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Article - How to Introduce your Business in 60 Seconds or Less
Author: biba pedron
As a small business owner, we have various marketing options to promote our business: advertising, telemarketing, direct mail. But my favorite is definitely networking. First, it is the most low cost marketing tool and second it is a way to build long-term relationships with people. If advertising can give you a worthy result in one shot, networking will bring you more in the long run.
Since 2003, when I started Biba4Network, I organized many business networking events, which were a worthy opportunity for me to meet a tremendous amount of people, make deals, get clients, make friends and learn from others entrepreneurs.
During those events I also noticed that a significant number of individuals had worthy products or services but just didnt know how to present them. And as a result were not able to attract the clients they were looking for.
One of the keys to networking is to be able to introduce yourself and your business in 30 to 60 seconds or less, in one or two sentences, in a very concise way. In other words, you need to have a very efficient elevator pitch. You should be ready to deliver your elevator pitch in the blink of an eye at a moments notice.
But what is an elevator pitch?
An elevator pitch is a short presentation that introduces you and your businesss mission and makes you memorable. It focuses on the benefits you provide- and can be delivered in 30-60 seconds or less, even in an elevator, hence the name.
If you are passionate, excited and eager to create and manage your own business, then you should be able to describe, in one or two brief and concise sentences, exactly what you do, why your offering is the best in the marketplace, and in effect, why the person should purchase from you.
The best way to develop your elevator pitch is to summarize or list the most enticing, exciting and valuable benefits that your customers will get when they use your products and services.
How can your products and services solve problems or meet needs?
An effective elevator pitch makes a lasting impression, demonstrates your professionalism and allows you to position yourself with your target customers.
Remember that your clientss main concern is: What benefits will I receive when I purchase your product or service? So when you prepare your elevator pitch always make sure that your audience need to reply this question What's In It for Me?.
People are always more interested in how you can assist them than in what you do or how they can assist you.
Consider these points when you develop your elevator pitch:
1/ Write down the deliverables- the products, services and features that you provide.
Then, analyze your offering and put yourself in your customers shoes. What worthy things will they get or what worthy things will happen to them when they make a purchase?
2/ Be specific. Use numbers and statistics when you can.
For example, double your revenue in less than 12 months, achieve a 30% increase over last year, lose 20 pounds in 10 weeks, triple your number of subscribers in 5 days or less.
People are driven by numbers because they add a sense of credibility to a claim. Numbers also generate curiosity and anxiety, another useful tool that motivates individuals to make a purchase.
3/ Never reveal your entire story in your elevator pitch. Highlight the main benefits your products and/or services provide, which will encourage individuals to question questions and start the conversation.
4/ Create a tagline that will grab your listeners attention and force him/her to stop what he/she is doing and listen to you. The most effective openers leave the audience seeking additional information. Compare your elevator pitch to the cover of your favorite magazine. Most likely, you will find the titles of the key stories in that issue. If the titles dont grab your attention and raise your curiosity quickly, then you probably will not purchase that issue.
5/ Practice your elevator pitch to the point where you can recite the language with perfect ease, worthy confidence and clarity and total poise immediately. It is extremely necessary that you feel totally comfortable whenever you deliver your elevator pitch. Learn it; practice it; master it; but never read it. Your delivery must be very smooth and totally fluid. Continually practice your elevator pitch in front of the mirror and before your friends until your Pitch becomes part of you.
So do you have a better idea? Are you ready to write your elevator pitch?
Try this the next time you describe what you do. Choose your words. Hook your listener. Make them question questions. Make them want to meet with you and purchase your products and services.
Still having trouble writing your elevator pitch? Youre definitely not the only one. The worthy news is-Ive developed a 5 Step Program that will assist you to not only create your effective elevator pitch- but also redesign your business card so that it will be unique and memorable. Choose the best networking group for your business, create a follow-up system and create strategic alliances to maximize your networking results and boost your business.
You can learn more about "The Power of Networking Secrets
www.powerofnetworkingsecrets.com
2006 Biba F. Pdron
About the Author
Biba F. Pdron, also known as The Connection Queen, is a marketing consultant, founder of Biba4Network, that specializes in networking for small business owners in the greater New York area. Biba helps entrepreneurs to maximize their networking results so that they can grow their businesses faster.
Biba is the author of Start Your Dream Business Today! The Proven 11 Steps to Start and Grow Your Own Business. http://www.startyourdreambusinesstoday.com
For more information or to receive free tips like this one, please visit
http://www.theconnectionqueen.com
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/article-how-to-introduce-your-business-in-60-seconds-or-less-117754.html
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Keywords:
elevator pitch business networking make people products less create se