Do You Have Your Elevator Speech Ready?

Elevator speech? What's an elevator speech?

It's the idea that you have 20-30 seconds to make an impression on somebody that you meet (possibly on an elevator ride) to tell them who you are and what you do. The opportunity will not always be in an elevator, but at coffee shops, Chamber of Commerce meetings and other networking functions that you will attend as you're trying to get your name and your business recognized. Here are some tips to make YOUR elevator speech the best that it can be:

1. Be clear and succinct - Don't tell someone that you sell imprinted pencils for a living. Instead say, "Hi, my name is Tracy Ebert and I help business do MORE business by developing a clear marketing plan and infusing promotional products and corporate apparel into their current media mix."
2. Smile :)
3. Always have a business card handy - As you are giving your speech, pull out a business card so they can take it with them to remember your name.
4. Develop a tag line - Something will set you apart from everybody who does exactly what you do. Find what it is and advertise it in your elevator speech. You need to make yourself memorable!
5. Practice, Practice, Practice! - in front of a mirror, in front of your spouse, in front of your kids. Get it so you know it by heart and can recite it without sounding rehearsed.

This will take some work, but once you get your elevator speech ready, you can use it everywhere you go. You will meet prospective customers in the craziest of places!

Tip of the day: Make sure you always have fresh breath and nothing in between your teeth. You DON'T want them to remember you for that!