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How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples)

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How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples) was originally published on Forage .

Though people are complex and so much more than just their jobs, in a new social situation you’re often asked, “So, what do you do?” or “What are you majoring in?” While you probably have a stock answer ready to go (I’m in sales; I’m majoring in English), the person asking may be able to help you achieve your career goals — but they won’t know unless you’ve got an elevator pitch ready to go.

An elevator pitch is an enticing and interesting three or four-sentence summary of you. But you do more than talk about yourself. Your elevator pitch gets the listener interested in what you’re capable of.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

What Is an Elevator Pitch?

How to write an elevator pitch, elevator pitch examples, elevator pitch bonus tips.

Mike Gardon of CareerCloud sums up elevator pitches like this: “When meeting someone for the first time, we all get asked what we do, right? Well, an elevator pitch is how you answer that question.”

At its core, an elevator pitch is a brief synopsis of who you are and what you do (or are trying to do). It’s named so because of the idea that you’re in an elevator with the one person who can make your career dreams come true. You’ve got the length of that elevator ride (approximately 30 seconds) to convince that person to keep listening to you.

Why You Need an Elevator Pitch (and When You’ll Use It)

In many respects, an elevator pitch is all about you. And though it may seem strange — uncomfortable even — to talk about yourself, a well-designed elevator pitch starts with you and ends with the listener.

Gardon explains, “The elevator pitch is designed to engage the person with whom you are communicating, and get them to take some next action. Think about it like this: if you were writing an email, the elevator pitch would be the subject line plus the next couple of lines that are shown in an inbox. The purpose is to get the recipient to open the email.”

In the case of your elevator pitch, you’re attempting to spark a longer conversation (or later meeting) with someone who could potentially help you professionally.

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Your elevator pitch comes in handy when you’re looking for a job. But you’ll also use various versions of your elevator pitch in situations like:

• Networking events
• Prospecting for new sales and clients
• When you’re interviewing and asked, “Tell me about yourself.”
• As the “about me” on LinkedIn, Twitter, or other social media page
• In the summary of qualifications on your resume

How Long Should an Elevator Pitch Be?

While elevator ride times vary, the general rule of thumb is that an elevator pitch is no longer than 30 seconds, which means your pitch needs to be concise.

So, you can’t include every accomplishment from your last three jobs, just the top most recent ones. As you’re honing your pitch, write it down and limit yourself to four sentences. This will help you focus on your top highlights.

In general, an elevator pitch includes four essential elements: who you are, what you do, what’s unique about you, and what your “ask” is. Though the “meat” of your pitch likely doesn’t change often, you should prepare multiple elevator pitches that you can tailor to your situation.

For example, if you’re a student, the pitch you use at a career fair may not be the same one you use at a networking event. Likewise, if you’re changing careers, you may need to switch up what your “ask” is depending on who you talk to.

Gardon offers an example. “I wear so many different hats and am involved in different businesses. So, if I want someone to be a guest on my podcast, I might tell them how we’ve done over 400 episodes, instead of telling them that I’m a former derivatives trader.”

Also, while the below elements are crucial, they can go in almost any order. While a good elevator pitch usually begins with your name, you may find that listing your skills before your accomplishments is better for your pitch.

Part 1: Who Are You?

Your elevator pitch starts with your name, of course, but also consider throwing in a “hook” that gives the person you’re speaking with an opening to ask you questions. Here are some examples:

“I’m [your name], a recent graduate of [university] with a degree in [your degree].”

“My name is [your name] and I’m a junior at [university] majoring in [your major].”

“I’m [your name] and while I’m currently in product development, I’ve decided I want to change gears and go into graphic design.”

Part 2: What Do You Do?

The second part of your elevator pitch explains what you do. However, you shouldn’t limit yourself to a job title. This is the place to mention one outstanding accomplishment from your job, internship, or even a class that will wow your listener.

Like all parts of your elevator speech, this needs to be brief, but it should also be detailed and help the listener get an idea of what you’re capable of:

“During my marketing internship at [name of company], I grew social media engagement by 43%, which resulted in an uptick in newsletter sign-ups year over year.”

“Our business is small, but that lets us have more personal interaction, which has helped us keep a small but loyal and profitable client base for 15 years.”

“After learning about the stock market, I wanted to test what I learned as well as my skills, so I created a mock portfolio that’s realized a 24% gain over the last year.”

Part 3: What’s Unique About You?

The next section of your elevator pitch includes something unique about you. While this can include specific skills, you can also trace your career path or accomplishments to illustrate how you use your skills.

Because you only have 30 seconds, you might be tempted to list your skills or accomplishments like a grocery list. But try to link them to an outcome or something you can do.

“I enjoy analyzing data and using the results to plan my content calendar, including social media posts.”

“I worked on my college newspaper, starting on the sports beat, eventually moving my way up to chief editor.”

The first example mentions one skill (data analysis ) and two outcomes (planning the content calendar and social media posts). The second example doesn’t mention any skills but illustrates the speaker’s career path (sports beat to chief editor), demonstrating an increase in skills and responsibilities.

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Part 4: Call to Action (or What’s Your Ask?)

The final part of your elevator pitch includes a call to action. Or, more specifically, what are you asking for?

Much like networking, you may not want to blurt out “a job!” even if that’s your desired outcome. This section is what you hope will happen, which could be a job, internship, or just a new networking connection.

“I would love to speak to you about being a potential mentor, if you have time.”

“I’d like to follow up with you about how I can get involved in and conduct summer research.”

“Can you tell me how you decided on [this] career?”

Each of these invites the listener to continue engaging with you either right now or in the future. 

Optional Part 5: Something Memorable

Finally, depending on the situation, you might want to include something memorable in your pitch. This is situation-dependent and only something you should do if you’re comfortable.

For example, the pitch on Gardon’s LinkedIn profile says, “Earned the Title ‘World Champion Funniest Person In The World (to my kids)’ 10 years running.”

Of course, not everyone can be the “Funniest Person in the World,” but your memorable moment could be your love of science fiction, who your favorite author is, or the fact that you just adopted a cat.

Here’s what all the elements look like when you put them together:

“I’m David, a rising senior at XYZ University and an education major. I spent last year student teaching at my old high school, and it was quite the experience being on the other side. I’m graduating in the spring and am looking to teach high school biology.”

“I’m Ella, and I’m currently an individual contributor at XYZ company running the social media accounts. I use Google Analytics to analyze and improve content performance, and my personal TikTok has XXX followers. I’m looking to move to a leadership role at a mid to large-size company where I can mentor others.”

“I’m Mike and I’m a sophomore at XYZ university. When I was a kid, I really wanted to communicate with animals, which is partly why I’m majoring in zoology. I’m not sure what career is best suited for me. Can you tell me how you ended up in yours?”

Once you’ve written (and rewritten) your elevator pitch, you’re almost ready to try it out. Before you do, though, ensure your delivery is memorable — for the right reasons!

• Practice. Practice makes perfect, of course. And while you don’t want to sound too rehearsed, you also don’t want to trip over your pitch or start rambling. Practice in front of a mirror, with friends or family, or record yourself to make sure you’re getting it right.
• Time yourself. Thirty seconds can feel like forever or fly right by. Time yourself to make sure your pitch isn’t too long or too short, and adjust as necessary.
• Use your “excited” voice. While you’ll want to use your “inside voice,” vary your tone. When you give a rehearsed speech, it should be polished but not robotic. Try to bring some excitement to your voice as you speak.
• Speak slowly. You may want to cram as much as possible into your 30 seconds, but that could result in you speaking too quickly to try to get it all in, making it tough for the listener to understand you. As hard as it might be, stick to one or two main points.
• Maintain eye contact. While you don’t want to stare at the listener the whole time, you don’t want to stare at the floor either. Maintain the level of eye contact that feels normal and natural to you, and break eye contact when appropriate.

Make Your Pitch

An elevator pitch is useful in all sorts of professional (and even personal!) situations. By taking stock of what you do and what you want to do, you’ll find the perfect elements to include in yours and impress the next person you pitch it to.

Want more insights into creating the perfect pitch? Check out Ashurst’s Building Your Personal Brand Virtual Experience Program .

Image credit: Canva

The post How to Give a Great Elevator Pitch (With Examples) appeared first on Forage .

50 Speech Closing Lines (& How to Create Your Own) | The Ultimate Guide

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

While speech openings are definitely one of the most important components of a speech, something that is equally as important is the way you conclude your speech.

There are few worse ways to end your speech than with a terse ‘thank you’–no elaboration or addition whatsoever.

Speech endings are just as crucial to the success of your speech as speech openings, and you must spend just as much time picking the perfect ending as you do to determine your best possible speech opening.

The words you speak at the beginning and end of your speech are words that your audience will pay the most attention to, and remember longer than any other part of your speech.

Speech endings can put even the most experienced speaker in flux, and increase their anxiousness manifold as they sit there attempting to figure out the perfect way to end your speech.

If you’re someone who’s in flux about your speech ending too, don’t worry. We’ve got some amazing ways to conclude your speech with a bang!

1. Circling Back To The Beginning

The idea behind circling back to the beginning of your speech is to reinforce the idea of your speech being a complete whole. By circling back to the beginning and connecting it to your ending, you let the audience understand that the idea of your speech is complete & standalone.

Circling back to the beginning of your speech also acts as an excellent way of reinforcing the central idea of your speech in the audience’s mind, and makes it more likely that they will remember it after the speech ends.

Need more inspiration for speech opening lines? Check out our article on 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines & Tips To Create Your Own.

How To Circle Back To The Beginning

The easiest way to do this is to set up your beginning for the conclusion of your speech. That is, if you’re saying something like, say, a story or joke in the beginning, then you can leave your audience in a cliffhanger until the ending arrives.

Another great way to circle back to the beginning is by simply restating something you said at the start. The added knowledge from attending the rest of your speech will help the audience see this piece of information in a new–and better–light.

1. Will Stephen

Ending Line: “I’d like you to think about what you heard in the beginning, and I want you to think about what you hear now. Because it was nothing & it’s still nothing.”

2. Canwen Xu

Speech Ending: My name is Canwen, my favorite color is purple and I play the piano but not so much the violin…

Think of a memorable moment from your life, and chances are you’ll realize that it involved a feeling of happiness–something that we can associate with smiling or laughter. And what better way to generate laughter than by incorporating the age-old strategy of good humor.

The happy and lighthearted feeling you associate with good memories is the kind of emotional reaction you want to create in your audience too. That’s what will make your speech stick in their memory.

Done incorrectly, humor can be a disaster. Done right, however, it can entirely transform a speech.

Humor doesn’t only mean slapstick comedy (although there’s nothing wrong with slapstick, either). Humor can come in many forms, including puns, jokes, a funny story…the list is endless.

How To Incorporate Humor In Your Speech Ending

The simplest way to incorporate humor into your speech ending is by telling a plain old joke–something that’s relevant to your topic, of course.

You can also tell them a short, funny anecdote–may be an unexpected conclusion to a story you set up in the beginning.

Another way would be by employing the power of repetition. You can do this by associating something funny with a word, and then repeating the word throughout your speech. During the end, simply say the word or phrase one last time, and it’s likely you’ll leave off your audience with a good chuckle.

1. Woody Roseland

Ending Line: “Why are balloons so expensive? Inflation.”

2. Andras Arato

Ending Line: “There are three rules to becoming famous. Unfortunately, nobody knows what they are.”

3. Hasan Minhaj

Ending Line: “And you want to know the scariest part? Pretty soon every country on the earth is going to have its own TLC show.”

4. Sophie Scott

Speech Ending: In other words, when it comes to laughter, you and me baby, ain’t nothing but mammals.

5. Tim Urban

Speech Ending: We need to stay away from the Instant Gratification Monkey. That’s a job for all of us. And because there’s not that many boxes on there. It’s a job that should probably start today. Well, maybe not today, but, you know, sometime soon.

6. Hasan Minhaj

Speech Ending: Showing my legs on TV is probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done. And keep in mind last week I went after the Prince of Saudi Arabia.

3. Question

The idea behind posing a question at the end of your speech is to get the wheels in your audience’s minds turning and to get them thinking of your speech long after it has ended. A question, if posed correctly, will make your audience re-think about crucial aspects of your speech, and is a great way to prompt discussion after your speech has ended.

How To Add Questions To Your Speech Ending

The best type of questions to add to your speech ending is rhetorical questions. That’s because, unlike a literal question, a rhetorical question will get the audience thinking and make them delve deeper into the topic at hand.

Make sure your question is central to the idea of your speech, and not something frivolous or extra. After all, the point of a question is to reinforce the central idea of your topic.

1. Lexie Alford

Speech Ending: Ask yourself: How uncomfortable are you willing to become in order to reach your fullest potential?

2. Apollo Robbins

Speech Ending: If you could control somebody’s attention, what would you do with it?

Quotes are concise, catchy phrases or sentences that are generally easy to remember and repeat.

Quotes are an age-old way to start–and conclude–a speech. And for good reason.

Quotes can reinforce your own ideas by providing a second voice to back them up. They can also provoke an audience’s mind & get them thinking. So, if you add your quote to the end of your speech, the audience will most likely be thinking about it for long after you have finished speaking.

How To Use Quotes In Your Speech Ending

While adding quotes to your speech ending, make sure that it’s relevant to your topic. Preferably, you want to pick a quote that summarizes your entire idea in a concise & memorable manner.

Make sure that your quote isn’t too long or complicated. Your audience should be able to repeat it as well as feel its impact themselves. They shouldn’t be puzzling over the semantics of your quote, but its intended meaning.

1. Edouard Jacqmin

Speech Ending: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

2. Chris Crowe

Speech Ending: “It’s more certain than death and taxes.”

3. Olivia Remes

Speech Ending: I’d like to leave you with a quote by Martin Luther King: “You don’ have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.”

4. Tomislav Perko

Speech Ending: Like that famous quote says, “In twenty years from now on, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did do.

5. Diana Nyad

Speech Ending: To paraphrase the poet, Mary Oliver, she says, “So, what is it? What is it you’re doing with this one wild and precious life of yours?”

5. Piece Of Advice

The point of giving a piece of advice at the end of your speech is not to pull your audience down or to make them feel bad/inferior about themselves. Rather, the advice is added to motivate your audience to take steps to do something–something related to the topic at hand.

The key point to remember is that your advice is included to help your audience, not to discourage them.

How To Add Piece Of Advice To Your Speech Ending

To truly make your audience follow the advice you’re sharing, you must make sure it resonates with them. To do so, you need to inject emotions into your advice, and to present it in such a manner that your audience’s emotions are aroused when they hear it.

Your advice shouldn’t be something extra-complicated or seemingly impossible to achieve. This will act as a counter-agent. Remember that you want your audience to follow your advice, not to chuck it away as something impossible.

Our article, 15 Powerful Speech Ending Lines And Tips To Create Your Own , is another great repository for some inspiration.

1. Ricardo Lieuw On

Speech Ending: “Learn something new, or a new way of approaching something old because there are a few skills are valuable as the art of learning.”

2. Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Speech Ending: “If we want to improve the competence level of our leaders, then we should first improve our own competence for judging and selecting leaders.”

3. Sharique Samsudheen

Speech Ending: “Some people love money, some people hate money, some people crave money, some people even kill for money. But what they miss is they just need to learn how to manage money well, and that will give them financial freedom.”

4. Kate Simonds

Speech Ending: Teens, you need to believe in your voices and adults, you need to listen.

5. Melissa Butler

Speech Ending: When you go home today, see yourself in the mirror, see all of you, look at all your greatness that you embody, accept it, love it and finally, when you leave the house tomorrow, try to extend that same love and acceptance to someone who doesn’t look like you.

6. Iskra Lawrence

Speech Ending: Speak to your body in a loving way. It’s the only one you got, it’s your home, and it deserves your respect. If you see anyone tearing themselves down, build them back up And watch your life positively grow when you give up the pursuit of perfection.

6. Contemplative Remark

As the name itself suggests, contemplative remarks are intended to make your audience contemplate or mull over something. The ‘something’ in question should be the idea central to your speech, or a key takeaway that you want them to return home with.

The idea is to get your audience thinking and to keep them thinking for a long, long time.

How To Add A Contemplative Remark To Your Speech Ending

To add a contemplative remark to your speech ending, you first need to figure out your key takeaway or main theme. Then, you want to arrange that as a question, and propose it to your audience at the end of your speech.

Remember that your question shouldn’t be something too wordy or complicated to understand. As with the quotes, you don’t want your audience stuck on the semantics. Rather, you want them to focus on the matter at hand.

1. Lisa Penney

Speech Ending: “So I invite you to pay more attention to your thoughts & consider the legacy you leave behind.”

2. Grant Sanderson

Speech Ending: “Some of the most useful math that you can find or teach has its origin in someone who was just looking for a good story.”

3. Greta Thunberg

Speech Ending: “We will not let you get away with this. Right here, right now is where we draw the line. The world is waking up & change is coming whether you like it or not.”

4. Bill Eckstrom

Speech Ending: Now, think about this: it’s not the complexity-triggering individuals or events you should fear the most, but it’s your own willingness to accept or seek discomfort that will dictate the growth of not just you, but our entire world.

5. Robert Hoge

Speech Ending: Choose to accept your face, choose to appreciate your face, don’t look away from the mirror so quickly; understand all the love, and the life, and the pain that is the part of your face, that is the art of your face. Tomorrow when you wake up, what will your choice be?

7. Personal Anecdote

Personal anecdotes, as the name suggests, are anecdotes that are personal to the speaker or instances from their life. Personal anecdotes are a great way to incorporate the magical powers of storytelling in your speech, as well as to make a personal connection with the audience. Using personal anecdotes, you can hit two birds with one stone!

How To Add Personal Anecdotes To Your Speech Ending

To add personal anecdotes to your speech ending, you need to filter through your life experiences to find out ones that directly relate to your topic at hand. You don’t want to include an anecdote, no matter how compelling it is, if it doesn’t relate to your topic.

Remember to not keep your anecdote too long. Your audience will most likely lose their attention if you do so.

1. Sheila Humphries

Speech Ending: “Why do you go work for these people?” My answer to them was, “If I could help one child make it in this world, it’ll be worth it all.”

8. Call To Action

A call-to-action is one of the absolute best ways to conclude a speech with a bang. A well-written speech should aim to alter the audience’s mind or belief system in some way and to make them take an action in that direction. One crucial way to assure your audience does this is by using a call to action.

How To Add A Call To Action To Your Speech Ending

A call to action comes right before the ending of your speech to provide your audience with a clear idea or set of instructions about what they’re supposed to do after your talk ends.

A call to action should provide a roadmap to the audience for their future steps, and to outline clearly what those future steps are going to be.

1. Armin Hamrah

Speech Ending: “So tonight, after you finish your Math homework & before you lay your head down on that fluffy pillow, bring a piece of paper and pen by your bedside…”

2. Graham Shaw

Speech Ending: “So I invite you to get your drawings out there & spread the word that when we draw, we remember more!”

3. Andy Puddicombe

Speech Ending: You don’t have to burn any incense, and you definitely don’t have to sit on the floor. All you need to do is to take out 10 minutes out a day to step back, familiarize yourself with the present moment so that you get to experience a greater sense of focus, calm, and clarity in your life.

4. Amy Cuddy

Speech Ending: Before you go into the next stressful evaluative situation, for two minutes, try doing this in the elevator…

5. Jia Jiang

Speech Ending: When you are facing the next obstacle or the next failure, consider the possibilities. Don’t run! If you just embrace them, they might become your gifts as well.

9. Motivational Remark

As the name clearly explains, a motivational remark motivates your audience to carry out a plan of action. It ruffles the audience’s mind and emotions and has a powerful impact on the steps that your audience will take after you’ve finished speaking.

How To Add A Motivational Remark To Your Speech Ending

The key to a good motivational remark is to inspire your audience. Your motivational remark should act as a ray of hope to your audience and positively inspire them to take a desired course of action.

Your motivational remark should not be negative in any way. You don’t want to guilt or coerce your audience into doing something or feeling a certain way. You want to leave them on a positive note to move forward with their life.

1. Khanh Vy Tran

Speech Ending: “No matter what you’re going through right now & no matter what the future holds for you, please don’t change yourself. Love yourself, accept yourself & then transform yourself.”

2. Mithila Palkar

Speech Ending: “Get a job, leave a job, dance, sing, fall in love. Carve your own niche. But most importantly: learn to love your own randomness.”

3. Andrew Tarvin

Speech Ending: “Anyone can learn to be funnier. And it all starts with a choice. A choice to try to find ways to use humor. A choice to be like my grandmother, to look at the world around you and say WTF–wow, that’s fun.”

4. Laura Vanderkam

Speech Ending: There is time. Even if we are busy, we have time for what matters. And when we focus on what matters, we can build the lives we want in the time we’ve got.

5. Julian Treasure

Speech Ending: Let’s get listening taught in schools, and transform the world in one generation into a conscious listening world, a world of connection, a world of understanding, and a world of peace.

6. Mariana Atencio

Speech Ending: Let’s celebrate those imperfections that make us special. I hope that it teaches you that nobody has a claim on the word ‘normal’. We are all different. We are all quirky and unique and that is what makes us wonderfully human.

10. Challenge

Much like a call to action, the aim of proposing a challenge at the end of your speech is to instigate your audience to take some desired course of action. A challenge should make an appeal to your audience’s emotion, and motivate them to meet it.

How To Add A Challenge To Your Speech Ending

To apply a challenge effectively to your speech ending, you need to make sure that it’s something relevant to your topic. Your challenge should drive the central topic of your speech forward, and make your audience engage in real-life steps to apply your idea in the real world.

While its always a good idea to set a high bar for your challenge, make sure its an achievable one too.

1. Jamak Golshani

Speech Ending: “I challenge you to open your heart to new possibilities, choose a career path that excites you & one that’s aligned to who you truly are.”

2. Ashley Clift-Jennings

Speech Ending: So, my challenge to you today is, “Do you know, would you even know how to recognize your soulmate?” If you are going out in the world right now, would you know what you are looking for?

11. Metaphor

Metaphors are commonly used as a short phrase that draws a comparison between two ideas in a non-literal sense. People use metaphors quite commonly in daily life to explain ideas that might be too difficult or confusing to understand otherwise. Metaphors are also great tools to be used in speech, as they can present your main idea in a simple and memorable way.

How To Add Metaphors To Your Speech Ending

To add a metaphor to your speech ending, you need to first decide on the main idea or takeaway of your speech. Your metaphor should then be organized in such a way that it simplifies your main idea and makes it easier for your audience to understand & remember it.

The key is to not make your metaphor overly complicated or difficult to retain and share. Remember that you’re trying to simplify your idea for the audience–not make them even more confused.

1. Ramona J. Smith

Speech Ending: “Stay in that ring. And even after you take a few hits, use what you learned from those previous fights, and at the end of the round, you’ll still remain standing.”

2. Shi Heng YI

Speech Ending: “If any of you chooses to climb that path to clarity, I will be very happy to meet you at the peak.”

3. Zifang “Sherrie” Su

Speech Ending: “Are you turning your back on your fear? Our life is like this stage, but what scares are now may bring you the most beautiful thing. Give it a chance.”

12. Storytelling

The idea behind using stories to end your speech is to leave your audience with a good memory to take away with them.

Stories are catchy, resonating & memorable ways to end any speech.

Human beings can easily relate to stories. This is because most people have grown up listening to stories of some kind or another, and thus a good story tends to evoke fond feelings in us.

How To Incorporate Stories In Your Speech Ending

A great way to incorporate stories in your speech ending is by setting up a story in the beginning and then concluding it during the end of your speech.

Another great way would be to tell a short & funny anecdote related to a personal experience or simply something related to the topic at hand.

However, remember that it’s the ending of your speech. Your audience is most likely at the end of their attention span. So, keep your story short & sweet.

1. Sameer Al Jaberi

Speech Ending: “I can still see that day when I came back from my honeymoon…”

2. Josephine Lee

Speech Ending: “At the end of dinner, Jenna turned to me and said…”

Facts are another excellent speech ending, and they are used quite often as openings as well. The point of adding a fact as your speech ending is to add shock value to your speech, and to get your audience thinking & discussing the fact even after your speech has ended.

How To Add Facts To Your Speech Ending

The key to adding facts to your speech ending is to pick a fact that thrusts forward your main idea in the most concise form possible. Your fact should also be something that adds shock value to the speech, and it should ideally be something that the audience hasn’t heard before.

Make sure that your fact is relevant to the topic at hand. No matter how interesting, a fact that doesn’t relate to your topic is going to be redundant.

1. David JP Phillips

Speech Ending: 3500 years ago, we started transfering knowledge from generation to generation through text. 28 years ago, PowerPoint was born. Which one do you think our brain is mostly adapted to?

14. Rhethoric Remark

Rhetoric remarks are another excellent way to get the wheels of your audience’s minds turning. Rhetoric remarks make your audience think of an imagined scenario, and to delve deeper into your topic. Rhetoric remarks or questioned don’t necessarily need to have a ‘right’ or one-shot answer, which means you can be as creative with them as possible!

How To Add Rhethoric Remarks To Your Speech Ending

Since rhetorical questions don’t need to have a definite answer, you have much freedom in determining the type of question or statement you wish to make. However, as with all other speech endings, a rhetorical question shouldn’t be asked just for the sake of it.

A rhetorical question should make your audience think about your topic in a new or more creative manner. It should get them thinking about the topic and maybe see it from an angle that they hadn’t before.

Rhetorical questions shouldn’t be too confusing. Use simple language & make sure it’s something that the audience can easily comprehend.

1. Mona Patel

Speech Ending: Pick your problem, ask “What if?” Come up with ideas. Bring them down. Then execute on them. Maybe you’re thinking, “What if we can’t?” I say to you, “What if we don’t?”

2. Lizzie Velasquez

Speech Ending: I want you to leave here and ask yourself what defines you. But remember: Brave starts here.

Another great way to end your speech with a literal bang is by using music! After all, if there’s something that can impact the human mind with just as much force as a few well-placed words, it’s the correct music.

How To Add Music To Your Speech Ending

To add music to your speech ending, you must make sure that the music has something to do with your speech theme. Remember that you’re not playing music in your concert. The piece of music that you choose must be relevant to your topic & work to have a contribution in your overall speech.

1. Tom Thum

Speech Ending: *ends the TED Talk with beat boxing*

16. Reitirate The Title

The title of your speech is its most important component. That’s why you need to pay careful attention to how you pick it, as it is something that your viewers will most likely remember the longest about your speech.

Your title will also act as a guiding hand towards how your audience forms an initial idea about your speech and is what they will associate your entire speech with.

By repeating your title at the end of your speech, you increase the chances that your audience will remember it–and your speech–for a long time.

How To Retierate The Title In Your Speech Ending

Your title is something that your audience associates your entire speech with. However, you don’t want to simply add the title in your speech end for the sake of adding it. Instead, make it flow naturally into your speech ending. This will make it seem less forced, and will also increase the chances of your audience remembering your entire speech ending and not just the title of your speech.

1. Ruairi Robertson

Speech Ending: I feel we can all contribute to this fight worth fighting for our own health, but more importantly, our future generations’ health by restoring the relationship between microbe and man. There is SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

Need more inspiration for speech closing lines? Check out our article on 10 Of The Best Things To Say In Closing Remarks.

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To sum up, speech endings are just as imperative to the success of your speech as speech openings, and you must spend just as much time picking the perfect ending as you do to determine your best possible speech opening. The words you speak at the beginning and end of your speech are words that your audience will pay the most attention to, and remember longer than any other part of your speech.

Still looking for inspiration? Check out this video we made on closing remarks:

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• Business strategy |
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15 creative elevator pitch examples for every scenario

A good elevator pitch can be the difference between landing your next big opportunity or falling short of the competition. But the reality is, people want to have meaningful conversations without the forced sales pitch. So how do you pitch yourself during a job interview or client meeting with authenticity? 

First things first: What is an elevator pitch?

An elevator pitch, also known as an elevator speech, is an opportunity to share a quick summary of yourself and your product offerings. But a pitch can also be your chance at making a real connection that you can use later down the road. It’s not always an immediate benefit, but you should be prepared for any scenario in which you could be giving an elevator pitch. 

In reality, most people have given an elevator pitch whether they realize it or not. That’s because there are many different types of pitches—from interviews to new business opportunities. That makes preparing for your next pitch an important step in marketing both yourself and your company. 

When it comes to figuring out who to deliver your pitch to, you should aim for the best point of contact, not just the highest point of contact. Choosing connections that are related to or interested in what you’re offering will give you a better chance at making your sale. 

How long should an elevator pitch be?

One of the biggest unknowns about creating sample elevator pitches is how long they should be. In most cases, it will depend on what it’s about and who you’re pitching. A good rule of business etiquette is to make it as short as possible by carefully selecting the most important points. 

A study conducted by Microsoft found that the average person has an attention span of around eight seconds, meaning you’ll have to fight for that undivided attention. That’s no small task. So when it comes to a great elevator pitch, aim to keep it around 30 seconds—though the exact length can vary depending on your industry and what you’re pitching. 

When looking at pitch length based on industry, each one differs to some degree. Let’s take marketing for example. Your pitch opportunities will likely be to customers that come across your brand. And in that case, you have very little time to get your message across—whether it’s text, video, or imagery. But when it comes to sales, you may get the opportunity to expand your elevator pitch past 30 seconds. You will likely have plenty of networking opportunities where people are more than willing to listen to what you have to say. It really just depends on your medium and the audience’s eagerness to listen. 

But what if you can’t cut your elevator pitch down to 30 seconds? It may seem like your brand is too complicated to distill down to such a short timeframe, but if you’re pitching to the right audience you shouldn’t have that problem. Make sure you pitch to people related to your industry or a tangential audience that will be able to interpret your offerings. 

How to write an elevator pitch 

When it comes to writing an elevator pitch, it can be hard to decipher important facts from unimportant ones—this is why knowing how to effectively communicate in the workplace is important in the first place. For example, while it’s good to personalize your communication tactics wherever possible, it’s not necessary to give prospects an entire history lesson on your business. Only the most recent and relevant details should be included. To get started creating your own pitch, you first need to understand the basic components that make up any good elevator pitch.

Introduce yourself

All good pitches start with a short introduction. It could be as simple as stating your name and who you work for if those details apply. But the more personal you can make it, the more natural your elevator pitch will seem. Body language is also an important part of a solid introduction, as is eye contact. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when introducing yourself to a new prospect. 

Greet your audience in a way that’s appropriate for the occasion. Go formal for a business pitch or more casual for a fun event. With business meetings and networking events being held virtually, you’ll need to get creative with your introductions over video chat. You could even start with a lighthearted joke to break the ice. But whatever you do, make sure it’s relevant to your audience. 

Present the problem

All solutions start with a problem. Whatever you or your business is trying to solve, it’s important to get the point across early on in your elevator pitch to set the theme for the rest of your speech. An example problem: coordinating work between teams is chaotic.  

If possible, relate the problem back to your audience by using real-world examples. This will help make the problem more relevant and, hopefully, grab your audience’s attention. If your problem isn’t easy to explain, try using more than one example or a visual to really paint a picture for your audience. 

Offer the solution

If the problem is what draws the audience in, then the solution is what hooks them. This is your time to show them why they need your help. Here’s an example solution: Asana gives teams a system to organize and manage work so they know what to do, why it matters, and how to get it done.

The solution is arguably the most important part of an elevator pitch, so spend time perfecting it. If you’re pitching for a business, it’s likely the quick solution pitch has already been created. But again, it’s always better to personalize your pitch. So don’t be afraid to tweak it to fit your audience. If pitching for yourself, talk about the unique skills you’ve developed and why they would be beneficial to your prospect. 

Explain your value proposition

Now that you’ve piqued your audience’s attention, it’s time to seal the deal by explaining why your solution is better than anyone else's. An example value proposition is: Asana is the only platform that connects goals with the work needed to achieve them. 

The value proposition differs from the solution by focusing on why your audience should use your solution over a competitor’s. If you don’t have that answer just yet, perform a competitive analysis to compare your offerings or look to your executive summary. 

If your market is extremely niche and you don’t have a clear differentiator or significant competition, look to communication and interface capabilities. Consider why your idea or solution is original enough that someone would want to use it.   

Engage the audience

While most of the hard work is done, it’s important to engage your audience with a compliment or question before you part ways. Always err on the side of being genuine rather than delivering a scripted goodbye. 

There is no right or wrong way to engage your audience. While ending with a question can create a dialogue between you and your audience, a genuine compliment can go a long way. Think about what made you want to pitch them in the first place and use that to end the conversation. Lastly, don’t forget to swap contact information, such as a business card, if you don’t already have it. 

A foolproof elevator pitch template

Now that you know the basic components of a pitch, the next step is creating your very own elevator pitch. This template can work for just about any situation, from a job interview to pitching a small business or startup. That’s because we analyzed some of the most famous templates from industry experts—from Harvard research to Guy Kawasaki’s art of pitching—to create a foolproof template that will work in any situation. 

Plug your information into our elevator pitch template to draft a quick speech. While you won’t necessarily recite it word for word, it’s a great model to keep in mind in case you find yourself in a position where you’re not prepared with a personalized pitch.

Whether you’re looking for a pitch template for a job interview or for pitching your business, this template is a foolproof example for any situation you might find yourself in. 

General elevator pitch template

Use our elevator pitch template to start constructing your speech by adding statistics and personalized greetings where needed. This template incorporates the four parts explained above to hit all of the important details of a good elevator pitch. 

Introduction : “Hi I’m [name], a [position title] at [company name]. It’s great to meet you!”

Problem : “Since you work with [company name or industry] I figured you’d be interested to know that [problem + interesting statistic].”

Solution : “The great part about working at [your company’s name] is that we’ve been able to fix just that problem by [solution].”

Value proposition : “In fact, we’re the only company that offers [value proposition].”

CTA : “I think our solution could really help you. Are you available this week to speak further on this?”

Don’t be afraid to change up your pitch template based on your personality and professional expertise. We’ve also included personalized 30-second elevator pitch examples below to inspire personal facts you can add to create a more engaging speech .

30-second elevator pitch examples

Let’s dive into the best 30-second elevator pitch examples to help you create a pitch that’s both engaging and informative. Our examples take inspiration from the four elements included in the template above, to demonstrate how you'd pitch project management software to  increase productivity . Try a few or try them all to find one that best fits your personality and value proposition. 

Example 1: Short and sweet

This example is one of the most common you’ll come across. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the best, but it’s a great example of a quick and easy pitch that fits almost any situation. When working on this type of elevator pitch, be sure to keep it as short and to the point as possible. Try to stick closely to the 30 seconds or less rule since the point is to be brief and transparent.

The problem is that work is chaotic no matter what industry you’re in or how good you are at your job. But a good project management software can help improve productivity and communication. I haven’t missed a deadline in years. If you’re interested in how it can help your team, give me a call and I can take you through some numbers. 

Example 2: Relatable over reliable

Sometimes the best way to grab your audience’s attention is to reel them in with a personal anecdote they’ll relate to. While it’s still important to drive home your solution, this approach puts more weight on making a personal connection rather than an immediate sale. 

It’s so great to finally meet you. How is business going? I heard you’ve been struggling with communication issues. My team and I struggled with that too. It wasn’t until we added project management software into our routine that we really saw an improvement in teamwork and overall communication. I hope you find a solution that works for your team. 

Example 3: Savvy with stats

Start your pitch off with a hook by dropping an attention-grabbing statistic. It’s important to have hard data to back up your statistics to ensure their accuracy before pitching. When it comes to a statistics pitch, it’s a good idea to come full circle at the end and connect how your solution can help solve that statistic.  

Did you know that despite having more ways to connect remotely, 60% of workers’ time is spent on work coordination with just 26% spent on skilled work and 14% on strategy? No wonder teams need help with project management. Implementing project management tools can decrease time spent on work coordination and help increase skilled work.

Example 4: Question everything

This example uses questions to make your pitch easily comprehensible. It also forces the audience to join in on the conversation rather than just presenting them with a speech. Try starting and ending with a question that makes the audience think about your pitch long after you leave the room.

Do you ever feel like you spend too much time on work about work? I’ve talked to so many people who share the same frustrations. I used to work long hours every day just trying to catch up. But do you know what? Ever since we started using project management software, I've been able to get so much more work done. Have you tried anything similar in the past?

Example 5: Comedic twist

If your pitch isn’t about a serious topic, you can add comedic twists to engage the audience. This is especially useful if giving a presentation. Add a GIF or quick funny clip in between slides to lighten the mood. If using this example, be sure it fits the occasion and tone of your company. 

Did you know that the average person can only pay attention for eight seconds? That’s not even long enough to place my coffee order in the morning. Maybe that’s why my barista always gets it wrong. But seriously, I think that’s why so many companies struggle to hit deadlines. 

Example 6: Tell a story

Use customer testimonials or your own personal story to paint a picture for the audience. This can be especially helpful if your topic is hard to explain in 30 seconds or less. Telling a story is a great way to add a relatable twist. 

We have a customer that transitioned to a fully remote workforce this year and needed help making sure deadlines were met. With our help, they were able to get up to 10% of their time back in their day and focus on more important things like strategic planning.  

Example 7: Emotionally driven

While this type of pitch may be more difficult to create, you have a better chance of winning over your audience if you can make your pitch emotionally driven. It’s also more likely they’ll be willing to share the experience with someone else down the road. It’s important to keep the emotions on the lighter side to prevent the conversation from steering too dark. Here is an example to inspire your own speech. 

It may seem like any other tool, but when you look closely it really is helping teams connect. And not just that, but it’s helping cultivate teams that actually enjoy working together on new projects. That’s something that’s hard to come by, but something everyone is looking for.  

Example 8: Write it first

While most speeches start by writing a general outline, you can opt to write the entire pitch from start to finish. This tends to create a thought-provoking and poetic flow once you do present your pitch. You’ll have to memorize this pitch, so practicing is a key element to this strategy. 

Hi, my name is Kelly! It’s great to meet you. You work for Apollo Enterprises, right? I’ve heard a lot about them. I actually heard that you’re looking for project management help. In my experience, any organization—whether sales or suppliers—needs help coordinating work and team communication. Work can be rather chaotic, especially now, without it. That’s why we’ve created a software tool that helps both individuals and teams organize their projects and communications all in one place. Have you ever thought about using something similar?

Example 9: End with a one-liner

Making a grand exit doesn’t come easily, but if you can pull it off your audience is sure to be impressed. Stay away from cliche one-liners and make your closing authentic to you. The point here is to leave them with a thought that they’ll remember after the meeting is over. Consider sharing a surprising statistic or question relevant to their business.

Over one-quarter (26%) of all deadlines are missed each week because of a lack of clarity. But with the right project management tools, that number could be much lower. So the question is, can your business afford not to use project management software? 

Elevator pitch examples by scenario

Now that we’ve covered the types of pitch examples, let’s dive into example elevator pitches for different scenarios. Whether you’re pitching for your business or yourself, you can use an elevator pitch to organize your thoughts and prepare for the real deal. Let’s look at key tips for any situation you may find yourself in. 

Example 10: Networking event

A networking event is probably the most common scenario you’ll run into. And with the new virtual-first culture, it may be even more challenging to make meaningful connections over video chat. That’s why it’s so important to prepare an elevator pitch that’s compelling no matter where you’re pitching it from. While most salespeople pitch casually in this environment, you may get the opportunity to meet an important executive. In which case, you’ll want to be prepared with a versatile pitch template. 

Great to meet you, I’m Kelly with Apollo Enterprises. We’ve been able to improve productivity and collaboration for teams all over the world. If you ever need help with project management, just reach out. I think we could make a huge impact on your company. I’ll make sure to keep your contact information handy as well. 

Example 11: Job interview

Looking for a new job or have career fairs coming up? Most interviews—whether with human resources, a recruiter, or a hiring manager—start with some form of the phrase, “Tell me about yourself.” This is an opportunity for job seekers to briefly explain themselves and their professional experience using industry buzzwords and key skills. Having an elevator pitch ready can ensure that you’re prepared when the opportunity presents itself. 

I’m Kelly, a specialist at Apollo Enterprises. I chose a career in project management because I had a passion for it, and now I can proudly say that I’ve been able to make a real difference in people’s lives. That’s why I’m looking to continue my career with an employer who shares those same values. I know my unique skills can make a big impact at your company because I’ve proven my results with a few key projects. 

Example 12: Formal meeting

You’ve landed the meeting, congratulations! Now is the time to create a formal elevator pitch to really get them interested. When presenting a formal pitch, a presentation can be a great addition to traditional elevator speech examples. But whether or not you choose to create a presentation, this meeting is about selling your product in the most professional way possible. So dress the part and don’t forget your unique selling proposition. 

I took a look at your current productivity figures and noticed an opportunity for improvement. With our project management software, you could get back up to 10% more of your workday. Not only would that mean more work getting done, but it would also have a positive impact on the overall success of your business. Not to mention, our tool is the only one in the industry that has goal capabilities to ensure teams stay on track. 

Example 13: Sales pitch 

Professionals often pitch traditional sales jargon, but the real key is creating a human connection while lightly sprinkling in what you’re selling. Start with a personal story or light-hearted introduction instead of the typical sales presentation. You can also prepare by creating sales team goal templates to ensure your team is on the same page. 

Our team really struggled to transition to a remote workforce. Communication wasn’t organized and people struggled to find the correct information to complete projects. But, thankfully, we found a solution to our problem. Implementing project management tools not only improved productivity but also improved overall teamwork. Every company prefers different tools, but I can say without a doubt that our software was the best at connecting goals with the work needed to achieve them. 

Example 14: Social introduction

Now, more than ever, professionals are choosing to meet virtually rather than face-to-face. Whether you’re chatting over LinkedIn or have a virtual meeting set up, it’s important to make your pitch personal and use clear visuals to help sell your point. Here’s a great example of a social media pitch. 

Thanks for connecting! I noticed that your competitors are outperforming you when it comes to year-over-year growth. I took the liberty of doing a competitive analysis and didn’t find any outlying problems. I’m wondering if it could be an issue with productivity. How has the transition to remote work been? If you’re interested, I could run you through some productivity figures if you were to add project management tools to your current processes. 

Example 15: Entrepreneurs and business owners

Pitching to a business owner is much different than pitching to an executive. They can be harder to sell because they are often hesitant about new investments. The most important tip is to use examples as they pertain to the business when explaining a problem and solution.  

I love your products at Apollo Enterprises. I’m a huge proponent of your mission. I did realize that there may be some opportunities to improve productivity and collaboration internally. Have you ever considered project management software? I think it could have a big impact on business growth now or even down the road. 

4 tips to perfect your elevator pitch

In addition to creating the perfect elevator pitch, you should also work on sprucing up your delivery. There’s nothing worse than sitting through a boring speech, so make sure yours is anything but. From posture to tone, there’s a lot you can practice to make sure you look professional and knowledgeable. Consider these four tips when trying to nail a successful elevator pitch. 

1. Stick to your outline

To prevent getting off-topic, it’s important to stick to your outline at least to some extent. While you don’t need to recite it word for word, it’s best to memorize the majority of your pitch. That way you won’t need to worry about checking your notes. 

2. Speak slowly and clearly

Many professionals tend to talk quickly when they’re nervous—hey, we’re only human. But it’s important to enunciate and speak slowly so the audience can understand you. This is especially important when presenting over video chat. But try not to slow yourself down too much or you’ll go over your allotted time. 

3. Record your pitch

Record yourself reciting the pitch to work on any areas that need improvement. Practice your pitch a handful of times by playing the recording back and working out any pain points. A couple of key areas to focus on are speed and tone. It’s better to sound overly energized rather than monotone. 

4. Practice, practice, practice!

There’s nothing more effective than practicing your pitch until you’re able to recite it in your sleep. If possible, practice in front of friends and family to get constructive feedback on how you can make your pitch even better. Even if you have years of experience, you can never go wrong with being overly prepared. 

Elevate your first impression with an elevator pitch

An elevator pitch is a chance to show off your strengths and pitch your solutions. While it may sound nerve-wracking, using the 15 elevator pitch examples above will help you develop your own method using personal tidbits that tie into your innovative solutions.

While your pitch is an important part of leveling up your business, there are many avenues you can take to achieve growth. One of those ways is by determining whether project management vs. work management tools are right for your team. Not only will they help connect your team members, but the right tools and software can also help your organization set strategic goals. That means more time spent on bigger projects to help your business reach next-level growth. 

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Elevator Speech: What To Include And How To Write An Elevator Pitch

Elevators can be a tough place to break the ice. One of the best ways to get off on the right foot or start your conversation is with an elevator speech. But what is an elevator speech, and how do you write one? Find out in this article!

An elevator speech is a pitch for your business or product to make in less than 60 seconds. It's typically used as a quick pitch for potential clients or investors. In this blog we will discuss how to write an elevator pitch!!

The goal of an elevator pitch is to convince the listener to give you more valuable time and focus on what you are offering and not how much time it will take. Keep your elevator pitch short, sweet, and informative. 

An elevator speech is a way to quickly introduce yourself and what you do, who you are, or your company in only 30 seconds. It's meant for when an elevator door opens and one person gets stepped into the elevator with another person. 

The goal of an elevator speech is to keep the other person engaged as long as possible. An elevator speech is a one-minute or less pitch that can be delivered in an elevator. 

You should use the elevator speech to introduce yourself and your company when meeting new people. The study of the elevator speech is called "Elevatorology." 

A "elevator pitch" is a short reply to a question you are asked in an elevator or on the phone. It can be used to introduce yourself and quickly give a few details about who you are and your business. 

An elevator speech is essential for launching your career. It is a short, but memorable description of what you do and what makes you unique. Job seekers should include their professional goals and a brief description of their expertise in the beginning of an elevator speech. 

An Elevator Speech is a shortened version of your brand, company or product that you can use to sell in the time it takes an elevator ride. 

It should be a few seconds long and include the following: what you do, why you do it, how much you charge and if you offer anything else. An elevator speech is a marketing tool which gives an overview of your company's products and services. 

They are typically 30-60 seconds long, so they are the perfect time to quickly introduce your company. Your sales pitch will be successful if you show details of your product or service while using general terms that don't need any technical explanation. 

An elevator speech is a short, powerful piece of information that's designed to get someone interested in your product or service. It can also be used to introduce yourself and increase the chances of getting an interview for a job. 

It's not about talking about your entire life story at first meeting but telling them what you're selling and why they should buy it. Let’s discuss how to write an elevator pitch!!

Types of Elevator Speeches

There are many types of elevator speeches that can be written, but the most common ones include: 

1. Introducing yourself and your company 

2. The competitive landscape 

3. The business model and revenue 

4. Product or service features 

5. Core values

Elevator speeches are meant to be brief introductions of a product or service, so they're going to have to have to be quite succinct. The best elevator speeches are about 5-8 minutes long and feature just one main point. 

There are many types of elevator speeches. Some are formal, structured speeches that have a beginning, middle, and end. Others are informal and don't develop the idea too much further. 

The latter type is usually used when you're in a limited amount of time at work or if you're on the phone with someone. There are three types of elevator speeches: the elevator speech, "you deserve better," and the "elevator pitch." 

The first type is used when you're trying to sell a product. You want to appeal to your audience in a concise manner so they'll be interested in purchasing what you have to offer. 

The second type is used by entrepreneurs or business owners that want people to know who they are without having to give away all their information right away. 

Elevator speeches are one of the most common and important means of pitching your business idea. However, making an elevator speech can be difficult and intimidating, especially if you are not used to speaking in public. 

Since elevator speeches have a limited time limit, it's important to know what should be included and what not to include. 

Some elevator speeches that you should include in your pitch are: 

a) An overview of the company and its services, 

b) Your prior work experience and how it helps you, 

c) What makes your company different from competition, 

d) Leadership qualities, and 

e) Why you are the best person for the job.

How to write an Elevator Pitch?

It is not only important to be able to articulate your product or service, but it is also important to lead with what you want people to know. It is the idea of starting at the top and working down that matters. 

When writing a pitch, start by describing who you are and what your company does. Then describe how your company makes money and why your product solves a problem for customers. 

When you are in the elevator, do not waste time. Instead of being polite and asking questions you really don't need to know, just say what you have to say. Afterwards, ask if they had any questions. 

An elevator pitch is a short and concise summary of who you are and what you do. It is best to keep it simple and let your personality shine through. Note that your elevator speech should only be about two minutes long! 

When you are applying for a job, you will likely be asked what your elevator speech is. It's short and sweet, also known as an elevator pitch. The elevator pitch is not easy to write. 

It is important to make sure that the elevator pitch includes what you are selling, who you are, and why your product or service is better than the competition. You should also make sure that the pitch is concise and doesn't take too long. 

It's one of the most important pieces of your overall marketing strategy . Your elevator pitch communicates your message to a potential customer in just a few minutes, which is why it's so important. 

Examples of Elevators Speeches

There is no standard pitch format. All the information in an elevator pitch should be tailored to the audience. 

An elevator speech can take on many forms, but most are three to five minutes long and are meant to "elevate" or "lift" a decision maker into understanding your organization and trust you enough to consider your proposal. 

Many people find speaking in elevators to be a daunting task. The question is what would you say to someone you just met and wanted to make a good impression? 

This blog discusses how to write an elevator pitch that is both memorable and persuasive, and offers advice for writing your own. 

An elevator speech is a brief overview of your qualifications that you give to someone while waiting for the elevator in order to land a job. 

These speeches can be used in various different settings, with sales people using them to get a foot in the door, interns trying to impress their bosses during the hiring process, or even potential dates trying to get a date. 

It is important that these speeches have key selling points so that they can quickly and easily wrap up their pitch and leave the other person feeling like they will be getting what they are looking for. 

Elevator speeches are important to help convey the value of your business, ideally in 400 words or less. You should include a bio or introduction of yourself, your company and what makes you special. 

Make sure to define the importance of your industry, why it's worth investing in and touch on how your services will benefit people. Elevator pitches are nothing more than a way of introducing yourself to someone you've just met. 

They are also a great way to introduce yourself to people outside of your industry or company. An elevator pitch is never too long, but it should contain all the information needed for someone to decide whether or not they want you to speak with them further.

Elevator speeches are a great time to introduce yourself, why you have chosen to work with your specific industry and what sets your company apart from others. Like anything discussed in an elevator, it is important to keep things short and sweet. 

One of the biggest challenges in trying to make a sale is coming up with an elevator pitch that helps you get recognized. One way to do this is to ensure that your elevator speech includes the following five points.

What problem you're solving, why your company can solve it, what makes you different from other companies in this space, how you're going to achieve your goal and what's unique about you and your product. 

If you don't know what to say and your elevator pitch is a no-show, it's probably because you haven't defined the scope of the conversation. 

You need to be clear with what you want to talk about and why, then follow up with specific examples to back your claims up. 

The blog title is an article talking about how to write an elevator pitch. It talks about the essential elements of a pitch and mentions that you should have an introduction, a hook, and some market research.

Heba Arshad

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How to Write and Deliver an Elevator Pitch

Students can become so concentrated on their studies that they don’t think about their careers. Instead of searching for employment opportunities, they devote their attention to their homework. However, it is crucial to remember that your time at university is also meant to help you think about your future profession. You can always attend special events, like career fairs, but keep in mind that unexpected opportunities can occur anywhere, at any time. You must be able to seize that moment to present yourself to potential employers.

In this article, our team has described what the ideal elevator pitch should sound like. We don’t just give you the steps to create it – we also tell you exactly how to deliver your message so that you get noticed. Furthermore, you will find common mistakes that can spoil first impressions. And to make sure there’s no confusion, we have presented some examples of compelling elevator pitches.

• 👔 What Is It?
• ✍ Writing a Pitch
• 📢 Delivering a Pitch
• 🚫 Common Mistakes
• 👀 What Comes Next?
• ✨ Elevator Pitch Examples

🔗 References

👔 what is an elevator pitch.

Imagine this – you walk into an elevator, and there stands a CEO of a large conglomerate. You and he are headed to the same floor, and you realize that this is an incredible opportunity to talk about yourself and your professional skills. The elevator has already started to move, so you have a maximum of one minute to engage that person. What do you say? This is the essence of an elevator pitch.

In other words, it is not a detailed story about your life nor an attempt to beg your way into a job. It is an opportunity to generate your potential employer’s interest in yourself and your capabilities. So, what should an elevator pitch sound like, and when should it be used?

Main Features of an Elevator Pitch

Every speech is unique, and still, they have some features in common. A successful elevator pitch should be:

Uses of an Elevator Pitch

Of course, an elevator pitch will also come in handy outside the elevator. It is needed for:

• Career Fairs. A career fair is perfect for demonstrating your potential to a future employer. Keep in mind that the competition among job seekers is incredibly high during these events. So, make sure your pitch is flawless, outstanding, and dynamic!
• Internal Networking Events. Never underestimate the power of networking! Make friends with your college peers and get to know your professors. The more people you meet, the more career opportunities you obtain.
• External Networking Events. Are you interested in gaining new connections outside of your educational institution? There are plenty of events devoted to students’ professional growth. Stay tuned in, keep track of activities, and make sure you don’t miss the opportunity to expand your network.
• Job Interviews. Usually, job interviews start with this phrase: “Tell me about yourself.” It is the perfect moment to use your elevator pitch! Impress an HR manager within the first few seconds of the interview and increase your chances of getting hired.
• Your CV. It usually has an “about” section. You can put your elevator pitch there. It will grab an employer’s attention and boost your chances of being invited to a job interview.
• Online Profiles. Do you have a student profile on LinkedIn or similar job search websites? You should consider adding your pitch there. This will make the recruiters interested in your professional skills and motivate them to contact you.

✍ Writing an Elevator Pitch: A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing an elevator pitch can be pretty intimidating at first. Talking about yourself is challenging, and fitting everything into a one-minute speech seems impossible.

However, coming up with an effective elevator pitch is a task that any student can handle. This process is similar to writing a standard academic essay and follows the same familiar steps – introduction, body, conclusion. Below, you will find a detailed outline for your pitch.

This is an essential element that influences your entire elevator pitch. Come up with one line that makes your listener curious about you. Think of your unique selling proposition – what makes you stand out compared to others? Don’t forget that your hook must be creative, dynamic, and strong!

Introduction

Give a summary of your professional background. Here, you can include information about your education, experience, key specialties, and strengths. Do you feel overwhelmed about deciding what exactly to include? Brainstorm ! Write down everything that occurs in your mind. Then, analyze what you have written, determine what details are essential, and express them in a logical order in your pitch introduction.

Dig deeper into your professional skills and explain what benefits you can bring to your potential employer. You could:

• Clarify what problems you can solve.
• Suggest what would be your input in the company.
• Explain why the employer should choose you specifically.

Also, express your willingness to become a part of their team. Try to show your desire to grow and expand your skillset.

The end of your elevator pitch should be powerful since it leaves the last impression about you. The best way to finish your speech is to ask a question or motivate your listener to action. This will help you secure future interactions with your potential employer.

Polish your pitch until it is flawless. Check that you aren’t using fillers or vague words and don’t have any run-on sentences. Also, ensure that your speech is concise and makes logical sense. Then, present it to your friends or family members and receive their feedback. Make adjustments if needed.

📢 Delivering Your Elevator Pitch: Tips & Tricks

Writing a good elevator pitch is just the first step. It is vital not only to find the right words but also to deliver them well. In this section, we present some useful advice on public speaking that will help you stay calm and collected during the crucial moment.

• Practice again and again. You can start by recording yourself on your phone/camera. Play it back to check that your speech is expressive, straightforward, and doesn’t resemble a sales pitch. Once you are satisfied with how you sound, the next step is to practice with a friend or family member. Keep at it until you can give your pitch without any trouble. After all, as the saying goes – practice makes perfect!
• Be confident. As you are practicing, you must pay attention not only to how you sound but also to how you move. Confident and composed body language will ensure that you make a great first impression. Keep an upright posture, remember to smile, and maintain eye contact. Your tone and facial expressions also matter – be animated and show the other person that you are interested in them.
• Keep it natural. Remember that an elevator pitch isn’t a monologue but a conversation. It must be authentic and flow naturally, so try building an emotional connection with the person you’re talking to. Introduce yourself, tell an anecdote from your life, and don’t be afraid to joke around. People are more likely to remember and approach you when you show off your personality.
• Finish on a high note. The end of your elevator pitch is your last chance to leave the other person with a strong impression. You will want to finish on a high note, thanking your conversation partner and offering to connect again at a later date. Don’t forget to give them a reliable way of contacting you, such as a business card or your social media profile.

🚫 Common Elevator Pitch Mistakes

Before starting any task, it is important to learn all the correct steps. It is also valuable to figure out precisely what should be avoided. Below, we have described some of the most common mistakes students make when writing and delivering their elevator pitches.

• …Polishing your speech too much. When you create a pitch that’s a little too refined, it becomes a monologue. That leaves no room for the other person to get involved and makes you sound less natural. Instead of memorizing what you wrote word for word, concentrate on remembering the main points. This way, your speech will sound fresh and different every time, becoming more engaging to the other person.
• …Speaking way too fast. Unsurprisingly, you usually won’t have much time to deliver your elevator pitch. You might think that the faster you speak, the more you will be able to tell your conversation partner. However, bombarding them with information can often have the opposite effect. The other person will struggle to keep up, and they could easily get lost in what you’re saying. When delivering your speech, prioritize clarity first and foremost – so make sure you are intelligible.
• …Freezing up. It is understandable that you might begin to feel anxious and stressed right as you are about to give your speech. Stage fright during public speaking is a widespread occurrence, even among professionals. The surest way to ensure that you don’t freeze up is to keep practicing until you have your elevator pitch committed to memory. Once again, don’t just memorize it in its entirety. Rehearse with different people, such as family, friends, and peers. The more often you do it, the simpler it will get in the future.
• …Rambling on and on. Your elevator pitch must have a clear purpose. Whether you are at a job interview or a casual networking event, you have to remember to be concise and focused. Even if you have unlimited time to speak, try not to go off track or ramble about irrelevant things. Pay attention to your conversation partner, giving them the space to interject or ask questions when needed.
• …Pushing a sale. You have probably heard that the best way to get a job is to “sell yourself.” However, when delivering your elevator pitch, the last thing you want to do is to sound like you are making a sale. If you push too hard, you might drive the other person away and ruin your first impression. Instead, try to hold a casual conversation and observe their reactions. Don’t keep talking to them if they are looking bored. Instead, try to switch up topics and figure out what they’re interested in.
• …Sounding monotonous. Even the best elevator pitches can come off as stifled and boring when said in a monotonous voice. On the contrary, the simplest speech can sound exciting and motivating when you deliver it with enough energy and vigor. After all, enthusiasm and confidence go a long way in ensuring that you are remembered!

👀 Elevator Pitching: What Comes Next?

Did you manage to spark the curiosity in your potential employer with your elevator pitch? Congratulations! You made them want to contact you again. Now, it’s time for the second round. This is what you can expect to happen next on different occasions:

✨ Excellent Elevator Pitch Examples for Any Occasion

Keep in mind that opportunities can arise anywhere. So, be flexible and capable of adapting to the situation. In this section, we have provided several examples for different occasions. Check them out to learn how to build your elevator pitch.

Hello! I am a senior student majoring in International Business Administration who seeks experience in the marketing field. During my studies at university, I pursued knowledge that would perfectly fit the position of a junior marketer. I have skills in digital marketing, and I would be happy to contribute to your team. I am open to innovative ideas and ready to embrace any challenge. I am not afraid of difficulties. I meet them head-on and solve them with confidence! Would you like to expand your team with a young and progressive specialist?

Career Fair

Hello! I am a graphic designer, and I know how to boost your customers’ interaction, strengthen your brand identity, and increase profits. I am a recent graduate with three months of experience as an E-Commerce Graphic Designer with XYZ Company. Throughout my studies and internship, I gained skills that will definitely help your company reach the next level. I strive to grow and bring my input to the development of your business. Would you be willing to know more about my qualifications?

Networking Event

Hello! I’ve heard that you are looking for a research assistant. Since I have experience performing competitor analysis, I would like to take this opportunity and become a part of your team. I am a recent graduate of Oklahoma University with a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Finance. I am sure that my skills and knowledge will fit the position perfectly. I strive for professional growth, and I am ready to expand my horizons at your company! Could you please tell me more about the requirements for the research assistant position?

LinkedIn Profile

I am a senior student majoring in International Relations and Development at Stanford University. My experience in the law field has opened my eyes to many civil rights violation issues. Thus, I strive to use my knowledge to make this world a better place to live.

I am highly motivated to work with civil disputes and human inequality cases. I believe that my set of skills and knowledge will bring value to any organization. I am ready to embrace new challenges and work to establish social equality.

I am looking forward to fruitful cooperation, and I am open to job offers. Contact me if you believe that we can collaborate successfully.

Job Opportunity

Hello! My name is Jacob, and I’ve spent the last four years acquiring skills in programming and getting a Bachelor’s degree in IT. I’ve been interested in working with your company for a while. And now, I cannot miss this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

I believe that the knowledge and experience that I got during my internships will bring a fresh perspective to your company. Being ready to accept challenges, I consider myself a risk-taker and an effective problem solver. Would you be willing to expand your team with young talent?

Hello, my name is Alex, and I am a third-year student at George Washington University majoring in Contemporary Communication. I am willing to gain experience in journalism, interpersonal communication, narrative, and storytelling.

During my studies at university, I have developed a solid theoretical ground and acquired basic journalism skills. Now, I aim to start my career path, and your company is a perfect place for the beginning of my professional development.

I am a quick learner, so I will be able to catch up with the tasks effectively. I am sure my knowledge will become valuable for your company, and your professionalism will help me gain journalistic experience. I am looking forward to becoming a part of your team and taking a brave step into the professional world.

Thank you for your attention! Now, you are ready to write your perfect elevator pitch. If you think our tips might help someone you know, please send them this article.

• What is an Elevator Pitch: Examples for Students – Rebecca LeBoeuf, Southern New Hampshire University
• How To Give an Elevator Pitch (With Examples) – Career Guide, Indeed.com
• Your One-Minute Elevator Pitch – Kent State University
• 12 Elevator Pitch Examples + How to Write Your Own – Jacinda Santora, Influencer Marketing Hub
• 30 Seconds to Impress How to Write an Elevator Pitch – EU Business School
• How to Create an Elevator Pitch With Examples – Alison Doyle, the balancecareers
• Elevator Pitch Examples and Creative Personalization Ideas – YourDictionary
• 5 Elevator Pitch Examples for Students + Quick Tips – John McTale, Storydoc
• Creating Your Elevator Pitch – The University of Arizona
• Elevator Pitch Examples for Students – Brooklyn Kiosow, Thomasnet.com
• The Perfect Elevator Pitch To Land A Job – Nancy Collamer, Forbes
• Elevator Pitch for Students: Guide and Top Tips 2023 – Career Employer
• Time to Perfect Your Elevator Pitch – Kuk Jang, University of Pennsylvania
• What Is Effective Writing? A Definition
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Home Blog Business Elevator Pitch Guide: The Essentials to Elevator Pitch Presentations

Elevator Pitch Guide: The Essentials to Elevator Pitch Presentations

In her book Resonate , communication and Persuasion Expert Nancy Duarte, a highly praised master of turning story patterns into effective business communications, recommends “Showing your humanness when you present” as a “great way to stand out.” Yet, how do we manage to do that over a conversation that can only last as long as an elevator ride, at best? We’re focusing on elevator pitches over this note, aiming at strengthening your skills in delivering a successful elevator pitch for business in a way that brings your company, efforts, and ideas the best success moving forward. 

Table of Content

What is an elevator pitch?

How long should an elevator pitch be, elevator pitch real-life applications, the basic structure for an elevator pitch, recommendations on delivering your elevator pitch.

• Four Effective Elevator Pitch Examples (with Real-Life Experiences)

According to elevator company Kencor, Inc. , vertical lifts “have variable ride times”. An elevator ride in a small town in Kentucky is certainly not the same as one in New York City. The reason “there may be considerable differences in terms of speed”, as CMA Lifts states , is “because one thing is having to serve maybe a four-story building and much more is having to do with a building that in turn goes to touch a dozen.” Times will vary depending on the type of elevator, too, amount of a building’s stories, and stops made on the way.

In Taipei 101, which CMA presents as “the third highest skyscraper in the world,” a lift can travel 60.6 km to reach the 89th floor “at an altitude of 382 meters, in a time frame of about 40 seconds.” Why does this matter? We can use these times as a starting reference. 

The concept of an “elevator pitch” is most clear when we think of the length of an elevator ride as that timeframe in which you can make a perfect introduction to a potential investor or stakeholder. 

The content of a perfect elevator pitch should be succinct, direct, and plentiful . It’s also certainly one you polish every time you deliver it.

A highly esteemed 30 seconds is the common industry rule for a winning first impression. A half-minute capsule is the average notion of an elevator pitch length. This is one common reference point for elevator pitches. 

The second common standard for elevator pitches is based on a higher ride average stemming from New York City. Harvard Business Review (HBR) actually goes for this higher elevator ride average of 118 seconds. Of course, the higher amount of skyscrapers in that multicultural place makes up for the considerable difference. 

Whether you’re settling for the standard 30 seconds or allowing yourself an extension of up to 118 seconds, the truth is that elevator pitch rides are quick, efficient, and to the point. The goal is to sell your idea or product as fast as the attention you’re likely to get during a single elevator ride.  

The above is very much tied to the standard sitcom, TV, and movie scene of someone selling an episode, a project, or any idea while catching up to the jam-packed, unattainable executive everyone wants a hold of as they walk into the office. 

If we stick to this produced idea of an elevator ride that we see on screen, the most common real-life application is a key potential investor or customer, a person we wish to attract to whom we, in our minds, say: “If only I could pitch my idea to this person for a single minute, I’d sell it!” 

A conference, a demo-day presentation, product launches , and many other networking events are the real-life equivalent of what we see on TV (as in a Shark Tank episode). 

In general, elevator pitches are used to pitch a startup, engage in sales, introduce oneself, present a new venture to a venture capitalist, and even seek a job, even. 

As we said when we presented our Creative Elevator Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template , “The Elevator Pitch for Interview enables users to demonstrate their career portfolio in an engaging manner.” Someone who walks into an office or casually discusses their career over a taxi ride in a way that succinctly showcases their expertise and abilities is much more likely to catch attention for an open position than someone without clarity or ability to express their thoughts, goals, and desires. 

A well-thought-out elevator pitch for a role or as a presentation to a startup, even as a project description in a nutshell, is similar to a very powerful wild card that you pull up your sleeve when that person you know meets you by chance as much as gives you a quick 15-minute introduction to prove your point. Whether an investor can call you back during a 10-minute break or you run into a key business partner in a hallway, on the way somewhere, or at a quick reception at any event, an elevator pitch is destined to convey your ideas across very succinctly so you can pick up longer conversations (or pitches) at a more convenient or later stage. 

As we also said in the article to the template above, “business owners and managers use elevator pitch PowerPoints to discuss ideas briefly.” Templates and business presentations in this category of elevator pitch decks serve the useful purpose of putting ideas up on screen in a nutshell for focused discussion. And that’s usually highly appreciated. 

Further below, we’ll get to a real-life example of a pitch that worked great for Carmine Gallo in working with an esteemed language interpretation company in Monterrey, California. 

For now, if you’re looking to know more about “interview presentations”, including an Elevator Pitch Example for Job Seekers, our article How to Give A Compelling Interview Presentation: Tips, Examples, and Topic Ideas is here to help. We’ll get to more elevator speech examples for entrepreneurs in the section below, as well. 

For now, how do we ideally present our elevator pitches? 

Create visually appealing presentations as much as possible. The goal is for your visuals to give power and create engagement that adds to your message or speech. This can be done either by carefully pairing your presentation templates so the aesthetic remains cohesive, or opt for a software solution like the SlideModel’s AI presentation maker to speed up slide design process. Then, also work very conscientiously on your messaging.

As Nancy Duarte says, “Truly great communicators make it look easy as they lure audiences to adopt their ideas and take action.” To learn how to deliver a presentation pitch, and if we can expand on what the author says, this “isn’t something that just happens automatically; it comes at the price of long and thoughtful hours spent constructing messages that resonate deeply and elicit empathy.” Make sure you put in your focused, attentive hours constructing that ideal message that will resonate with your audience to make them take action. Results will be noticeable if you do, and your confidence in delivering these speeches will naturally and greatly improve as you move forward. This long-term exercise is about being in control of what you’re gearing and how you’re doing so. 

As the already-referenced HBR article states, “The first 8 seconds are the ‘hook’—the time you have to get the ‘lean in’ factor, to snag your prospect, to catch their interest.” For them, “Those first 8 seconds are the key”, as HBR puts it. And that’s essentially so because this first span is where we most commonly capture an audience’s full attention before we naturally lose it.  

Thereafter, you’re looking to answer a few key questions for your audience. In Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs – How to be Insanely Great in Front of Any Audience , for example, Carmine Gallo breaks down the ultimate elevator pitch by recommending a presenter: “Simply create a one-sentence answer for the following four questions: (1) What do you do?  (2) What problem do you solve?  (3) How are you different?  (4) Why should I care?”

As promised, here’s what a winning elevator pitch looked like for Gallo in working with an interpretation company (which we labeled here as XYZ) in Monterrey, California: 

XYZ company…

“is the world’s largest provider of phone interpretation services for companies who want to connect with their non-English-speaking customers [what it does] . 

Every twenty-three seconds, someone who doesn’t speak English enters this country [the problem] .

When he or she calls a hospital, a bank, an insurance company, or 911, it’s likely that an […] interpreter is on the other end [how it’s different] . 

We help you talk to your customers, patients, or sales prospects in 150 languages [why you should care] .”

Quite succinctly and like we also said in our Creative Elevator Pitch Deck PowerPoint Template , whenever you’re figuring out how to write an elevator pitch, think of ways “to deliver the concept to an audience in a short description that listeners can easily understand.” The pieces of advice we give above should all assist in knowing how to present an elevator pitch successfully. But we’ve for further recommendations to this end. 

The first of our recommendations has to do with pacing. Just because an elevator pitch is expected to be of short duration, that doesn’t mean you need to race through it. Keep it intelligible. Take your time to breathe. Go slowly at it so your ideas can come through to your audience. Don’t rush through an elevator speech just so you can make up for the short time allowed. Practice, instead. Make sure you choose the right words and learn them by heart. Then, move slowly through them. 

The above leads us to our second piece of advice. If you’re building a perfect elevator pitch, revise, edit, and check again! Go through each word many times until you find the right-suiting one for the precise idea or concept you wish to convey. Get them right! 

Also, if you’re looking for an elevator pitch presentation template specially designed for presenting to VCs, angel investors, or stakeholders, for example, seek out specialized material. Our Formal Elevator Pitch Template for PowerPoint might work better in that case. The material is a framework of various slides designed for users to customize and perfect their sales pitches. You’re starting off with a base. 

On the other hand, seek to put yourself out there to family and friends. Especially seek business partners, colleagues, and people in and out of your field who can tell you how you’re doing with your elevator pitch for business. Rather than fight, be offended, take observations or corrections personally, and let alone justify your pitch’s content as you present to people outside the industry, seek to truly listen to feedback, take note, and make sure you incorporate it later. 

The reason behind this observation is that a perfect business pitch contemplates the human aspect of everyone listening. As Duarte puts it in her book, “Even with mountains of facts, you can still fail to resonate. That’s because resonance doesn’t come from the information itself, but rather from the emotional impact of that information.” So, seek to connect emotionally. 

Acknowledging emotion is frequently left out of everything business-related; yet, note how specialist Duarte recommends presenters “Use plenty of facts, but accompany them with emotional appeal.” Listen to your audience and polish your content and delivery until you can sync both the importance of data with the emotional calling that gets audiences to forget what and how you said it, but they walk away changed, with a new vision, and, more importantly, ready to support you and your endeavors. 

Let’s check how people have achieved this before you. 

Four Effective Elevator Pitch Examples (with Real-Life Experiences )

Our first examples of elevator pitches come from a German impact food startup. Though a bit on the longer side with a final 3-minute length, the video introduces the problem and solution flowingly with a captivating start. It includes benefits, creates an overall experience in itself for viewers as it appeals to the senses, and also incorporates a concise call to action that describes exactly where their efforts will be focused. This is a good example to get started in perfecting your upcoming elevator pitch. 

From the college side, Utah State University’s Cooperative Extension Services has an elevator pitch winner who made a compelling business case in less than 2 minutes. This is a perfect example of a 118 elevator pitch that needs a bit of pacing down to be perfect. Instead of rushing, this coffee cup business idea can easily be conceived to go much further on a slower scale. The pitch merits it. Yet, the data and sentiment, the surprise, and all the background work are there, making this a great academic example that can easily guide any executive into winning business presentations.

On the last note, The National Science Foundation came up with a video series on elevator pitches titled “Real People. Real elevators.” Check out episode 2 here for tips with a real-life dramatization and setting if you’d like to picture the situation of a real-life example a bit further. 

Now that we’re moving to the more cinematic side, one of Vince Vaughn’s characters has also made a point on product elevator pitches that we can rescue in a light spirit. The reason is that Vince’s character’s pitch works thanks to how he conveys a clear business idea with a captivating (though risky!) introduction to selling a powerful concept to a group of executives. The scene appears fueled by a writing team that apparently knows the back works of pitching an idea fairly well. Here’s what’s been labeled as “The best elevator pitch of the world” in a YouTube clip of 2011’s movie Dilemma . 

Here, we provide a range of elevator pitch examples to cater to different scenarios:

Business Elevator Pitch Examples:

Imagine you are the founder of a sustainable fashion startup, and you’re pitching your idea to a potential investor:

“I’m the founder of GreenStyle Apparel. We’re disrupting the fashion industry by producing high-quality, eco-friendly clothing made from recycled materials. With a growing consumer demand for sustainable fashion and our innovative supply chain, we’re well-positioned to capture a significant market share. Our recent partnership with [Notable Retailer] has already proven the appeal of our products. I invite you to join us in creating a more sustainable future while enjoying impressive returns on your investment.”

Imagine you’re the founder of a health tech startup and you’re pitching to a potential investor:

“I’m the founder of HealthTech Innovations, a startup dedicated to transforming healthcare through innovative technology. Our flagship product, HealthLink, is a telemedicine platform that connects patients with healthcare providers in real time, improving access to care, and reducing healthcare costs. With the recent surge in telehealth demand, we’ve already secured partnerships with major hospital networks and insurance providers.

Elevator Pitch Examples for Students:

As a college student majoring in communications, you’re networking at a career fair:

“I’m currently pursuing a degree in communications with a focus on digital marketing. During my internship at [Prominent Agency], I had the opportunity to work on campaigns for major clients like [Well-known Brand]. I excel at creating engaging social media content and analyzing performance metrics to drive results. I’m eager to bring my creative skills and data-driven approach to a dynamic marketing team like yours.”

Imagine you’re a marketing major and you’re introducing yourself at a networking event:

“I’m a marketing enthusiast with a passion for creating meaningful brand experiences. Throughout my coursework, I’ve honed my skills in market research, digital marketing, and campaign management. During my internship at [Marketing Agency], I had the opportunity to work on a social media campaign that resulted in a 25% increase in brand engagement.

I’m particularly intrigued by the intersection of technology and marketing, and I’m excited to leverage emerging trends to drive brand success. As a student, I’ve been an active member of the American Marketing Association, where I’ve collaborated with peers on real-world marketing projects. I’m eager to connect with professionals in the field and explore opportunities to apply my knowledge and creativity to your marketing initiatives.”

Elevator Pitch for Interview Example:

You’re interviewing for a project management role at a tech company:

“I’m excited about the opportunity to join your organization as a project manager. With a solid background in project management and a PMP certification, I’ve successfully led cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget. In my previous role at [Former Company], I was recognized for improving project efficiency by 20% through streamlined processes. I’m confident that my skills and experience align with your company’s goals and can contribute to its continued success.”

Elevator Pitch Examples for Interview (Technical Role):

You’re interviewing for a software engineering position at a software startup:

“I’m a software engineer with a passion for creating innovative solutions. In my previous position with [Tech Company], I was the lead developer on a project that resulted in a 40% increase in app user engagement. I specialize in backend development and have experience with a wide range of programming languages, including Python, Java, and Ruby. I’m excited about the opportunity to bring my technical expertise to your team and help drive your mission of revolutionizing the industry.”

You’re interviewing for a data scientist position at a software startup:

“As a data scientist with a strong background in statistical analysis and machine learning, I’ve been at the forefront of turning data into actionable insights. During my tenure at [Analytics Firm], I developed a predictive model that reduced customer churn by 15% for a major telecommunications client. I have experience working with large datasets and utilizing tools such as Python, R, and TensorFlow. My passion for data-driven decision-making and my commitment to staying at the cutting edge of data science techniques make me the ideal candidate to contribute to your data-driven culture and help your organization make informed strategic decisions.”

These real-life elevator pitch examples demonstrate how individuals can effectively present their qualifications, accomplishments, and enthusiasm in various professional contexts, such as entrepreneurship, networking, and job interviews. The key is to tailor your pitch to the specific situation and audience to make a memorable and impactful impression.

A few key aspects of perfecting a product elevator speech (or an elevator pitch, for that matter) is to keep it short. Be brief. From 30 to 118, we’re speaking of a few seconds put together for you to be persuasive, share your goals, problem, solution, and skills, and make a difference in attracting your intended audience. 

Practice, practice, and then practice some more. Mastering a pitch of this kind truly takes a lot of practice to go over the right words at the right pace, and powerfully impact a person or group. 

Also, keep a business card handy. If your pitch works, a quick and efficient way of giving your contact details to your stakeholders will do wonders to move your business forward. 

What’s next? Our recommendations

Before you go, here are a few real-life examples of how to end a presentation , in case they help in general. And, if you’re looking to Create a Great Investor Pitch Deck and Close the Deal , this other article might be useful. We’re giving you The 11 Key Slides For Creating A Winning Investor Pitch Deck there, too. 

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Carmine Gallo, Elevator Pitch, Garr Reynolds, Nancy Duarte, Pitch Deck, Sales Filed under Business

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14.8 Elevator Speech

Learning objectives.

• Discuss the basic parts of an elevator speech.
• Create an effective elevator speech.

An elevator speech is to oral communication what a Twitter message (limited to 140 characters) is to written communication. It has to engage and interest the listener, inform and/or persuade, and be memorable (Howell, L., 2006). An elevator speech is a presentation that persuades the listener in less than thirty seconds, or around a hundred words. It takes its name from the idea that in a short elevator ride (of perhaps ten floors), carefully chosen words can make a difference. In addition to actual conversations taking place during elevator rides, other common examples include the following:

• An entrepreneur making a brief presentation to a venture capitalist or investor
• A conversation at the water cooler
• Comments during intermission at a basketball game
• A conversation as you stroll across the parking lot

Creating an Elevator Speech

An elevator speech does not have to be a formal event, though it can be. An elevator speech is not a full sales pitch and should not get bloated with too much information. The idea is not to rattle off as much information as possible in a short time, nor to present a “canned” thirty-second advertising message, but rather to give a relaxed and genuine “nutshell” summary of one main idea. The speech can be generic and nonspecific to the audience or listener, but the more you know about your audience, the better. When you tailor your message to that audience, you zero in on your target and increase your effectiveness (Albertson, E., 2008). The emphasis is on brevity, but a good elevator speech will address several key questions:

• What is the topic, product or service?
• Who are you?
• Who is the target market? (if applicable)
• What is the revenue model? (if applicable)
• What or who is the competition and what are your advantages?

Table 14.7 “Parts of an Elevator Speech” adapts the five parts of a speech to the format of the elevator speech.

Table 14.7 Parts of an Elevator Speech

• How are you doing?
• Great! Glad you asked. I’m with (X Company) and we just received this new (product x)—it is amazing. It beats the competition hands down for a third of the price. Smaller, faster, and less expensive make it a winner. It’s already a sales leader. Hey, if you know anyone who might be interested, call me! (Hands business card to the listener as visual aid)

Key Takeaway

You often don’t know when opportunity to inform or persuade will present itself, but with an elevator speech, you are prepared!

• Pick a product or service and prepare an elevator speech (less than a hundred words, no more than thirty seconds). Rehearse the draft out loud to see how it sounds and post or present it in class.
• Find an example of an elevator speech online (YouTube, for example) and review it. Post the link and a brief summary of strengths and weaknesses. Share and compare with classmates.
• Prepare an elevator speech (no more than thirty seconds) and present to the class.

Albertson, E. (2008). How to open doors with a brilliant elevator speech . New Providence, NJ: R. R. Bowker.

Howell, L. (2006). Give your elevator speech a lift . Bothell, WA: Publishers Network.

Business Communication for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Elevator Speech: An Effective Way to Communicate Your Work

Have you heard about the concept of an “elevator speech”? It’s a brief summary of who you are, what you do, and your career or project goals—with an emphasis on brief . Imagine running into the CEO of the dream company you’d like to work for, while waiting in line for coffee or taking an elevator: you will need a well-planned “pitch” that you can deliver concisely, clearly, and with confidence. Your elevator speech is an abbreviated version of your response to the common job interview question, “Tell me about yourself.” Having a well-prepared pitch to share at a moment’s notice is essential to grabbing your audience’s attention—and to leave them wanting to learn more about you. An elevator speech is also easy to tailor to different audiences, once you have your first draft done.

Basic rules to follow:

• Keep it short (30 seconds to 2 minutes).
• Capture the person’s attention early and state your goals clearly.
• Focus on the WHY. It conveys the big picture and the importance of your work.
• Consider the audience: don’t use jargon or acronyms that your listener may not understand.
• Tell your story with enthusiasm.
• Make it personal: it is about you, your work or research, your strengths.
• Leave some room for the imagination. People will definitely ask follow up questions, if they are interested in learning more about you.

Invited by the Office of Postdoc Affairs, Dr. Mike Matrone, Associate Director for Office of Career & Professional Development at the University of California, San Francisco led a workshop on this topic in late August 2019. To help you get started on drafting your elevator speech, below are example prompts from the workshop.

An easy way to start drafting your elevator speech: Example 1: You’re interviewing for your dream job, and are expected to answer, “Tell me about your research”.

• I am a ______/ I study_____

Supporting Details

• My question is…
• My approach is…

Findings & Conclusion

• I discovered that ___
• This is important because ___
• In the future___

Example 2: You’re a speaker at TEDx Seattle.

Bottom line

• My name is ___ and I am a ____.
• Did you know___? / Every year___
• I found that___
• This is significant because ___
• I did this by___
• Nuggets of what’s next.

Last but not least, the elevator speech is not something you can make up on the spot. It’s important to think ahead, prepare a draft, and practice your delivery. Practice is always the key to success. Practice with peers or mentors, or come to our office hours for feedback. In addition to the examples above, check out the following informational resources on crafting an elevator speech.

• UCSF Mission in a Minute
• Elevator Pitch – Career Network for Student Scientists and Postdocs at Yale University
• How to write a PhD Elevator Pitch – Academic Positions
• Communication: Two minutes to impress – Nature Jobs
• Can You Describe Your Research in 30 seconds? 60? – BiteSizeBio

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How To Have an Effective Elevator Conversation: Do’s and Don’ts From My Experience

Elevator conversations may or may not be something that comes naturally to you, but a little forethought will make these random exchanges more purposeful and may bolster how you are viewed by management and coworkers..

I only recently heard the term "elevator speech," but the phrase was not lost on me and I suspect the term carries relevance to most people who have spent any time in the professional world. An elevator speech refers to the brief, but meaningful, conversation one could have with colleagues and management in those fleeting awkward moments you spend in the elevator shuffling between floors. This may or may not be something that comes naturally to you, but a little forethought will make these random exchanges more purposeful and may bolster how you are viewed by management, which can help in the future. A recent experience I had in my own office proves a useful example in this space.

A little background on myself: I am fairly outgoing in the office environment. This is relevant in the context of the elevator speech, because I frequently tire of the typical exchange that you would expect to have in the elevator in the morning.

This may sound familiar:

Person 1: Hi, how are you?

Person 2: Good, how are you?

Person 1: Good

Sometimes the cycle can repeat out of habit and Person 1’s response becomes “Good, how are you?”

Rather than responding "Well, still good," or becoming perturbed at the other party for clearly not listening, I strive to change the game. When someone asks their Monday morning opener of "How was your weekend?", I thoughtfully respond with something altogether different:

"Excellent!"

"Unbelievably good!"

"Terrifying!"

To date, every single one of my responses has garnered significantly more than "Good, how was yours?"

After a few months, I made this a habit and the responses were always different: some positive, some simply toeing the company mantra. One day, I stepped into the elevator with a senior vice president (SVP) and found doubt. I thought that he would take this new type of response as an artificial attempt to gain notoriety. I knew it was coming, and when he asked, "How are you today?", I reverted to the trusty "Oh, good, I guess." I almost could not believe how terrible it sounded when it came out. Was I not even sure if I was good? To make matters worse, he responded "That's good, as long as you are generating value," quite certain of himself.

I'm sure this exchange was less than noteworthy from the SVP's viewpoint, and while that is not necessarily a negative thing, it assuredly is not positive. To put that into perspective, we can reflect on the intent and potential outcomes of the elevator conversation. The conversation is brief as it only takes a few moments to reach your destination and part ways. There are exceptions of course, but in this short period it would be difficult to make or break one's career. There simply is not enough time to solve complex technical issues, or report on them if you already have. Conversely, it would equally be as difficult to detail enough faults to seal your career's fate.

Consider though, if the exchanges that you have with the professionals you meet in these situations are positive experiences on an ongoing basis, your coworkers, management, and others will begin to look forward to these exchanges. These positive exchanges will be memorable for these people, and you will be tied to them. Even if you do not personally know the people that you engage with, given a positive experience, your face will more likely be recalled for longer than if the exchange was neutral or even slightly negative.

Regardless of your technical prowess, the elevator conversation, when used properly, can be a powerful skill that warrants development.

What was truly incredible for me about the example I used above was the realization that if I had stuck to my guns, and treated the SVP like every other colleague, the exchange would have been quite good and my normal response would have worked wonderfully. With this in mind, and a more serious consideration of what an elevator speech is, there are a few conclusions to draw that can make this an exceptional skill.

The first thing to consider is the lesson that I learned the hard way: To approach each elevator conversation the same, regardless of the person's title or position. It is easier, honest, and it will be appreciated.

How should you start the elevator conversation? In the examples above, I am relying on my counterpart's curiosity to fan the flames of the exchange, which is effective, but passive. A more fruitful tactic is known as high-quality (-level) inquiry. This involves asking open-ended questions that require both thought and empathy. These types of questions and statements invite a high-quality response from your colleague and seek to understand his or her point of view on the topic in question. Avoid questions or statements that will lead to one-word answers. This provides obstacles for the conversation which will stagnate and stop in the time it takes to move floors. Bear the time in mind as you will likely not have a lot of it.

You don't need to address work specifically, it can be kept light and informal, but it should be engaging. An example would be discussing the weather. A low-quality inquiry would sound like:

"Nice weather we are having, hey?"

This is both leading and is likely to evoke a single-word response. The conclusion that the weather is good is already stated. It is simply easier to agree with a "Yes" in this short window than to disagree and convince you why.

A high-quality inquiry may be more of the form:

"What are you going to do with all of this nice weather we are having?"

This is more likely to engage the person and require them to craft a thoughtful response.

The next thing to consider is high-quality (-level) advocacy. They have delivered their thoughtful response, and now it is up to you to do something with it. Your response will illustrate your side of the topic, which may lead to a longer conversation. You should attempt to describe your thought process or point of view to allow your partner to use high-level inquiry or advocacy in turn.

Statements that are low-level inquiries are conclusive or assuming such as "You're right, it's supposed to rain next week." A high-quality advocacy statement may sound something like: "It's true, but my grass is always green because we installed Astroturf after the second dog." This statement considers a response and introduces a separate topic so that they may use high-level inquiry in response.

As a captive audience, most of us have fallen victim to the overwhelming silence that has ensued shortly after advertising monitors were installed inside the elevator. Consequently, the art of the elevator conversation seems to be a dying one. A final consideration to make when dusting off your elevator conversation skills is to ask what do you want out of the conversation?

Elevator exchanges are very useful for consultants. An acid test for a consultant is to convey his or her key ideas in the 20-sec to 60-sec elevator ride to a senior client executive. The higher the executive’s echelon in the client organization, the better. The clarity of thought and speech is important here. You may want to be memorable, funny, professional, technical, or maybe you just want to pass the time on the way to the top floor. Ultimately, you can be any of these things as long as you are genuine. This will go extremely far in ensuring that your conversations are positive and over time generate lasting memories in the minds of your colleagues that will be favorable.

Author and TWA Editor Matt French (right) recommends approaching each elevator conversation in the same way, regardless of the person's title or position, and keeping it honest and engaging.

French is a reservoir engineer working in ConocoPhillips Canada’s Surmont Reservoir Modeling group. He has held engineering roles both in conventional assets and oil sands, and currently performs detailed thermal simulations on various oil sands developments in the Surmont asset that allow for characterization of the reservoir and associated production. He has also worked to develop Surmont projects, including water source and disposal wells, and the steam-assisted gravity drainage observation wells, in addition to developing sustaining pads and infill wells. French holds a BS in mechanical engineering from the University of Calgary and a professional engineering designation in the province of Alberta.  

How to Close an Elevator Speech

by Andrea Cody

Published on 26 Sep 2017

Even the most well-crafted elevator speech -- a 30-60 self-introduction that explains who you are, what you do and why it matters to a potential business contact or employer -- can fall flat without a strong finish. Your closing should issue a strong call to action. It should also be fluid enough to adapt to a number of situations.

Ask for a referral, an interview or for their permission to call them later -- at a trade show or in a taxicab, or any other instance where time is limited. This opens the door to follow up at more length. "Our designers specialize in eCommerce websites. May I call to set up a presentation?"

Ask a question when time allows. Get information about your new contact's business and build rapport. One of the best ways to do so is to ask questions. The best questions are open-ended and spontaneous: "How would you describe the role of your web site in your business?"

Finish with a flourish that ignites the listener’s curiosity and makes him want to know more. Ask yourself "Will these words linger?" It should be simple and sincere, concise and compelling. Think of a tagline. A tagline is succinct, memorable and descriptive. Here's one from a company that designs web applications: "We make the web a better place. We love it and so will you."

Edit your speech with your delivery in mind. It should sound like your natural speech patters. Practice it both on co-workers and, to ensure clarity, people not in your line of work. Know your message well enough that it flows spontaneously, rather than memorizing it, to be ready when the occasion arises.

End with a flourish, not a shrug. Never weaken your message with a "Well, I guess that's it."

Allow your "speech" to evolve. You'll undoubtedly find ways to improve it with practice.

Make sure your elevator speech communicates the same message you deliver in other key marketing materials. It's just as much a part of your "brand" as your website and your print collateral.

Speech differs from the written word, and your delivery should never sound like you're reading it.

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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14.8: Elevator Speech

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Learning Objectives

• Discuss the basic parts of an elevator speech.
• Create an effective elevator speech.

An elevator speech is to oral communication what a Twitter message (limited to 280 characters) is to written communication. It has to engage and interest the listener, inform and/or persuade, and be memorable (Howell, L., 2006). An elevator speech is a presentation that persuades the listener in less than thirty seconds, or around a hundred words. It takes its name from the idea that in a short elevator ride (of perhaps ten floors), carefully chosen words can make a difference. In addition to actual conversations taking place during elevator rides, other common examples include the following:

• An entrepreneur making a brief presentation to a venture capitalist or investor
• A conversation at the water cooler
• Comments during intermission at a basketball game
• A conversation as you stroll across the parking lot

Creating an Elevator Speech

An elevator speech does not have to be a formal event, though it can be. An elevator speech is not a full sales pitch and should not get bloated with too much information. The idea is not to rattle off as much information as possible in a short time, nor to present a “canned” thirty-second advertising message, but rather to give a relaxed and genuine “nutshell” summary of one main idea. The speech can be generic and nonspecific to the audience or listener, but the more you know about your audience, the better. When you tailor your message to that audience, you zero in on your target and increase your effectiveness (Albertson, E., 2008). The emphasis is on brevity, but a good elevator speech will address several key questions:

• What is the topic, product or service?
• Who are you?
• Who is the target market? (if applicable)
• What is the revenue model? (if applicable)
• What or who is the competition and what are your advantages?

Table \(\PageIndex{1}\) adapts the five parts of a speech to the format of the elevator speech.

• How are you doing?
• Great! Glad you asked. I’m with (X Company) and we just received this new (product x)—it is amazing. It beats the competition hands down for a third of the price. Smaller, faster, and less expensive make it a winner. It’s already a sales leader. Hey, if you know anyone who might be interested, call me! (Hands business card to the listener as visual aid)

Key Takeaway

You often don’t know when opportunity to inform or persuade will present itself, but with an elevator speech, you are prepared!

• Pick a product or service and prepare an elevator speech (less than a hundred words, no more than thirty seconds). Rehearse the draft out loud to see how it sounds and post or present it in class.
• Find an example of an elevator speech online (YouTube, for example) and review it. Post the link and a brief summary of strengths and weaknesses. Share and compare with classmates.
• Prepare an elevator speech (no more than thirty seconds) and present to the class.

Albertson, E. (2008). How to open doors with a brilliant elevator speech . New Providence, NJ: R. R. Bowker.

Howell, L. (2006). Give your elevator speech a lift . Bothell, WA: Publishers Network.

Winners of the Nichols College Annual Elevator Speech Competition announced

Nichols College held its 12 th annual Elevator Speech Competition on April 8 in Daniels Auditorium, yielding four prize winners.  

The Elevator Speech Competition is an annual tradition at Nichols College where students test their communication and public speaking skills. Participants are challenged to create and deliver a one-minute speech to Nichols community audience members; awards include cash prizes of up to $500.  

In front of an excited crowd and a panel of alumni judges, 20 students delivered memorable orations. The winners include: 

First place: Leena Basma ’26, major in accounting. Prize $500 

Second place: Tasana Walsh ’26, major in psychology. Prize $400 

Third place: Sofia Leonardi ’26, major in general business. Prize $300 

Fourth place: Luis Garcia III ’26, major in corporate finance & investment. Prize $200  

Basma, the winner, said keeping any doubts or fears at bay was the key to her successful performance. She took an approach that helped her stay confident. 

“An elevator pitch is traditionally seen as pitching yourself to other people. But I looked at it through a different lens for the competition, because an elevator pitch isn’t only that. I think it’s also about pitching yourself to yourself, remembering all your accomplishments. It’s about regaining confidence in yourself.” 

She said her courses at Nichols also played a part in helping her win. “A lot of my business classes are focused on having students give presentations on their work, to get us comfortable with delivering our ideas verbally and not just in writing.”  

Cathy Temple, M.A., Assistant Professor of Communication, says the competition has endured for 12 years because of the importance of public speaking in students’ careers. “Nichols College emphasizes this skill in many areas because, as we all know, soft skills are ubiquitously sought after. 

“We emphasize public speaking skills in our Career and Professional Development Center during mock interview sessions, through our required public speaking courses, and of course, in the competition itself. Its importance is highlighted throughout their academic career, and not just once a year.” 

Gabriel Smith ’26 served as master of ceremonies, with judging provided by Fran Carlo ’90; Jillian Coyle ’09, MBA ’11, MSOL ’16; Katelynn Havener Mochun ’12, MBA ’17; and Tara Ostromecky ’22. 

The event was sponsored by Fran & Dawn Carlo and Jillian Coyle. 

Watch the full competition here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU-uWySQZko   

About Nichols College   

Nichols College has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business ( AACSB International ), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. Nichols offers real-world learning focused on professional depth – combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage – equipping students to exceed their own expectations. To learn more about Nichols College, visit  www.nichols.edu .  

Media Contact:   

Denise Kelley  

Marketing and Communications Writer/Editor  

[email protected]   

508-213-2219  

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