Hey there, my fabulous listener, welcome to episode 89 of the Small Business Made Simple Podcast.

Thank you for lending me your ears today – I know you have lots of choices, so I sincerely appreciate me being one of them!

If you’re a first time listener, super super welcome, I am so pleased to have you here.  I am your host Jenn Donovan, and it’s my job, via this podcast, social media and everywhere else actually, to make your business life simpler. 

I’m a thought leader when it comes to marketing here in Australia and I’m a marketing strategist for small business.

Why? Because business can be lonely and hard and complicated and it’s hardly ever easy, but it should be simple or at least simpler, so that’s my commitment you to on the Small Business Made Simple podcast!

One way I help to make your life simpler is by having a group of like-minded business owners all in one stop.  To ask questions, get answers and enjoy the journey of business! If you haven’t joined the Like Minded Business Owners Facebook Group, then hope over there after this episode and join!  Simply search Like Minded Business Owners in Facebook or come to the show notes for the like.  Show notes are at www.socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/89

www.facebook.com/groups/LikeMindedBusinessOwners

This episode is sponsored by my 30 day social media and marketing challenge.

This month’s challenge is closed, but if you’re keen on upping your social media or marketing game, want daily accountability from a supportive community and tips and tricks from a social media and marketing strategist (that’s me) and a PR, storytelling expert – that’s Lyndsey, then this is the challenge for you!

To get on the waitlist – register at https://bit.ly/jennswaitlist

Be challenged and invest in yourself.

Today, I’m talking about you!  Specifically, what you do, what you want to be famous for and how you articulate that in just a few seconds or a few words – your elevator pitch.

Why elevator pitch?

Well, the no so science behind it is, that you can all what you do and what you want to be famous for as well as engaging the listener all in the time it would take to ride an elevator!

So, in around 30 seconds let’s say.

Your pitch must be

• Memorable
• Interesting
• Succinct and
• Make the person listening curious enough to ask a question or react in a positive way – hopefully saying something like – oh wow – that’s exactly what I’ve been looking for or that’s the exact help I need ….

Your elevator pitch isn’t just for marketing – it’s for all aspects of your life.

Being about to articulate what you mean, what you can do for your listener or who you are and what you do, in such a short time frame is definitely an art form.

And that art form is what we are talking about today!

Just before we jump in, if knowing what you want to be famous for, is an area that you think you need to work on – go back and have a listen to Episode 4 of the Small Business Made Simple Podcast – all about Knowing your Expertise.  There’s a great little exercise in there for that one too which will help get this bit right – because if you don’t know what you do – then how are your prospects supposed too.

Remember a confused buyer never buys!

But back to the elevator pitch!

So, let’s dig a little deeper.

1. Make it brief – we’ve covered this already – 30 seconds – that’s the time you’ve got to gain someone’s attention and I’ll tell you, that’s a heck of a lot longer than you have on social media or online! If you’re elevator pitching online – you’d better make it 10 seconds or less!
2. Make it persuasive – it might be short, but it needs to be punch and compelling. Compelling enough to spark the interest of the reader or listener.
3. Share a little about yourself. What you are and what do you do?  It’s not the time to be boastful, it’s the time to show your audience what you can do for them!
4. This isn’t going to come to you straight away and when you’ve got it – you haven’t! You need to practice and be flexible in your approach – remember who your audience is, every time you do your pitch!  Make sure you are speaking in the tone, and language of your buyer and/or audience.
5. Mention your goal or the goal you have for your audience or buyer. Think “out of all the people who do what I do, why should they choose me”.
6. DON’T SPEAK TOO FAST – you only have 30 seconds or so, but that doesn’t mean that you should cram in 45 seconds of speech! It needs to sound like you – no rushed, not polished, not informal – just you!
7. Don’t ramble, don’t frown, and don’t talk in one single monotone – we’ll all go to sleep otherwise!
8. Focus on what’s essential – that’s all – what do they need to know to know, like and trust you, to buy from you or to engage further with you.

Make one compelling sentence and hook your audience!

Google’s elevator pitch that got them their first big investor was “Google organizes the world’s information and makes it universally accessible”.

What does good do?  That!  Wanna know more … of course you do – curiosity just killed the cat right!

Apple in 2001 – “carry 1000 songs in your top pocket” – curious – heck yeah!

The Hollywood pitch we all remember –

A police chief, with a phobia for open water, battles a gigantic shark with an appetite for swimmers and boat captains, in spite of a greedy town council who demands that the beach stay open.

There’s a hero, there’s a villain, there’s his weakness, the conflict and the hurdle, all rolled into one sentence.

You know what the movie is? Guess? Jaws of course!  I might add – I’ve never watched it in full – water and I don’t get on – except the bath of course!  But that’s a story for another podcast!

Ok, you’re on an elevator and your ideal client turns to you and says, “so what do you do?”

I help small business owners make marketing a priority so that they can earn what they deserve and make a bigger difference in the world, without burning out in the process.

(That’s mine). 

You know who I help – small business owners

How I help – help them make marketing a priority

Outcome – so they can earn what they deserve and make a bigger difference in the world

Without – burning out in the process.

Curious?  Want to know how to earn what you deserve without feeling burnt out? I hope so – otherwise, I need to revamp it!

Another example:

“Hi, I’m Sally Smith, a virtual marketer who helps busy small business owners get more done, in less time, to earn more profits. I’m currently taking on new clients. What business activity do you dislike doing the most?”

Ok, your turn.

Give it a go.

Answer the question – what do you do? 

And then answer it again and again until it’s short enough but punchy and creates curiosity.

It may come quickly; it may take longer – and that’s ok.

But the most important thing is that you are thinking about it.

Head into the Like Minded Business Owners group on Facebook and put in your elevator pitch – it’s a safe space, get some feedback.

But remember, you only get to use it when people ask!  Somethings are best thought but never said!

It’s not something to say on a pitch phone call if you weren’t asked – what do you do – or if you are just standing in an elevator!!

So now you have homework!  Working on your elevator pitch.  Can’t wait to see how you go.  Pitch me!

Well, that’s it for episode 89.

As mentioned at the beginning this episode is sponsored by my 30 day social media & marketing challenge – to get on the wait list go to https://bit.ly/jennswaitlist

Got questions?  Head into Like Minded Facebook group and ask away – or send me a DM on Instagram or an email jenn@jenndonovan.com.au

I’ll be back next Thursday with another great episode to help you simplify your business in 2020. 

If you’re enjoying this podcast, which if you have listened to here – you hopefully are, don’t forget to subscribe, share this episode with another superstar business owner who’s doing the daily grind and would appreciate someone making their business simpler, and leave a rating or review to show how much you are loving this free weekly content.

See you next week on the podcast for episode 90.  But in the meantime, let’s hang out on social and get social on social – you’ll find me on Instagram, Facebook and my fav LinkedIn.

But whatever you do,

……..remember small business peeps, as my opening song says, there’s no point in dreaming small!