The Elevator Pitch: Word on the Street — Sept. 26th thru Sept. 30th

Trade Show Blog

The Elevator Pitch

Word on the Street by Kevin Carty

The Elevator Pitch

Let me start of by saying that I am NOT very good at this! But, it is something I strive to improve on and a skill that I admire in others.

If you don’t know what I am referring to, it is based on the concept of stepping into an elevator with someone and pitching who you are or what your company does in a compressed time frame. Depending on the number of floors in the building, you may only have 2, 5, or 10 minutes max. It’s a cool concept and applies to business interactions everyday — whether you’re on an elevator, a plane, in a meeting, or at a social gathering.

In an article from Paul Morin from CompanyFounder.com, Every Entrepreneur Needs an Elevator Pitch, he creates scenarios that explain the concept. It’s a good read.

Now, for me. I can be long-winded. I tend to over explain and use too many adjectives when talking, particularly when it’s something I am passionate about. But under the filter of The Elevator Pitch, I can see why I need to work on this.

Elevator PitchImagine if you are going into a meeting with an end-user or even better, imagine you are cold calling someone in person regarding the services you provide. While bonus points are gained for being presentable and having an engaging personality, time is everything in many of our meetings. At best, you may only get 10-15 minutes to present who you are and what you do. And sometimes even less.

So, you need to plan how you can create an engaging synopsis of what you do and be prepared to deliver it clearly and succinctly. Especially in the cold call scenario where the client may already be working with another vendor.

I find this to be very true when traveling and making sales calls to existing and new distributors. I can’t tell you the number of times I have been in a market for five days and find myself with some “gaps” to fill due to cancellations or other scheduling difficulties. So what do you do? Go sit in your room and wait until your next appoint? No, you go to Plan B and try to see someone else at the last minute, which sets up the scenario of finding them too busy to see you for more than five minutes. In that case, you must have a tight pitch of who you are and what you can offer them . . . in an engaging fashion of course.

This is a tough for me. Sometimes I hit it, but other times I don’t. And it’s usually when I have not prepped well for my Elevator Pitch.

What are your secrets to a successful pitch?

Welcome to October! Let the candy gluttony begin. 🙂

–Kevin Carty

https://twitter.com/kevin_carty
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/kevin-carty/3/800/32a

Filter by Category

Filter by Year

Recent Posts

Six Reasons to Blog in 202X

With the proliferation of video, blogging may seem quaint, even old fashion. And yet, we continue to post blogs 4-6 times per month. So, I asked Kris Asleson, the chief strategist at Flyrise (our SEO partner), why blogging is still important.

What is a Trade Show? A Guide for New Exhibitors.

What is a trade show? Trade Show, as a term, is often used interchangeably with other similar words like conventions, exhibitions, conferences, trade fairs, symposiums, and expos. And while they are similar, trade shows, and in particular professional trade shows, have a specific definition. 

The Complete Guide to Trade Show Services (Offsite & Onsite)

Onsite trade show services include all services available at the show site. Contractors typically provide these services for show management. Turnkey services are particularly valuable for first-time exhibitors, companies with limited internal resources, or those participating in numerous shows where efficiency and consistency are paramount.

What You Should Know about Trade Show Exhibit Budgeting

Companies should define a workable exhibit marketing budget, one that includes all related costs. However, the line between marketing expenses and exhibit marketing expenses can be somewhat fuzzy. You will want to create a well-defined budget that separates them.

The Top 10 Design Mistakes of Trade Show Graphics

You decided on your new trade show display . . . but you’re not done yet. Now, it’s time to design the graphics. You want AMAZING!. Below are 10 tips to consider when designing your next trade show graphics.

If Puppies Ran Trade Shows and Events

The following are 11 reasons why our lives would be better if puppies ran trade shows and events. To the ferret, goldfish, and lizard owners, you’re on your own.

If Kittens Ran Trade Shows and Events

If kittens ran trade shows and events, experience would be respected, every booth would have toys, two hours naps would be mandatory, and everyone would be cute and adorable. And we would all trust our instincts.

Baseball Terms for the Trade Show Industry

Baseball season is upon us once again. That means it’s time to refresh yourself with our BASEBALL TERMS – CLASSIC STYLE! Whichever team you root for please keep in mind these three non-bendable rules:

“I’ll Know It When I See It” — Every Designer’s Nightmare

For Exhibit and Graphic Designers, delivering a design that meets all the client’s needs — functionally, aesthetically, and fiscally — is the ultimate goal. But . . . that doesn’t mean the process is always flawless. Here are a few “Design Red Flags” from a Designer’s perspective which can delay the process (and increase your design fees).

Trade Show Staffing: Assembling the Perfect Team

Who should be there? That’s easy. Bring employees who know the products or services, who have charismatic people skills, who are personally invested in results, and who participate in pre-show planning or post-show implementation.

What You Should Know as a New Exhibit Buyer

For the sake of simplicity, let’s assume that exhibit marketing is a new experience. Exhibit marketing is certainly not rocket science. You don’t need a marketing degree to be successful at exhibit marketing. However, it helps to get advice so you make the right decisions.

10 Tips for Designing Large Format Graphics for Trade Shows

Most designers rarely design a layout larger than a corporate booklet or perhaps a 20″ x 30″ poster. Designing for large format, like trade show graphics, is actually quite simple once you know the basic steps. All it takes is a leap of faith… and trust in my advice.

Reflections on Trade Shows and Events

Are trade shows are relevant? Is there a future for industry trade shows? Are companies willing to spend their valuable marketing dollars building a temporary structure just to attract new customers or meet with existing ones?

A Trade Show Exhibitor Walks into a Bar

A Trade Show Exhibitor walks into a bar and says to the bartender, “I’ve never been in a bar before, but a friend suggested I try the 20 x 20 Booth Space.” “That’s a very popular drink,” says the bartender, “especially with my regular customers.