Business TV: Andy Lopata on why elevator pitches ...

In this business tv show, Business Networking Strategist Andy Lopata dresses down the elevator pitch, while providing food for thought about what you should be saying when you meet people at networking events:

"One person goes up to another at a networking event and says 'what do you do?' and the other person gives them their elevator pitch and then the courtesy is they then say what do you do and the first person then gives their elevator pitch. They then shake hands and move onto the next victim and that's not networking but it's what so many people do at events.
For me what do you do when you first meet someone at a networking event is the equivalent of saying 'do you come here often?'.
It's said without any real desire to know the answer, it's a just a stepping stone to being able to give a pitch, to someone themselves who doesn't care about your pitch either. So this whole idea of an elevator pitch for me is totally wrong.
It came from the idea that you meet Bill Gates in a lift and Bill Gates turns around and says 'what do you do'. If you then bore him for one minute with the general idea of what you do, he's not going to do anything with that.
If you really did meet Bill Gates in a lift and he asked you you've got to have a punchy answer of one sentence but to be honest he's only going to ask you that if he wants to help you and that comes from building a relationship and getting to know you first."

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Category:

Howto & Style

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• networking
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[GretchenSellsHomes]

agreed, it is the relationship made after the "do you come here often" that is the bridge to creating strong business connections...

[businessexpertsjax]

Nat - We all know how much you love to talk... even a packet of marshmallows in your mouth wouldn't stop you! :)

[BusinessExpertsNat]

Hadn't really thought about this before, but seriously without thinking first my explanation of what I do would have lasted for a minute AT LEAST! Might be worthwhile for me to think about this... :)

[businesstvdavid]

This advice is pretty straightforward - the great news is that it is easy to apply to what you do straight away.

[BusinessExpertLouise]

To be interesting and compelling when explaining your business is important...honesty is important also. I believe that makes the best impression.

[businesstvgeorge]

Not much to say about this one - but pleased at how this series came out overall

[businesstvrebecca]

Good advice. The first impression counts, but knowing what to say is another thing.

[businessadvice]

I'd never considered it this way before - but in practice this is what you strike.

Of course what you really need is to be able to be interesting/compelling when people ask you what you're about...

Fundamental really?

[businesstvAmanda]

This video has really made me think about what i say to people when i first meet them. I had never thought of this this way but its so true i switch off when people are robotic and rattle off their elevator pitch

[businesstvmark]

... and what would Bill Gates' elevator pitch be?  I'd love to see that one!