If you know what an elevator pitch is, you probably think of it as something only businesspeople use. In reality, it can be applied to many different fields. An elevator pitch is everything you need to say to impress your potential customer in 30 seconds or fewer—about the amount of time it would take to travel a few floors in an elevator. It’s also the perfect opportunity to showcase your uniqueness. The elevator pitch is a crucial tool for sales representatives, so here are a few tips on how to craft a perfect one.

Step 1: Brainstorm about what you want to say. Take a blank piece of paper and write down the most important things you want to tell your customer about your service, product, or company. Focus on interesting or memorable facts that make you stand out from the crowd.

Step 2: Edit ruthlessly. Eliminate jargon, repetition, and unnecessary information. As you edit, remember that an elevator pitch consists of three main parts: The benefit, the differentiator, and the ask. Make sure your pitch tells the customer what impact your product will have, what makes it different from the competition, and how you’ll proceed if the customer is interested.

Step 3: Write your pitch on a piece of paper. Spend extra time thinking about how to phrase the differentiator or value proposition in order to get your customer interested. What makes your product unique or places it above similar products offered by your competition? If you can back this up with a simple number—for example, “95 percent of customers say they’d buy the product again”—that strengthens your proposition.

Step 4: Practice your pitch. That means saying it over and over again until you don’t have to refer to your piece of paper. You don’t have to say the exact words you wrote down, but you do have to convey the important ideas. Rehearsing will allow you to speak off-the-cuff and will keep you from getting flustered if you flub your pitch or your customer reacts in an unexpected way.

Step 5: Record yourself. Make sure your voice sounds natural, that you’re not speaking too quietly or in a monotone, and that you’re not talking too fast. You want your pitch to sound like regular conversation, not a script.

Step 6: Get feedback. Ask your teammates or a trusted friend or loved one to listen to your elevator pitch. Make sure they know you’re looking for constructive critique on everything from the wording of the pitch to your body language.

Step 7: Hit the streets! Now that you have your pitch down, it’s time to take your pitch and turn it into action. You may need to tailor it for specific audiences. Not everyone is going to respond in the same way to your value proposition, so you may need to have a couple of others in the back of your mind.

An elevator pitch is a dynamic thing, so be sure to let it evolve as you grow in your career.

What tips do you have for mastering the art of the elevator pitch? Please share them in the comments. For additional blogs from Cydcor, be sure to check out https://www.cydcor.com/media.

We are Cydcor, the recognized leader in outsourced sales services located in Agoura Hills, CA. From our humble beginnings as an independent sales company based in Canada to garnering a reputation as the global leader in outsourced sales, Cydcor has come a long way. We’ve done this by having exceptional sales professionals and providing our clients with proven sales and marketing strategies that get results.

Cydcor is happy to announce two selfie contests that will be held during our next big event, Keys to Success 2015 in Dallas, TX! ICL owners attending the event will have the opportunity to submit a selfie on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #KTS2015. Entries will automatically be entered into a drawing for $100 cash!

Cydcor invites all attending ICL owners to enter the contest. If a group photo is picked as a winner, the ICL owner who posts the image will be awarded the prize. Winners will be announced on Cydcor’s Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/CydcorLLC) as well as Cydcor’s Instagram (@Cydcor) by 9:00 P.M. CST on Friday and Saturday. Be sure to follow Cydcor’s Facebook page for additional information regarding all the fun taking place at Keys to Success 2015.

The first contest will run from Friday, February 6th from 6:00 AM CST until 9:00 P.M. CST. The second contest will run from Saturday, February 7th, 2015 at 6:00 AM CST, until 9:00 P.M. CST. Winners will be announced at 9:30 P.M. CST on both days.

See you in Dallas for #KTS2015!

Terms and Conditions

Post a selfie on Instagram or Facebook using the hashtag #KTS2015 on Friday and Saturday and you will be automatically entered in the daily Keys to Success Selfie contest.  To be eligible, entrants must be (i) at least 18 years of age and (ii) registrant attending Cydcor’s Keys to Success 2015(Cydcor employees are not eligible). Multiple submissions per participant are allowed. Profanity or inappropriate language or images, as determined by Cydcor, in its sole discretion, will be disqualified. One $100 cash non-transferrable award will be provided onsite at the event. First contest begins Friday, February 6th, 2015 at 6:00 AM CST and ends same day at 9:00 P.M., CST. Second contest begins Saturday February 7th, 2015 from 6:00 AM CST until 9:00 P.M. CST. The winners will be selected by Cydcor, in its sole discretion, and announced via Cydcor’s Facebook page at 9:30 P.M. CST. This promotional offer is not intended to create a partnership, joint venture, co-ownership or other association between Cydcor and the participant.

This promotion does not have a connection with Facebook in any way and is not sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. By entering the contest, participants agree to fully release Facebook from any and all liability.