What is the Real Reason for an Elevator Pitch?
Everything you do with your brand should really communicate to the world to help people to remember who you are. As a photographer, you are a problem solver and help clients do this and so your brand really should convey this message. Often you may be somewhere without a business card and asked what is it you do. This is your perfect time to tell your story but in a short and concise way in which the other person listening can digest the information and assign t to their memory. A long-form explanation is not required, this is why it is called the Elevator Pitch. It needs to last just long enough to cover a floor or two.
For example, if you are asked what you do, even saying that you shoot for brands, agencies B2B or portraits could be too short.
You could say it like this and it gives a better delivery – This is your elevator pitch in the raw.
Many businesses struggle to get high-quality photos of their products, or people, this means fewer sales to their competitors. I’m a photographer who specializes in…
This conveys a very positive message to the other person who has asked you the question. It gives them time to memorise this for later recall. If you back this up with your business card, when they require any photography you will be in their mind.
The Basic Formula
Part 1
Potential clients buy solutions to problems and they all have them, they also think they have this covered especially when you oversell your services. Therefore, opening your elevator pitch by stating a problem gets their attention.
Think about what problems a brand may have and write them down, don’t overthink this part though.
Here is a problem – Many brands find it difficult to find a photographer who can shoot high-quality photos of their products, people or if you are a portrait or wedding photographer then portraits or weddings.
Part 2: What is the Solution you are Offering?
This is where you answer the “what do you do for work” question.
Answer: I’m a photographer who captures high-quality images for my clients in …………….
Part 3: What Are the Positive Results Working with You?
This is where you add the punch line, and this is where they will remember you because of how you solve problems.
The Positive: My work allows clients to increase sales and build a better brand giving a positive return on investment (ROI)
What is the famous elevator pitch – (noun INFORMAL)
A succinct and persuasive sales pitch.
An elevator pitch is a conversation between you and another person when they ask what do you do? To visualise this the best way, imagine you are in a lift travelling between floors and the person next to you ask the question. It’s important these days to have one, particularly as the other person could be a potential client or link to a client and some work.
It should lead to a deeper dialogue about what you do, where you do it and for who. What does your company can offer? The reality typically you may have just 60 seconds to leave an exciting, impactful and meaningful impression with whomever you come in contact with. So make them count.
Keeping it short and sweet, summing it all up within 2-3 sentences if possible. Instead of focusing on YOU and what you DO, talk about who you serve and how you serve them. How do you do this? Let’s walk through it.
There is no tool better to market yourself other than the elevator pitch. No matter your style, you will always need to be able to sell yourself, your idea, your product or your business at a moment’s notice. That means an elevator pitch, so named because it should tell your would-be client everything they need to know in the 30 seconds or so that they may be riding up an elevator with you.
Crafting the best elevator pitch possible can be tricky. You may bump into someone at a social function, on the train, or, quite literally, in an elevator and need to be able to make your elevator pitch to them there and then. The need to know your business offering inside and out is the best foot forward.
Your elevator pitch needs to be well-rehearsed and field-tested without being so rigid as not to allow you to adjust on the fly based on your contact’s response. It needs to get immediately to the point while still allowing you to build a narrative. It needs to be so compelling that your contact will want to know more and yet clear enough that they understand the idea then and there. Crafting your best elevator pitch may take you longer than you think, especially when you sit down and begin thinking about it, but it’s well worth your work in creating it because you just never know when the next job is popping along.
Here are some pointers to help you craft yours
1.) Create connection:
2.) Establish credibility:
3.) Leave them wanting more.
4.) Give them an invitation:
5.) Do not defend
1. Start by introducing yourself
2. Summarize what you do
3. Explain what you want
4. Finish with a call to action
Avoid common mistakes in your elevator pitch
Speak naturally
Slow it down
Use one pitch for most (but not all) occasions
Make it easy to understand
Example
Hi, I’m James, so nice to meet you! I’m a Fashion & Advertising Photographer., I produce high-end content as a Director and Photography for discerning clients who wish for a slightly different approach to their productions. Before that, I was a creative director in a new media agency building brands with online and offline marketing solutions and helping to grow their businesses. ”