You know what an elevator speech is, don’t you?
If not, it’s a “speech” you can give in the time it takes an elevator to
go from one floor to another. That’s about one minute, more or less. You give it in answer to the question “What do you do?”
It’s not that most such questions occur in elevators. In fact, very few people speak to each other in elevators. (Why?)
It’s just that most people get bored easily. If you start giving a long-winded explanation of what you do, they’ll be sorry they asked.
Whether you’re attending a class reunion this year, meeting new people at a community event, or visiting in a waiting room, having your elevator speech ready could lead to a new client or three – so be ready!
It’s easy to say “I sell real estate,” but that doesn’t tell people much. Instead, expand on that. Say “I find buyers for exclusive homes on the shores of North Lake.” Or maybe “I help first time buyers find affordable homes in Mytown.” You could say “I’m a real estate agent specializing in helping divorcing couples in Mytown sell their homes and move on.”
In other words, whatever your specialty, state it briefly in your elevator speech.
You can use the same method if you’re a stager, a lender, an inspector, or almost anything else. I’d say “I’m a real estate writer, helping agents, investors, and property managers in the U.S. and other countries grow their businesses and make more money.”
The important thing is to state:
- What you do
- Where you do it
- Who you help
- How you help them
And then – to make the best impression possible, ask the same question in return. Be interested and ask questions. Then listen. People will come away thinking you’re the most interesting person they’ve met all day.
One more thing – if the new person is in business, ask for their card – and give them yours.
Image courtesy of niamwhan at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
