What exactly is an elevator pitch?

Imagine you meet a person by chance in a lift. You only have a few seconds to present your request or idea before one of you gets off. This is exactly the moment when a successful elevator pitch works its magic. It's a short, concise presentation that lasts as long as the time it takes you to ride in the lift with someone - usually only about 30 seconds to 2 minutes. The challenge of the Elevator Pitch is to capture the attention and interest of the person you are talking to with concrete examples in the limited time you spend together. A successful elevator pitch is used to convey a clear and concrete message in a convincing way, whether in networking, job interviews or even spontaneous encounters. It helps to introduce yourself briefly and precisely, share all relevant information and leave a positive impression. Especially in the start-up scene, the prepared pitch is an essential skill, as investors are often confronted with numerous presentations and need a quick basis for decision-making. With that in mind, start-up founders have no choice but to develop a convincing pitch if they intend to convince potential customers. But the pitch is not only beneficial in this area. It enables everyone to market themselves effectively, whether in a professional or personal context. The basic elements of a successful elevator pitch can be learned and offer a valuable opportunity to present oneself briefly, precisely and convincingly.

The key rules for a successful Elevator Pitch

1. Conciseness

A convincing Elevator Pitch lasts 1-2 minutes or even just 30 seconds. Brevity is crucial. Summarise what matters and create interest.

2. Start with momentum

Start your pitch with a catchy opening, be it a provocative question, an interesting fact or a gripping story to catch the attention of your audience.

3. Speak calmly and get to the point

Avoid speaking hastily and focus on clear and simple language to remain comprehensible. Clarity and calmness in your voice can make a successful elevator pitch even more effective. Avoid beating around the bush and get straight to the point.

4. Only crucial Information

Share only basic information such as your name, profession, industry and location. Optionally add education, strengths, weaknesses and interests as you need to be very selective with the information you present. Remember, your audience needs to be able to comprehend the information in the short time available. Therefore, you need to plan your content for the perfect self-presentation in advance.

5. It's not about you

Put the added value you can provide in the foreground. Highlight how you can support or relieve. In a subsequent, detailed and personal elevator pitch, you can talk more about yourself.

6. Avoid boredom

Be creative and stand out. Use gimmicks or special elements to make your pitch interesting. Work with rhetorical devices such as metaphors and give concrete examples. You can also use humorous elements to lighten up the situation.

7. Speak the language of your audience

To ensure effective communication, it is important to understand and use the terminology, concepts and mindset of your audience. Avoid jargon or complicated terms that are difficult for non-experts to understand. By speaking the language of your audience, you create a connection and show that you understand their needs and interests.

8. Include a short success story

A short success story or case study can underline your credibility and expertise. Talk about a specific success or problem you successfully solved. Show how your skills or products contributed to the solution and the positive impact it had. This illustrates your practical experience and builds the confidence of your audience.

9. Impress with a strong conclusion

The conclusion of your elevator pitch is crucial. Use a strong closing sentence that sums up your message and makes it memorable. You could use a summary statement that emphasises the value you can offer or ask a provocative question that stimulates further thoughts. An impressive conclusion leaves a lasting impression and encourages further conversation.

The Elevator Pitch is only the beginning!

In today's world, the successful elevator pitch is very important for job seekers, salespeople and entrepreneurs. This short but effective presentation is the key to capturing the interest and attention of potential clients or partners in just a few moments. The elevator pitch requires clarity and conciseness, the right balance between brevity, relevance and personal connection is crucial. An effectively crafted pitch emphasises your values, solutions and the benefits you can offer. A convincing elevator pitch can make all the difference, especially in short conversations. After you have perfected your short presentation, the next steps are vital, because the elevator pitch is only the beginning. This can be exchanging contact details to allow for further communication and more in-depth conversations.