Everything Teens Need to Know About Elevator Pitches

As a teen first stepping into the entrepreneurial world you will hear a lot of strange terms–things like MVP, an Elevator Pitch, and The Golden Circle. Yes, it can get confusing. But I promise these words ARE English!

Let’s talk about Elevator Pitches

What is an Elevator Pitch?

Why is it important?

How do I create an Elevator Pitch?

Last year my siblings and I attended a business class at our library and learned about elevator pitches. We came up with a fake business plan, walked through the steps of creating an effective elevator pitch, then practiced delivering it in front of everyone! I am in no way a professional at this yet, but I shall attempt to talk about elevator pitches as a teen– to teens, and then help you make one! Let’s dive in. 🙂

What is an Elevator Pitch? 

 

Thank you, Google! Now let me expand:

An “elevator pitch” is a sentence or two that is used to create interest in something. It is a short sales pitch that quickly and simply describes a business, product, service, or organization and its value to whom you are speaking. A good elevator pitch should only last as long as a short elevator ride of 20 to 30 seconds, thus the name.

Why is it important?

Reason #1:

Creating a clear elevator pitch helps you narrow down exactly what your business is and what it offers to others.

Reason #2:

Gaining elevator pitch skills will come in handy as you eventually look for the support of investors for your growing business.

As a young entrepreneur much depends on making a good first impression when talking about your business.

Stumbling over your words can get you quickly tuned out as “just another cute kid”.

With a strong, engaging, and concise elevator pitch you will be prepared to give a confident, clear answer no matter the situation! It is sure to impress and maybe even gain an investor!

So… thus the next question.

How do I create an Elevator Pitch?

Good question! This one is a little harder to answer.

The elements of an elevator pitch are your answers to these questions:

• How would you introduce your business/business idea?
• Who are your customers?
• What one sentence defines what your product is or what your service does.
• How will this product or service be useful to someone? Why do they want it?
• How can you follow up your pitch with a call to action?

Go ahead and answer the questions. Now you have a rough sketch of your business! As an example I will use a business idea my siblings and I had a while ago when we lived in a green, rainy state.

How would you introduce your business idea?

During the autumn months everyone’s yards are covered in thick, mushy carpets of leaves that will eventually kill the grass beneath if it isn’t raked up. Let us do it for you!

Who are your customers?

Elderly people, yard-work haters, soccor moms, and busy adults with jobs. Everyone willing to trade a little bit of money for convenience!

What one sentence defines what your product is or what your service does?

A team of reliable, efficient teens will rake up your yard for a small fee and transport the leaves to your preferred location.

How will this product or service be useful to someone? Why do they want it?

Encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs and get rid of those leaves!

How can you follow up your pitch with a call to action?

Anytime you are knee-deep in leaves make sure to give us a call! *hand them a business card*

Now take what you have stated about your business and condense it down into an elevator pitch!

Here is what I put together from my example answers:

“A year ago I noticed that lots of people are much too busy to rake the leaves that cover their yards and are willing to pay a team of reliable, efficient teens to do it for them! So some other young entrepreneurs and I started a business, and we now service three different neighborhoods. Anytime you are knee-deep in leaves make sure to give us a call. We would love to help!” *offer a business card*

• Your elevator pitch should never be a mouthful and should only take 20-30 seconds to say.
• Be sure to shake hands, be genuinely friendly, and smile a lot. You know what you’re talking about so speak confidently!
• Practice delivering your elevator pitch to a friend!

I hope you enjoyed this simple guide to elevator pitches! Feel free to leave further questions in the comments, and I will do my best to answer them! Success stories are always fun and encouraging too. 😉

Test how much you learned from this article and cement the information in your memory with this quiz!