I know, I constantly get hung up on the details so here is my new one. I have intentionally chose not to use "virtual" in my business name because I don't want to be only virtual. However, the first time that I was asked about my business I stumbled. So how do you explain your business if virtual is not in your business name? I ended up saying I have a virtual asistant business that is not all virtual, I help businesses and entreprenuers with the tasks that they don't have time to do so they can focus on building on their business, and that I also do concierge services as well. That ended up sounding lame and a little confusing. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
diana

Maybe say - you offer business services, both on and off site, assisting businesses with various tasks such as...and then list some things you offer. I stumble too when describing my business. i am right there with you!

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Devon Zimny
Vintage VA Services

I use the line my office can become your office. I can provide you with all the services you need without the employee costs, equipment or space.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Diana,

You might want to check out a blog I wrote a while ago. There are some links to help you "own" that 30 second speech.

http://activerain.com/blogsview/6649...arketing-Pitch

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Ness, REPA
www.NessLindsay.com

Do you have a tag line? If so, that should be where you start your 30 speech. If not, working on that should get you going in the right direction.

Although - I have to add that even though I have a tag line, I'm still trying to find a brief way to explain to people what my business is. Guess that'd be a good project for this weekend!

Good luck!

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Gladys Strickland
GS Business Resources

I went to my first business development meeting this week and stumbled a 'little bit'... Luckily, 2 of the people there, knew what a VA was. They sorta helped describe it for me because we had a good conversation about my services. I was asked my hourly rate and I told them, but also said I can work by the project and I do apply discounts to businesses that hire me on retainer...... I am still working on honing that 30 second schpeel...

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www.sageva.com
Shelley Halpain,

Hi all,

Yeah, my elevator pitch is something that I have struggle with too. That is until I spoke to my business mentor about it. She helped me and gave me a few pointers in the right direction. So I would like to share with you the benefits of her wisdom:

1) Focus on one or two key benefits of your services.
2) Styling your pitch in the form of a question or including a retorical question in your pitch (e.g. "How would you use an extra 5 hours per week, either personally or professionally?") may be an effective way of getting a response.
3) You should know you elevator pitch better than you know your own name.
4) Your elevator pitch should be spoken from your gut (i.e. with all the passion you've got).

I have found these to be very helpful. I have two elevators, one is a 10 second sentence that I use to introduce myself on a 1 to 1 level at networking events, and the other is my 60-second speech that I use when I get to stand up and speak to a larger audience. The go like this:

10 second pitch: "Hi, I'm [My Name] of [My Business Name] and I provide a range of business services that are designed to help you save time and money."

I have found this to be very successful, as it focuses the other person's attention on what I feel are the 2 key benefits of hiring a VA.

It also usually evokes a question from the other person: "So how can you help me save time and money?" - which gives me the opportunity to go into more details about how I can take care of their essential admin tasks that don't make them money, freeing them up to focus on the profit making side of the business. I always make sure that I use the phrases, "essential admin work" and "profit making side of your business." This works for me and is very successful.

60 second speech: "Good morning/afternoon. My name is [My Name] of [My Business Name]. I'm sure you'll agree with me that the two most important assets in your business are your time and money. Our range of business services are designed to help you save in respect to both of these. If you would like to find out exactly how we can help you to save time and money, then why not take advantage of our free 30-minute consultation? Please feel free to speak to me at the end of this session for more details."

The 30-minute consultation was my business mentor's idea. It can just as well be a telephone consultation, or Skype if you have it. It's basically just a 30 minutes for you to find out more about the prospective client's business needs and where exactly you can fit you services in. This works for me because I provide more than just secretarial services and so I can find out which of my service packages best suits that particular client.

Well, I hope I haven't rambled on to much. And I hope that this has proved useful to you all.

Regards,

Jason.

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Jae Alexander Linsey
Creative Design & Business Support

Some years ago I went to my first lunch network meeting and, to my utter horror, they threw me up on the podium to speak about what I do. Being a reserved sort till I get to know people and being totally unprepared, I almost died

I'm getting better and more relaxed with it but really don't have anything set. That's something I must work on.

This is something I am currently working on and feeling very tongue tied with how to present myself. I don't like how I have to explain the term "virtual assistant." I want to be able to say what I do in a way that is so clear there aren't so many questions.

I have tried, "I have a home based business doing writing work and I am also a virtual assistant." Then, I usually try to explain what a virtual assistant is and I don't think I explain it very well. . I agree with what Jason says, that you have to know your pitch as well as you know your own name. I'm going to write out a script and work on it.

For myself, I don't want to sound like a walking advertisement, especially since I am often explaining what I do with new friends I have just met (I moved recently). I simply want to tell them what I do. I think there is a difference between how you might explain your services at a bbq with friends vs. at a networking event. Anyone else have any ideas on how to explain what you do?

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Lindsay
www.writingthatsizzles.net

When I recently attended one of my local Breakfast Clubs the main event was a presentation by a business coach who, when asked what he does, gives the line, "I help to make you irresistable to your employer or clients," which I think is a pretty cool strapline.

Anyways, his presentation proved that he is very good @ what he does. He was talking to us about how to construct an effective elevator speech and I'd like to share a couple of the key points of his presentation with y'all if I may.

He started off by explaining the acronym WIIFM - "What's In It For Me?" - which is what we are all thinking when we meet someone for the first time @ a networking session. It's also what others are thinking when they meet us. Basically, "How can I benefit from having this person in my network? What value can they add to my business?"

So it's good to construct our elevator so that we answer that question that's going on in the other person's mind.

There are 3 elements to this - the "3 P's" - People, Problem, Possibilities (or Possible solution).

People - who our typical clients are: "I work with X client who..." - "I work with business owners who..."

Problem - this is the common problem that our typical client would have. "... want to spend more time making money and less time doing paperwork."

Possibilities - this is how our services solve the client's problem. "I provide a virtual business support service that enables you to focus on the more profitable activities of your business, whilst I assist you with the essential administrative tasks." Or, "I can take care of those administrative tasks that don't make you money, yet are essential for the running of your business, leaving you free to focus on the profit-making side of your business."

So stringing this all together our finished elevator speech goes like this:

"I work with business owners who want to spend more time making money and less time doing paperwork. I provide a virtual business support services that enables you to focus on the more profitable activities of your business, whilst I assist you with the essential administrative tasks."

Well, I hope this has as helpful to everyone as it has been to me.

Regards,

Jason.

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Jae Alexander Linsey
Creative Design & Business Support

Just one more thing to add...

People buy on emotion, so if your elevator speech touches on your prospective client's emotions and then finishes with a "call to action" you're more likely to get the desired response.

Someone recently suggested to me that one thing I could focus on as a benefit of my services as that of giving people a better work / life balance. Allowing them to spend more time with friends & / or family than having to spend their evenings / weekends catching up on paperwork.

Regards,

Jason.

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Jae Alexander Linsey
Creative Design & Business Support

Thanks, Jason

You've offered up some really good tips/advice to get us going on this. I'm not really even in business for myself yet and went out to dinner with my mom and an old family friend the other night. I found myself pulling the shy thing and looking down while trying to explain to him what it is I do and what I hope to do (turn this into a business). Not good at all! And I was even a member of Toastmasters for a while (if you don't use it, you definitely lose it...lol). If I had had an elevator speech ready and practiced even at this early of a stage, I would have probably impressed him with my eagerness and passion rather than the impression that I'm sure I gave... unsure of myself, my dream and my abilities. Thank goodness for my mom who thinks I have amazing skills and doesn't hesitate to tell everyone...lol

So, along with all of this, it's important to practice your speech in situations where you're comfortable so that when you're in an uncomfortable situation, you can say it confidently even if you're not exactly feeling very confident at the moment.

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase

Hi Stephanie,

Thanks for your comments. I wish you well with your venture and in getting your elevator speech together.

Yes, it's true what you said. It's good to practice your elevator speech as much as possible in comfortable situations so you know it, "backwards & inside-out" when you're out of your comfort-zone.

I have a very good mentor (who I'd highly recommend to anyone & everyone) who's helped me a lot. Her advice is that you should know your elevator speech, "better than you know your own name," and that it should resound, "from your gut" (i.e. you speak it with conviction and passion).

Regards,

Jason

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Jae Alexander Linsey
Creative Design & Business Support

Great info! Thanks Jason and Stephanie

I think I am missing the emotion factor when I speak about my business. I definitely don't have it coming from my gut -- I'd say it's more from my throat. The feeling I"m probably conveying is "please, please please believe me that I say I am what I am." Interesting... There is definitely a level of fear for some reason for myself and I'm not sure where that comes from, maybe underconfidence.

Jason, if you are able to share who your mentor is, I would be curious. You can PM me if you want to share her name. Thanks guys!

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Lindsay
www.writingthatsizzles.net

Lindsay, I just checked out your website and the very first paragraph on your home page sounds like a great beginning to an elevator speech to me. You have the words and ideas (maybe tweak it just a bit but I think it sounds good as is), just practice it until you believe it and then practice it some more until all of your acquaintences believe it and you'll be good to go I think.

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Stephanie
New VA in the research phase