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| Keep your pitch short and simple . |
You can never predict when the moment will be just right for a business opportunity. There are many networking functions, corporate events or you may be running errands on a Saturday and meet someone who could use your services. Either way, no matter when or where your opportunity may arise, you will want to be prepared with an Elevator Pitch.
Being a driver myself, I find that it’s really easy to meet people as I believe trucking is a “People Business.” Each day we come in contact with hundreds of people while conducting the job of transporting materials. It’s obvious that the world around us moves very quickly and therefore we better be ready to seize a potential business opportunity when it presents itself. Many times you only have a few short moments in which for someone to hear what you want to say. The name “Elevator Pitch” is named in that you must be brief and summarize your concept in the time that it takes for the elevator to make the short trip to the next floor.
It’s important to be prepared with one to two sentences for your pitch. However, realize that you will need to customize the pitch to be the most effective for your audience. Be specific about your business and exactly what you offer. Maybe you are a flatbed, van or reefer carrier. Your services will not meet everyone’s needs. If you are even more specialized in your transport, then most certainly let the listener know exactly what you do. Don’t come off as a sales person however your goal is just give information and have your audience understand exactly what your business is about. Stay clear of industry buzz words that only you may understand. Keep the pitch simple and brief.
You can ask a question to your prospect about a common problem which can help to then lead in to more conversation. Very quickly, you want to give a short version to explain a solution in order to solve their problem.
Speak directly about what action they can take and how it will benefit them. If you have done your job correctly, your listener should want to learn more about the business services you provide. You might ask if they would like your business card or if you can follow up with them for a future lunch appointment and further discussion.
For the elevator pitch to be successful, remember to keep your ideas short and to the point. The most simple elevator pitch can be very powerful.