Thirty seconds of speaking translates into about 125-150 words. You may be tempted to go over that. Don’t. Research proves that people can form a lasting impression in as little as three seconds, and the average attention span starts to wane after 15-20 seconds. Basically, if you haven’t made your point in 30 seconds (or less) your audience has lost interest and you’ve missed your opportunity.
The 30 second pitch is an essential marketing tool. Also known as “the elevator pitch,” the idea is to explain who you are and what you do in the short amount of time it takes to ride an elevator from the ground floor to the top floor. The way we do business today has evolved so while you may never actually use your 30 second pitch in the proverbial “elevator”, there are plenty of places where you will use it; both expected and unexpected places. Every person you meet is a potential client. Whether you’re at a tradeshow, getting a latte or at your daughter’s soccer game, a business opportunity can present itself anywhere. Be prepared with your 30 second pitch.
The core elements of your 30 second pitch are simple:
The “Who”. The name of your company. Just the name. Not the tagline. Taglines have their place and it’s not in your 30 second pitch.
The “What”. What products or services does you company provide? Keep focused. You cannot be all things to all people.
The “What’s in it for me?” or your USP (unique selling proposition). What sets you apart from your competition? For example: Can you help me make more money? Do you sell a product I need for less cost? Do you solve a specific problem? Describe yourself in terms of the benefits you provide “me”, your prospective client.
