my university."

• If you are explaining your passion or goal and how it helped formed your progression up to this point, that can help you tell a compelling story about yourself. For example, if you're writing a speech for your college speech class , you might want to explain how you got into computers at an early age and why they're important to you now as you pursue your career goals.
• If, however, you are introducing yourself to potential clients at a business lunch, they are probably not interested in your hobbies. They will want to know what you are doing right now and what your skills are.
• Try writing one draft with your experience/hobbies and one without, and run both versions by an objective listener who can give you feedback before your speech.

• Highlight the qualities, skills and experience you have that are most relevant for the audience and occasion. For example, "Because of my background in app writing and my extensive network of professional connections, I have a strong grasp of what today's young professionals are looking for. My apps offer convenience and immediate gratification."
• You are trying to present yourself as a professional while making a strong and lasting impression.
• If you're trying to sell yourself to a group of new colleagues, you probably won't need to tell them about your family life, or anything outside of work that isn't directly relevant.

• You can simultaneously demonstrate your skills and experience, while presenting yourself as a forward-looking person who is always learning and developing. For example, you could say, "I spend a lot of time attending app conventions and conferences so I can learn what audiences are looking for. I pride myself on staying on the cutting edge of app design."
• Try to tie this into your broader outline of your career goals and personal development.

Revising and Practicing Your Speech

• Make sure that if this is an assignment, you stay within the assigned guidelines.
• If your speech is supposed to be 3-5 minutes, a 7-minute speech and a 2-minute speech are equally inappropriate.
• If you are giving a brief introductory speech in an interview , be certain that you don't go over the recommended time.

• Avoid long rambling sentences, and use direct and concise prose as much as possible.
• Think about your sentence structure carefully. Reading your speech out loud will help you determine when you have overly long sentences that need to be restructured.

• Practicing in front of other people will enable you to gauge whether your speech captures the interest of your listeners.
• Think about which parts of the speech were successful and which parts weren't.
• Try to get as much detailed feedback as possible by asking specific as well as general questions after your speech.
• As well as saying "how did you like the speech?", ask specifically what parts were the strongest and weakest.
• Check that you delivered a clear message by asking your practice audience what they took away from the speech.

• If you are staring down at a piece of paper all the time, the audience might struggle to truly engage with what you are saying.
• You can, however, bring an index card with bullet points, just in case you freeze up. You shouldn't write your whole speech on the card, just the main points you hope to cover.
• Think of the card as a point of reference, rather than a backup for your speech.

Planning Your Speech

• Who is the intended audience?
• What is the purpose of my introduction?
• What are the expectations others may have?

• Stick to one or two main points you want to convey about yourself. You can always add more if time allows it.
• Depending on the audience and function of your speech, you shouldn't allow the focus to become too narrow. For example, if you're introducing yourself to a crowd of prospective investors, you'd focus on your skills to build their confidence in you. If you're introducing yourself to a general audience -- say, for a speech class in college -- you can be a bit more wide-ranging.
• Remember that you're introducing yourself in general, and you want to present yourself as an interesting and rounded individual. [12] X Research source
• That doesn't mean you should spend time talking about your love of baseball when you are introducing yourself in a professional scenario.

• Are you hoping to win someone over to your point of view with this introduction, or to inspire/motivate someone to work hard under your leadership?
• All of these will affect the things you say in your introduction and the way you say them. [14] X Research source

Delivering Your Speech

• You can also try some visualization techniques to help ease your nervousness and give you confidence for your speech.
• Imagine the way you will feel when you have finished delivering your speech and are met with smiling faces and resounding applause. Then channel that confidence into the actual speech you are about to deliver.

• Avoid crossing your arms or clutching your hands.
• Don't stare down at the ground or cling to the table or lecture in front of you.
• Make eye contact across the room in a measured and controlled way. Avoid lingering on one person, but also avoid darting your eyes back and forth restlessly.
• Try making eye contact with one person on the left side of the room, then one person on the right side of the room. Shift across the room, but in a controlled way that feels natural and relaxed.

• Aim for a comfortable, conversational pace of dialogue.
• Practicing your speech in front of other people, or recording it and listening back are great ways to judge the tempo of your speech.

• Self-deprecating humor can help you come across as humble and likable. For example, if you've accidentally skipped forward in your speech and have to circle back, you could say something like, "And now I'm going to cycle back and tell you something I forgot before. If you wanted to get to know the "real me," you're seeing it now!"
• You can also make a quick, humorous nod to your mistake and move on. For example, if you come out and you mess up the very first line, you could say something like, "Wow, excuse me. Here I am so excited to tell you about myself that I've mixed up all my words. Let me try that again."
• Don't be too self-deprecating, however. You are still trying to ensure people remember you for your strengths and competencies. Move on quickly.

Expert Q&A

• Improve eye contact with the audience. Be direct and move confidently during the speech. Thanks Helpful 19 Not Helpful 3
• Do not be afraid to make yourself sound good. After all, this is an introduction, and the first impression you will make. Thanks Helpful 22 Not Helpful 4
• If the introduction is too long, you will lose your audience's attention. A good introduction should be short and to the point. Thanks Helpful 18 Not Helpful 6

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://courses.p2pu.org/en/groups/public-speaking-2/content/icebreaker-introduce-yourself/
• ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/publicspeakingprinciples/chapter/chapter-8-outlining-your-speech/
• ↑ https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-give-an-elevator-pitch-examples
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/serenitygibbons/2023/05/31/3-tips-to-set-yourself-apart-with-unique-branding/?sh=5421a3b03baa
• ↑ https://www.hamilton.edu/academics/centers/oralcommunication/guides/shortening-a-speech
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/speeches/
• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/speech-delivery
• ↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
• ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-publicspeaking/chapter/methods-of-speech-delivery/
• ↑ https://www.comm.pitt.edu/oral-comm-lab/audience-analysis
• ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/writingforsuccess/chapter/6-1-purpose-audience-tone-and-content/
• ↑ https://pac.org/content/speechwriting-101-writing-effective-speech
• ↑ https://sps.columbia.edu/news/five-ways-improve-your-body-language-during-speech
• ↑ https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/02/tips-speaking
• ↑ https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/10-tips-for-improving-your-public-speaking-skills/

About This Article

To write a speech introducing yourself, start by organizing the information you want to include. When writing content, consider the purpose of the speech, your intended audience, and your goals for the introduction. You can speak about your education, professional background, career/career goals, and outside interests, but keep things brief and to the point. Only include information that is important and relevant to your listeners. Don't forget to state your name in the first sentence of the speech. To learn more from our English Ph.D. co-author, such as how to practice and memorize your speech, continue reading the article! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Pitch perfect: Expert tips to unlock the power of an elevator pitch

Feb 23, 2023 - updated Feb 08, 2024

Freelance writer and translator, ex-recruiter

An elevator pitch is a key skill for promoting yourself. You can use it at an interview, a networking event, or even just chatting with someone new. It’s a handy tool for anyone attending a professional conference or event. Simply put, an elevator pitch is a way of introducing yourself, usually in 30 seconds or less, (the time it takes to ride an elevator) but in some cases, it can last up to a minute. NYC-based Public Speaking & Communication Coach, Lizzie Docel, refers to it as, “An opportunity for someone to connect with your story. A quick trailer to who you are.”

You might think you don’t need one, but as an active job hunter, you have a unique story to tell, and your elevator pitch is giving people a chance to see that and connect with it in a short amount of time. You might be tempted to search for elevator pitch templates so you can create your own easily, but building one from scratch doesn’t have to be complicated. Think of it as a more structured way of introducing yourself.

How to create an elevator pitch

When it comes to creating your pitch, Docel says she relates it all to the ART of communication: authenticity, relatability, and trustworthiness. And an effective elevator pitch should encapsulate each of those characteristics. Applying this method to your pitch will make it feel less like a sales pitch and more like a genuine, honest, and accurate representation of who you are. “I love networking when it’s authentic, but when it feels like you are putting on this show and have to perform, it doesn’t feel good and it’s not what people are looking for.” If the conversation moves on from work, and you start talking about other things, then it’s probably a good sign that you’re connecting and communicating authentically.

Docel’s best piece of advice is not to rely on a written elevator pitch at all. You can look up elevator pitch examples if you like, but there’s no crazy elevator pitch template to follow. It’s better to be your unique self and keeping it simple is key. She suggests you start with who you are and where you’re from, what you’re doing right now, and what you’re looking to do, and then add in a key value or attribute that’s relevant to the situation.

You can include a personal detail about yourself and where you’re from if you want to talk for longer, and if it’s relevant to the event . “I might share that I love deep dish pizza, I usually do share that I used to be an actor or improviser, but sometimes that might not be relevant for the event that I’m at.” Docel advises against falling into the trap of using the exact same elevator pitch at every event you go to, because as soon as people can tell they’re listening to a scripted pitch you start to lose that authenticity, and if you’re being inauthentic then people will lose trust in what you’re sharing. A scripted speech sounds like you either don’t believe what you’re saying or you don’t trust yourself to say it in the moment. You should be able to talk about yourself without it being pre-written. For key themes and values, think about what you believe in , what’s driving your mission, and why you do what you do. It’s ok to share something you’re good at if that feels authentic to you and you’re not cringing as you say it.

Record yourself speaking spontaneously

Rather than writing your elevator pitch down, which usually leads to unnatural, awkward phrasing and chips away at authenticity, Docel recommends pulling up the questions you want to answer and recording yourself answering them using Zoom, Google Meet, or her personal favorite, Yoodli. She shares that Yoodli, an AI speech coach, gives you great insights, providing you with a transcript, your speaking rate, and the filler words you’re using. You can also share it with others, such as a real-life career coach to get feedback .

When you’re making these recordings it’s worth thinking about the different questions that might lead to an opening for you to use your elevator pitch. Not everyone is going to say, “ Tell me about yourself .” You might be asked what you do, where you’re from, or why you’re at a certain event . All of these open up the opportunity to use your elevator pitch but you might only need to use certain parts of it.

If you’re stuck for ideas, ask others for help

If you have no clue what to include in your elevator pitch, you can always turn to trusted friends and current or former colleagues . Asking people to take a second look at what you’ve got or inspire you with ideas can be a great support and confidence booster. Docel likes the idea of asking others as a self-awareness check. Do you come across the way you think you do? How do other people see you? She suggests asking a trusted colleague what their first impression of you was—ideally someone you got to know in the last couple of years.

Practice different ways to help with nerves

When it comes to the job hunt, whether you’re preparing for interviews or your elevator pitch, practice makes perfect. It helps you get comfortable and gives you the chance to prove that you can do it. Once you’ve practiced alone you can ease in using baby steps, and practice with a small group. You don’t have to start at the huge event where you have to stand up in front of thousands of people, but you can get there step by step if that’s your goal.

Listening back to yourself practicing different ways of saying things is of huge benefit. Docel explains, “If you have a script and you forget it, you’ll be completely thrown if you stumble over a word or say things in the wrong order, whereas if you can say things in different ways you’ve got options and you can be more natural.” She recommends practicing in front of a mirror and in different spaces so the different setting doesn’t put you off, and even in the shoes you’re going to wear on that day so they aren’t a distraction. It’s a good idea to try out different thoughts for your elevator pitch and maybe have some favorite ways of phrasing things, but practice saying things differently every time so you can speak with confidence. “Confidence isn’t believing everything will go perfectly, confidence is knowing that when something is a little different you’re going to be ok and you’re going to figure it out.”

Consider getting a coach

Docel appreciates that people might feel silly reaching out to a coach for a 30-second elevator pitch, but she would advise them not to worry. It’s a really great way to start working with a coach to build confidence . “This is your intro to everything, it’s the first barrier you have to overcome, so there’s no harm in getting a coach to help you get there.” You don’t have to be a CEO to benefit from the help of the coach, and there are so many coaches out there to help people at every step of the way.

Friends and family can be kind and offer feedback but a coach is your partner, they’re going to build your confidence with genuine and objective feedback. “As coaches, it’s our job to break things down and feed that back so that you can repeat it,” Docel explains. Coaches can also let you know what isn’t working and break that down for you too.

Prepare on the day

On the day of your event , remember everyone is feeling the same thing and looking for a connection. The goal of the people you meet is to get to know the real you . Not everyone you meet will be your person, just like you won’t enjoy working for every company. To prepare, Docel recommends doing what you do on days that you feel like your best self. She also advises doing a vocal warm-up so you have a strong, confident speaking voice, especially if you’re likely to be in a noisy environment. Once you’ve done those things and you’re getting ready, put on a podcast or TV show that makes you laugh. “You’ve done the work and you have to trust it will show when you get there, so put on a show and allow yourself to laugh—it’s the best way to relax and beat the stress.”

In the moment, remember to be authentic, because an elevator pitch that conforms with what you believe you should be rather than who you truly are doesn’t serve you at all. You might create a good impression, but if it’s not the best impression of your true self then you could wind up in a job you hate. Be happy to talk about things other than work, at the end of the day it’s about connection—talking about other things means it’s going well!

Key takeaways: using an elevator pitch at a networking event

An elevator pitch is a crucial tool for anyone looking to promote themselves in a professional context. A well-crafted elevator pitch can help you make a memorable impression on potential employers. The key points to remember from Docel’s advice are as follows:

• Be authentic, relatable, and trustworthy . Rather than following a pre-written template, it’s better to be your unique self and keep it simple.
• Start with who you are , what you’re doing right now, and what you’re looking to do in the future.
• Avoid using the exact same elevator pitch at every event as this can make you come across as inauthentic.
• Record yourself speaking spontaneously using a video tool. This can help you identify areas for improvement and get feedback from others, such as a real-life career coach .
• Practice your elevator pitch until you feel comfortable and confident with what you’re saying. This can be done alone or with a small group, and it’s important to try different ways of saying things to find what works best for you.

Overall, crafting a successful elevator pitch takes time and effort, but with the right approach, it can be a valuable tool in advancing your career .

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How to Craft a Killer Elevator Pitch: Insights from 10 Industry Experts

An elevator pitch is the perfect self-introduction. Learn how to create the best pitch with these tips from experts.

From introducing yourself at a networking event or a job interview, your elevator pitch is the perfect way to share who you are and what you do. Whether you’re looking to expand your network, find a job, or make a good impression on a potential customer, an excellent elevator pitch can be the key to making a good and lasting impression.

To help you craft the perfect pitch for any interaction, we asked over 150 experts for their advice, and we used their answers to write this guide to a killer elevator pitch. Keep reading to see what these experts had to say. 

When to use an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is most commonly thought of as a way to pitch yourself to employers, and it can be a great way to make that first impression and land a job, but they’re useful for more than potential employers. Elevator pitches are also an excellent way to introduce yourself to networking connections, clients, and customers. 

How long should an elevator pitch be?

A perfect elevator pitch should be between 20 and 90 seconds. That may not seem like much time, but most people can say around 100-150 words in 20 seconds and as many as 657 words in 90 seconds. That’s a lot of words. 

Keep in mind you’re working with a finite amount of time. Whether you’re actually making an introduction in an elevator or somewhere else, you don’t want to waste anyone’s time (or bore them), so create a quick and powerful pitch that’s as short as an elevator ride. 

What should I include in an elevator pitch? 

As we read through every response, we found a theme to what should be in every elevator pitch. The three key elements of an elevator pitch boiled down to an introduction, a value proposition, and a call to action. 

What shouldn’t I include in my elevator pitch?

1. technical jargon.

Avoid technical jargon and instead, “focus on conveying [the] message in a clear, simple language that is easy to understand.”

- Sophia Jones, Financial Analyst at PiggyBank

2. Negative Language

“Focus on the positive aspects of your value proposition and what you can offer, rather than pointing out the flaws or shortcomings of others.” 

- Rhys Charles, founder and CEO of Mower On The Lawn

3. Too much information

Center your pitch around a single point, “if you try to include every detail and piece of relevant information, you’ll overload and potentially annoy your audience.” 

- Denise Hemke, CPO of Checkr

How to write the perfect elevator speech 

1. focus on how it sounds .

Don’t let your pitch come out like it was written by a robot. Create a pitch that represents your personality and voice. 

“It’s easy to read whether it is grammatically correct on paper, but does it sound compelling? You’d be surprised how different your pitch may come across when you year it aloud.”

- Larry Snider, VP of Operations of Casago Sedona Vacation Rentals

2. Be memorable 

No matter your reason for delivering an elevator pitch, the goal is the same. “Your 

pitch should be memorable and leave your audience wanting more.” 

- Christian Rasmussen, Founder & CEO of CiteType

3. Be flexible

Just because it sounds perfect to you doesn’t mean your audience will react the same way. “Be prepared to adjust your pitch on the fly based on your listener's reactions and feedback.” 

- Nick Mullay, Founder of Quick Scope

4. Focus on authenticity 

Trust is everything. “Even if the content and structure are perfect, you won’t get far without authenticity… You much be able to come across as an authentic advocate of your brand.” 

- David Bitton, Co-founder & CMO of DoorLoop

5. Add Value

“Concentrate on what you do for others rather than what you do. It’s a subtle but important shift that makes all the difference in how people hear and retain what you do.” 

- Becky Colwell, Sales Coach & Business Mentor or Heart to Heart Sales 

6. Know your audience

Every interaction is unique, and therefore every pitch should be unique. While you can use a base pitch, always “tailor your pitch to the specific needs and interests of your listener.” 

- Dan Chan, Sage of Silicon Valley

7. Include the follow-through

The goal of pitching yourself is to create a relationship. Whether that’s to sell a product, get a job, or create a networking connection, you should never forget the follow-up. “Always hand out your contact information and establish a connection with your audience even after you give your elevator pitch.” 

- Sebastian Montoya, Co-founder at MNA Community 

Need the perfect business card to share after delivering your elevator pitch? See our ultimate guide to digital business cards .

‍ Main photo by Edwin Chen on Unsplash

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Home » Campus Life » Career Education » Career Studio » Job Search » Elevator Speech

Mastering the Elevator Speech

An elevator speech, or self-introduction, is a 30- to 60-second statement that conveys your unique skills and what you can offer to a company or organization. It is a way to share your knowledge and credentials quickly and effectively with someone you just met.

Elevator speeches are useful:

• At networking events
• At career fairs
• With a potential client
• When meeting someone for the first time in in a professional setting
• When you meet someone in an actual elevator!

You should be able to convey:

• Who you are
• What you do or have done, including key information that is relevant to your experience or goals
• What you are seeking

Examples of good elevator speeches

“I recently graduated from college with a degree in communications. I worked on the college newspaper as a reporter and later editor of the arts section. I'm looking for a job that will put my journalism skills to work.”

“I’m passionate about the environment and am interested in building on my experience in environmental sustainability with an internship. My University of Cincinnati education taught me to think critically and make connections across disciplines. I use those skills in my student organization as we work to educate our campus community on the importance of living green. I want to make a difference by helping people understand how their actions affect our planet, which is why I’m interested in working for your organization.”

Elevator Speech Do's

Your speech should only be 30 to 60 seconds long – about the time it takes to ride an elevator, hence the name. Don’t try to include your entire work history and career goals; just pick out one or two things.

Be persuasive

Even though it is brief, your self-introduction should spark interest.

Share your skills

Your self-introduction should explain who you are and what qualifications and skills you have. Try to focus on assets that are valuable in many situations.

Practice, practice, practice

The best way to get comfortable with an elevator speech is to practice it until it comes naturally. Try saying your speech to a friend or record it and listen back. This will help you know if you are staying within the time limit and delivering a coherent message.

Pro Tip: Even though you should practice, you don’t want to sound like you’ve memorized it. Think of it as bullet points or a general outline. This will leave room for your personality and flexibility in the moment.

Mention a goal

You don’t need to get too specific. A very narrow goal doesn't help, since you'll use your self-introduction in many situations with different types of people. However, do remember to say what you are looking for, for instance, “a role in marketing” or “an opportunity to apply my sales skills to a new market” or “to relocate to Seattle with a job in this industry.”

Have a business card or resume ready

If you have a business card, offer it at the end of the conversation as a way to continue the dialogue. If you are at a job fair or professional networking event, offering a copy of your resume also shows your preparedness.

Elevator Speech Don'ts

Don’t talk too fast.

Although you only have a short time to deliver your elevator speech, rushing through it makes it hard for the listener to absorb your message.

Don’t ramble

This is why it is important to practice. While you don’t want to sound over-rehearsed, you also don’t want unclear sentences or to go off-track.

Don’t have only one version

You are probably interested in more than one thing – for example, public relations and psychology. Many of your skills can apply to both fields, so tailor your elevator speech to the person you’re talking to. You can also practice a more casual, personal self-introduction for social settings.

Want a second opinion?

Come to walk-in hours to work on your elevator speech or self-introduction with a career coach.

Introducing yourself and setting a professional stage whether with a colleague at a networking event or at an interview is very important. The only thing that makes your introduction easy and effective is the elevator pitch . 

Elevator pitch or also known simplistically as an elevator speech is basically a synopsis you deliver or show about your background. And the reason it is called an elevator pitch is that it should be short enough to deliver even on an elevator. 

Hence it is a must that you keep your elevator pitch short and on-point. This article will cover all the to deliver an excellent elevator speech, including;

What is an elevator pitch?

Why is it important, how to write an elevator pitch.

To make it easy for you to understand. 

A personal elevator pitch is nothing but summarising yourself. 

As we ride on an elevator from the bottom to the top of a building, it takes us about 40 to 60 seconds. Similarly, Elevator pitches are something similar to actual elevators, we get about 40 to 60 seconds to elevate ourselves. 

If you want to sell yourself professionally then an elevator pitch is the way to go.

Example: I recently graduated from college with a degree in literature. I worked on college magazines as a writer, and eventually, as the editor of the arts section. I’m looking for a job that will put my skills as a writer to work.

The above-mentioned example will help you as a reference to customize your elevator pitch. 

Some of the benefits of an elevator pitch are:-

1. An elevator pitch works as an ice breaker in a conversation. Whether we are in an interview or event one question always arises, “how should I start the conversation?” and the answer is, through, elevator pitch. 

2. During an in-person interview, you will always be asked to introduce yourself and what your background is, and what you learned from your career. The elevator pitch can be helpful to answer. And it can also be helpful for you to write a cover letter.

3. One more benefit of a personal elevator pitch is that it helps you introduce yourself in every opportunity that comes in front of you in daily life.

4. Whether you are at a store, at a party, or a networking event, even if you are in the middle of a road, your personal pitch will easily attract people to connect with you or to consider you at every opportunity that arises. 

5. An advantage of an elevator pitch is that it will never let you wait, you can always take the lead. Instead of waiting for the other person to take the lead, you can explain through your pitch what you have to offer. 

6. In some interacting positions, like a  job interview or mentoring, an elevator pitch can be a relief to people. It will show your smartness and knowledge about your needs and how to present them in front of people smartly. 

Keep these points in mind while writing your elevator pitch;

1. Introduction:

Whenever you approach someone to pitch to, no matter where you are, at an event, or an interview, or wherever, always start by introducing yourself.

Smile, tell your full name, make a warm handshake and politely say “nice to meet you!”. 

2. Summarize what you do:

Now is the time when you will summarize your background. You have to start with your educational background and then your career history, including your work experience, or you can also mention any key specialties you have that may seem appropriate according to the situation. 

If you are unsure of what you should include then write your thoughts on a piece of rough paper. Once done proofread it and eliminate the points you feel unfit or hard to explain in a short period of time. Highlight all the important points and then try to portray it like a story. 

How you should deliver it?

Now that you have written an elevator pitch for yourself, you have completed half the task, but half is yet left, that is practicing how to deliver it. 

Giving a loud read to your pitch will help you mark any errors you made while writing. You can also think of substitute lines to make it better to listen. You can even ask your friend or family to give you feedback on your pitch so that you can polish it. Keep it understandable and make sure you do not shift from the main track. 

Let us look at an example to understand what is an elevator pitch;

Hi, my name is Sumit. Glad to get your time today. After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in literature honors, I have spent my last three years building a professional experience as a ‘Content Writer’. I have Successfully managed writing and publishing blogs for my company’s website and generated a strong positive work environment for my colleagues. I was excited after I learned about this opportunity in the conference hall. This culture of reading has always brought people together and I would passionately love the opportunity to bring my writing and creative abilities to this position.

Conclusion:

Starting a conversation from nowhere with an unfamiliar person always feels embarrassing and awkward, but an  elevator pitch helps us break the ice and grab the attention of people without making the conversation awkward. 

But it is important to remember that an elevator pitch only works when you have prepared it with all your sincerity and have presented it in front of the people in a way, they feel comfortable and impressed with.

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CVDragon is an online platform that helps you create your resume quickly and professionally. It removes the hassle and struggle of figuring out what to include and how to format everything by offering "Key Phrases" written by experts and more than 50 resume formats and styles.

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Elevator Speech Template: How to Create a 30 Second Commercial for Yourself

Looking for an elevator speech template? In this post, I’m going to explain how to create a 30 second commercial (elevator pitch) for yourself. (Or for your company.) This elevator speech can be used to introduce yourself to a new contact, help you get an interview, or help you sell an idea to a decision-maker. This type of presentation is critical when you have to grab a person’s attention in a positive way and time is short. In this post, we will cover a brief history of the concept, an elevator speech template, and a few examples.

History of the Elevator Speech

In the book, Crosby encourages Quality Managers to create a “pre-prepared speech selling the benefits of their new approach to quality that they could deliver in the elevator if they find themselves unexpectedly in the company of a senior executive for a few floors.”

The Difference Between an “Elevator Speech” and an “Elevator Pitch”

The purpose of the elevator speech is to get the person hearing the speech to want to hear more. Nothing else. In fact, our elevator speech template will encourage the listener to actually want to hear more. In addition, the listener will often ask you to explain the concept in more detail. (If we deliver it well.) So, if you happen to be in sales, and you are looking for a way to get potential prospects to come to you, the template will work well for you.

The 60-Second Commercial and the 30-Second Commercial

Eventually, the concept of the “Elevator Pitch” was replaced with a “60-Second Commercial.” Since Crosby’s original concept was one-minute long, sales trainers used the same concept in networking. This concept was simple. When you are at a business card exchange, you want to be able to explain what you do quickly. So, the Elevator Speech became synonymous with a promotional introduction. They just re-named it a 60-second commercial.

I remember going to networking events in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. At the time, we were taught to practice a great 60-second commercial. You had to get really good at it. If you did, be able to pitch a random person that you just met and make them want to buy something from you. Of course that was horse hockey. Oh yes, I’m sure, on occasion, someone use this commercial with someone who actually has a specific need. Then, later, the person bought. But, I’d wager that these situations were pretty rare if the person delivering the 60-second commercial was being pushy.

By the way, today, if it takes 60 seconds to explain what you do, you’ve likely already lost the listener. Recently, the concept has been shortened to a 30-second commercial.

Elevator Speech Template

This elevator speech template will show you how to create a 30-second commercial for yourself or company. One key to making this process work is to be both genuinely interested in the other person. Another key, though is to get the person to pull the information from you. A good analogy for this is fishing. No one ever caught a fish by dunking their head underwater and telling the fish how great they were. First, you have to offer the fish something that the fish wants. Then, you have to wait for the fish to make the next move. Finally, you have to set the hook. The 30-second commercial is very similar . (Except that the listener doesn’t end up grilled on a plate at the end. Okay, maybe I could have come up with a better analogy, but you get the point.)

• Introduction (If Necessary)

For instance, I know that most people have never heard of The Leader’s Institute ®. So, by not explaining in detail about what the company does, it leads the person to ask, “So, what does The Leader’s Institute ® do?” Also, instead of saying that I’m a teacher or trainer, I say professional speaker. It builds interest. It also makes the speaker want to know more.

By the way, the best way that I have ever found to do that is to ask questions of the other person. If I want the person to ask me something, I will often ask that same thing about them.

• Focus on the Problem that You Solve (Want to Solve) for People.

The big mistake that a lot of people make here is to pull out the salesperson fangs .

“Well, let me tell you… The Leader’s Institute ® is an international training company specializing in leadership, presentation skills, and team building events. We conduct as many as 300 public speaking classes every year. We have also trained over 100 professional speakers. In addition, we have over 30,000 people every year participate in our team building activities. Would you like me to send you some information about some of our public speaking classes or team building events?”

The person will likely be polite, but quickly try to distance himself/herself from you. Going back to the fishing example, you got a tiny nibble, and then jerked the line.

Instead, you want to tease the fish a little. Give them another taste of the bait. The best way that I have ever found to do this is to tell the person how you can solve a problem that they can relate to. For instance, in my own case, I might just say something like, “I help people eliminate public speaking fear.” Then… I shut up. I wait for the inevitable… “How exactly do you do that?” I have my second nibble. Now, it is time to set the hook.

• Tell a Quick Emotional Story

This is where the actual 30-second commercial actually starts. The best commercials are the ones that take you on a journey. They tell you a story. Your 30-second commercial should do the same. So, whatever problem that you have just said that you solve, give a 30-second example of a time you did it.

For instance, I might say something like…

Well, let me give you an example. a few weeks ago, Whole Foods had me fly into Miami to coach a team their regional managers. The leader of the team was a very charismatic and energetic speaker. So, the managers who worked under him were a little self-conscious about speaking in front of him. So, basically, I helped them have a series of mini-successes which built up their speaking skills and confidence. By the end of my training with them, they were presenting better than most professional speakers. The boss was so shocked at how well everyone did, that he recommended me to Whole Foods corporate in Austin.

Of course, if you pick an example that is closely related to the listener, that works better. So, if I’m speaking to a person in the tech industry, I might give an example of training I did for HP or Microsoft. (Yup, I actually did presentation training for the people who created PowerPoint.)

• The Subtle Take Away

The subtle take-away is the last stage of the Elevator Speech Template. In sales training, we always teach sales people to “Ask for the close.” In presentation training, we encourage speakers to create a “Call to Action.” When we are doing an elevator pitch, though, we don’t want to seem pushy. We want the “close” to be the listener’s idea. So, a subtly take-away can help.

So, instead of me closing with, “Do you or anyone you know need presentation training?” I’d be more subtle. I might say something like, “I’m guessing that working for [Listener’s Company], your team is full of highly skilled presenters. I doubt that they would need the kind of help that I offer, though, huh?”

The moment that I get the listener to disagree with me… Well, I win.

Examples Using the Elevator Pitch Template

Internal elevator pitch to get funding for a project.

Let’s say your team has found a solution to a software glitch, but you need $10,000 in capital to fund the project.

(Intro) Hey boss, it’s Doug from software R&D. (Problem) We have been working on a software glitch that is causing customer service to not be able to pull up customer records. Joe in customer service has determined that we are losing about $5,000/month from it. However, it looks like we have found an easy solution. [Pause and wait for boss to ask, “How?”] (Quick Emotional Story) Let me give you an example. Last week, we got a call from a customer wanting to cancel his service. The customer service rep was able to save the customer by scheduling a tech to come out first thing the next morning. The tech never showed. The customer was irate. Not only did he cancel, but he had a few choice curse words for the rep. We have no chance of ever getting that customer back. Our average customer stays with us three years. So, we lost about $150 this month and $4,000 lifetime by losing that single customer. Joe said that we lost $5,000 just this month. So, if just a few of the deals that we lost were like the one that I saw, we might be losing tens of thousands of dollars from this glitch. Turns out, we can purchase a newer, more up to date scheduling app for just $10,000. (Subtle Take Away) It may take a while to budget the $10,000. So, we can probably get the new scheduling app in use in about 6 months. What do you think?

30-Second Commercial for a Financial Planner

Let’s say you are a financial planner at a business card exchange, and you are looking for new clients. Instead of saying, “I’m a financial planner” focus more on the problem that you solve. Then come up with a job title that encompasses that solution. Here is an example.

(Intro) Hi, I’m Doug Staneart, and I’m a retirement specialist for Edward Jones. [Retirement specialist? What is that?] Basically, I help people retire young enough so that they can still enjoy their wealth. [Really, how do you do that?] Let me give you an example. Back in 2008, I had a family who had been investing with me for about 15 years. The couple was in their mid-forties, and they were just preparing for retirement at 65. Well, I started noticing that there was a lot of uncertainty in the market. So, I suggested that they pull out of all of the funds based on the stock market. After the crash, we reinvested. The almost tripled their nest-egg in about five years. I got a postcard from them in St. Thomas a few weeks ago. They both retired at 55, and they have been enjoying themselves for a few years now. (Subtle Take-Away) You’ve been preparing for retirement for decades, so I doubt that story is really exciting you. though.

The Point is Get Them to Come to You

Remember, focus on the problem that your listener wants to solve. Then show them how you can help them solve it. You can’t push a rope. However, if you can convince the other person to pull the rope, you will move closer to them.

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

Self Introduction Speech [Topics + Outline Sample]

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

This page deals with self introduction speech topics for classroom or other public speaking events an opportunities in life for a good first impression.

In this article:

Sample Introduction Speech Topics

Sample self introduction speech outline.

Another short manner for introducing yourself is the elevator speech, meant for business purposes.

The key question for successful and effective presenting yourself to others in both occasions is: how much and what information do you want the audience to know about you?

Due to the fact you have to write your talk around one theme, I recommend to develop one aspect of your life. That aspect will tell who you are and what you are about. Some people call this type a one-point preliminary, because it is based on one speaking idea.

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Look at the sample self introduction speech topics and pick out the aspects of your personal life you want to share with the audience. Approach the list below with the who, the what, the whereabouts, for sure the why, the how and when questions. That is an effective way to outline your first thoughts.

• What activity has played or plays an important part in your life? Tell the story and distract the message.
• What is your main personal goal?
• What do you like very much? Your hobby?
• What do you hate or dislike? Your aversions?
• Do you have developed a very special skill?
• What is your lifestyle?
• Can you come up with a turning point or milestone in you life?
• What is your hobby or interest in your spare time?
• What is a pet peeve or another very familiar topic you like to talk about, to do or to discuss?
• Where you are from? Do your roots reveal something about yourself that is new for the audience? That always works in a small nice text for introducing your biggest personal features.
• Is there an object or prop that means a lot to you?
• What distinguishes you from other individuals in class?

Now that you have picked out a central thesis, use this example profiler I have created:

Grab their attention . Immediately bring in your central message and come to the point.

Give some background information . Tell why it is important to you, why you are doing it, why you want to tell them, etcetera.

Now work out your item of discussion in a few sentences. Draw the contours, make it personal.

Give an example .

In conclusion, offer a memorable answer in your self-introduction speech on the question the listeners probably will have when they listen to your public speaking efforts: what’s in it for me? Tell how this aspect of your life makes who you are and what you are. It will be the perfect ending of your spoken presentation.

113 Extemporaneous Speech Topics

147 Unique Speech Topics [Persuasive, Informative]

2 thoughts on “Self Introduction Speech [Topics + Outline Sample]”

i think that talking about some people that have influenced you the most really gives good base to your speech and it helps you by writing about things that you are familiar with so if you write about what has inspired you and what you care about you can easily write about anything.

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20 Unique Elevator Speech For Every Situation

I like building and growing simple yet powerful products for the world and the worldwide web.

Published Date : November 11, 2021

Reading Time :

A speech is a form of communication that conveys information to an audience. It is one of the most important and highly valued forms of communication in human society.

Speech has been used throughout history for various purposes, such as social interaction, education, and entertainment. However, we’ve recently learned how to use it daily.

In this blog, we will discuss the exact details of how to write a great elevator speech . Plus, we will give you ample material on what types of speeches are great for each situation you might be in. If you write your pitch, you’ll find some spectacular elevator speech examples here.

Getting Ready: What is an Elevator Speech?

An elevator speech lets you  provide a fast rundown of who you are and what you do. A pitch might be an opportunity to make a genuine relationship with an audience member that you can use in the future. There may not be an immediate advantage, but you should be ready to make an elevator pitch at any time.

In truth, whether they know it or not, most individuals have done an elevator pitch . As a result, pitches come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from job interviews to brand-new company prospects. Preparing for your next pitch is an important part of marketing yourself and your business. You can do it by scanning through elevator speech examples.

Furthermore, an elevator speech is essential because:

• It doesn’t make your listeners yawn.
• Organize your thoughts briefly.
• It helps to identify your market.

When to use elevator speech depends on the audience you are speaking to. For those who have been out of school for a while, you might want to use it for the introduction. There are also elevator speech examples for students that may vary.

Steps on How to Make an Elevator Speech

Separating key information from less significant information is necessary to make a good elevator speech . Hence, being able to communicate successfully at work is critical.

The solid elevator speech examples have many key components you must grasp before developing your own.

1. Introduce Yourself

The best pitches always begin with a brief introduction . It might be as basic as saying your name and employer if applicable. 

As with eye contact, body language is vital to a strong introduction. Here are a few pointers for your pitch while meeting a new client or customer:

• Make a good first impression by greeting your audience appropriately for the situation.
• Consider dressing formally for an important business meeting or casually for a pleasant get-together.
• You’ll have to think outside the box for the video chat introductions for virtual meetings and networking events.

2. Describe What You Do

If the issue draws the audience in, then the solution will keep them interested. It is your opportunity to demonstrate why you’re the best person to assist them. Spend time honing your solution since it is the most crucial component of your elevator pitch .

3. Provide Your Value Position

Having gotten your audience interested, you need to close the offer. Describe how your answer is superior to everyone else’s.

4. Engage Your Audience With a Question

Before you go, leave your audience engaged by offering praise or asking a question. Always err on the side of sincerity instead of saying goodbye in a prepared manner .

Nail your Elevator Speech , practice with Orai

How to Write an Elevator Speech?

1. identify the needs.

Your elevator speech should have a great beginning, but you must first determine what need your business is trying to fill. Why should your audience, customers, and future consumers choose you above the competition?

2. Determine Your Target Audience

As previously said, recognizing the issue you can address for your readers and clients is the first stage. However, the second step is identifying who those people are.

3. Straight to the Point

It’s okay to be creative while drafting your elevator speech , but don’t be too brilliant that people don’t understand! You should be able to give your elevator pitch when it takes to travel the elevator.

4. Be Memorable

In your elevator speech , you may utilize humor, paint a mental image, and be animated. Be careful not to oversell your abilities or yourself.

5. Dig Deeper

Provide yourself the space and time to further identify your target audience’s problems. Then, identify how you’re going to solve them.

General Elevator Speech Examples

Start building your speech using our elevator speech template, and then add facts and customized greetings as required. This template contains all four components to ensure that your elevator pitch hits all the right notes.

30-Second Elevator Speech Examples

Template 1: sweet and short.

It is a regular occurrence. That is not to say it is the finest, but it is an excellent elevator speech example of a fast and simple pitch that works in virtually every setting. 

When developing this elevator pitch , make it as brief and concise as possible. Consistently adhere to the 30-second or fewer guidelines since the aim is to be brief and honest.

“The issue is that work is chaotic regardless of industry or skill level. However, effective project management software may assist in increasing productivity and communication. In years, I haven’t missed a deadline. If you’re interested in learning how it may benefit your team, call me, and I’ll go over some stats.”

Template 2: Be Relatable

When you want to get your audience’s attention, use a personal narrative they can identify with. If you want to sell anything, you need to make a personal connection with the customer first.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you at long last. What is the current state of the company? Communication has been a problem for you recently. That was a problem for both my team and myself. After using project management software, our cooperation and communication significantly improved. That’s great that you’ve found a solution that works for you and your group.”

Template 3: Knowledgeable With Stats

Start your pitch with a bang by revealing eye-catching facts. You must have concrete data to back up your stats before throwing a pitch to verify their correctness. An effective statistics presentation concludes with a connection between how your solution may help address the problem.

“Despite greater distance connections, 60% of employees’ time is spent on work coordination, 26% on specialized work, and 14% on strategy. Did you? It’s reasonable that organizations need help managing projects. Using project management technologies may save coordination time and boost skilled work.”

Template 4: Savvy With Questions

This example employs the use of questions to help your audience understand your pitch. Because the audience is involved, they are forced to participate rather than merely listen. Start and conclude your speech with a thought-provoking question that will linger in the minds of your listeners.

“Have you ever felt like you’re working too hard? I’ve heard similar complaints from numerous people. I’d work hard days and nights to catch up. But do you know anything? Our project management software has increased my productivity. “When did you last do anything like this?”

Template 5: Humorous Approach

The audience will be more receptive if your elevator speech is lighthearted. Use a GIF or a short amusing video between slides to lighten the atmosphere. Consider the occasion and tone of your organization before utilizing this elevator speech example.

“Most people can only pay attentively for around eight seconds before losing interest. That’s not enough morning time to place my coffee order. That might explain why my barista consistently makes mistakes. But in all seriousness, I believe it is why many businesses have difficulty meeting deadlines.”

Template 6: Storyteller

Use real-life examples from customers or your life experience to engage your audience. This is extremely useful if your subject is difficult to describe in 30 seconds or less.

“One of our customers switched to a remote workforce and needed assistance meeting deadlines. Their productivity increased by up to 10% after working with us so that they could spend more time on higher-value tasks like strategic planning.”

Template 7: Driven With Emotions

If you can make your pitch emotionally charged, you’ll have a higher chance of winning over your audience. To avoid the talk from devolving into anything depressing, maintain your emotions on the positive side.

“While it may seem to be another tool at first glance, closer inspection reveals that it aids team collaboration. Not only that, but it also aids in forming cohesive teams that look forward to working on new projects. That’s difficult to come by, yet everyone wants it.”

Template 8: Ending With Surprise

Good elevator speech examples have surprising conclusions and creatively display how beneficial the products are. You’re compelled to weigh your existing circumstances against a better one.

“You’re curious about the conversion rate of leads generated by your webinar campaign vs. your trade show booth. However, it applies only to consumers who purchased two or more items and were not previously in your database. You’d already be aware if you used our data and reporting tools. It generates reports instantly.”

Template 9: One-Liner

Avoid cliché one-liners and personalize your ending. It’s important to leave them with a lasting impression with a unique concept.

“Every week, more than a quarter (26%) of deadlines are missed due to a lack of clarity . However, using the appropriate project management tools might drastically reduce this figure. Can you afford not to utilize project management software in your company?”

Template 10: Mutual Understanding

“William Koch, I believe, is someone to whom we both have a connection. He’s one of our clients. By using our technology, his organization reduced the time it takes to build new software in half. Since your businesses are of a comparable magnitude, the outcomes will probably be the same. Interested in learning more about what we could do on his behalf?”

Template 11: Written Speech

Once you give your pitch, it produces a thought-provoking and lyrical flow. Because you’ll have to recite this pitch from memory, practice is essential to your game plan.

“Wendy here! Nice to meet you. Do you work for Apollo? I’ve heard good things. I heard you need project management assistance. Anyone in business—sales or suppliers—needs assistance managing tasks and teamwork. Without it, work may be a mess, particularly today. That’s why we built a software application that helps people and teams manage projects and communications. Have you considered utilizing anything similar?”

Template 12: The Advisor

“We’ve discovered that content marketing is a major challenge for fledgling B2B SaaS enterprises. We helped many of your colleagues produce, publish, and promote blog material last year, resulting in a 20% increase in leads. Want to know more?”

Template 13: Attention Grabber

“Have you ever been told to “whip up a short report before the day ends”? You say yes, but your heart sinks because it won’t be fast. As marketing professionals, my company’s founders had to deal with this issue repeatedly. So they built a program that consolidates data and generates reports in under 30 seconds.”

Template 14: Credibility Boost

“Every month, I speak with hundreds of marketers. And they despise writing reports. It’s tiresome, time-consuming, and not your priority. Our tool uses all your data to produce whatever report you want in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee.”

Elevator Speech For Every Situation

Let’s look at some of the best examples of elevator speeches. An elevator pitch may help you arrange your ideas and prepare for the real thing.

1. Formal Meeting

A presentation might be a terrific supplement to typical elevator speech examples. Whether or not you produce a presentation, the goal of this meeting is to sell your product professionally.

“I reviewed your existing productivity metrics and saw room for improvement. Our project management software may help you reclaim up to 10% of your workday. That means more work gets done, and more work means greater success for your company. Not to add, our product is the only one in the business with goal-setting features.”

2. Job Interview

Whether with HR, a recruiter, or a hiring manager, most interviews begin with “Tell me about yourself.” Preparing an elevator pitch may help you be ready when the chance arises.

“The most common instance is a networking gathering. Establishing friendships through video chat maybe even more difficult in the emerging virtual-first society. That’s why creating a great elevator pitch is critical regardless of where you’re presenting.”

3. Networking Event

“Hello, I’m Orai from Apollo Enterprises. Around the globe, we’ve improved team productivity and cooperation. Reach out if you need project management support. Let’s create a big influence on your organization. I’ll also have your contact details available.”

4. Sales Pitch

Professionals frequently use sales jargon, but the trick is to create a personal connection while selling softly.

“Our team struggled to become a remote workforce. People struggled to locate the right information and communicate effectively. But happily, we discovered a solution. Using project management tools enhanced cooperation and production. Every firm has its preferences, but I can vouch for our software’s ability to link objectives to the effort required to attain them.”

5. Virtual Meeting

“Thank you! I saw your competition exceed you year-over-year. I ran a quick competitive analysis and found no major flaws. How’s it doing with remote work? If you’re curious, I can give you some productivity gains from adding project management tools to your present workflow.”

6. Meeting With Business Owners

There are significant differences between pitching a firm owner and an executive. They’re more difficult to market since they’re wary of making additional financial commitments.

“I enjoy your company’s goods. And I fully support your objective. I realized there might be ways to boost internal productivity and cooperation. Do you use project management software? It might significantly influence company growth today or in the future.”

What are some tips for refining your pitch delivery, body language, and voice?

Master your pitch by crafting a clear and concise message, practicing confident delivery, and projecting your voice from your diaphragm. Use VR for realistic practice, mirror checks for body language , and feedback from others to refine your presentation and leave a lasting impression.

What should be the focus of a pitch to set yourself apart and hook people in?

The focus of a pitch should be on highlighting what makes you and your company unique, what is fascinating about your story, and what will captivate the audience’s interest and make them eager to learn more.

What role do eye-opening statistics play in a pitch?

Leverage eye-catching statistics to supercharge your pitch. They grab attention, build trust, and showcase your value. Data appeals to both logic and emotions, making your message persuasive and memorable. Highlight expertise and achievements with impactful numbers to resonate with your audience.

How can you identify your goal for the pitch and your ideal audience?

Before crafting your pitch, solidify your goal (promotion, awareness, sales?) and target audience (who benefits most?). Research their demographics, interests, and needs to tailor your message and maximize engagement.

What should you consider before writing a pitch?

Craft a winning pitch: Know your goal (promotion, awareness, sales?) and target audience (who benefits?). Tailor your message to their needs, highlight your USP , and answer “What’s in it for them?”. End with a question to spark conversation and connection.

When should you use an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch is your versatile tool to showcase yourself, your product, or your idea in 60 seconds. Use it for investors, website bios, social media, book blurbs, management pitches, or job interviews. Be prepared to strike anywhere and leave a lasting impression.

What are the advantages of using an elevator pitch?

The advantages of using an elevator pitch include being well-prepared for networking events, reducing nervousness, and building confidence . With a practiced elevator pitch , you have a clear and concise introduction ready, eliminating awkward pauses and ensuring a professional and polished delivery. This preparation allows you to make a positive first impression on new contacts, speak confidently without stumbling over words, and initiate conversations effectively.

Why is having a clear call to action essential in a pitch?

A strong call to action (CTA) is your pitch’s closer. It tells the audience exactly what you want them to do next, whether it’s contacting you, trying your product, or learning more. A clear CTA guides them toward your desired outcome, boosting engagement and conversions. It sets you apart, leaving a lasting impression and making them eager to connect.

Why is asking a question at the end of a pitch important?

End your pitch with a bang : surprise, intrigue, and a thought-provoking question . This sparks curiosity, engages the audience, and opens the door for a deeper conversation. A well-crafted question can build connections and turn your pitch into a valuable dialogue, paving the way for future success.

How do you get your pitch right?

Shine in 60 seconds! Craft your elevator pitch by considering your goals, audience, and USP . Engage with a thought-provoking question , address pain points with solutions , and use statistics, social proof , and your experience to stand out. End with a clear call to action and leave them wanting more.

How and where can you practice delivering an elevator pitch?

Master your elevator pitch with Passage_1’s tips: practice delivery , try the Orai app , or find online simulations for feedback. Explore additional resources and start practicing today!

Key Takeaways

An elevator speech is a chance to show off your strengths and pitch your solutions. While it may sound nerve-wracking, using the 20 elevator speech examples above will help you develop your method.

This tutorial should have helped you learn how to remember a speech quickly. You may also get a free trial of Orai on the App Store. Start your free trial in the app store now.

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