Tongue tied - yep, that is what happens when I try to talk to anyone - I feel like I am pushing myself on them. I need to work on my self confidence.

I talked to a marketing guru at SCORE today, and he gave me this formula for my elevator speech:

Start with your audience in mind
Tell them what you provide
Why is what I provide important to my audience?
Why me
Why do I delivery better access/ customer service/ whatever I am trying to sell

So, here is the first draft of my speech:

Audience - "What do you do?"

Me - " I help small businesses free themselves up to concentrate on high earnings activities. I provide administrative, bookkeeping and clerical support and I design websites for small businesses. This is great for my clients because I am tax deductible unlike an in-house employee. I bill by the minute and you only pay for the time I actually am working for you, not for personal breaks or for me to play solitaire on your computer. I provide all my own equipment and supplies and work out of my own office. I work in town and through the internet with collaborative applications so that we are constantly in touch. Here is my card, if you know of any small business owners who could use my service, would you pass it on?

This takes me right around 30 seconds to get out IF I do not trip over words. What do you guys think?

__________________
~ Norma Guerin
DSA Virtual Assistant Services

Take a deep breath before you start talking...I find that it helps to reduce "tripping over words".

Overall, I think your message gets your point across. However,I would take out the part about being "tax deductible unlike an in-house employee." I suggest this because employees wages and payroll tax expenses ARE tax deductible, just like VA services. You could instead say that the business owner will not be responsible for the payroll taxes or benefits of a typical in-house employee preforming similar work.

I hope this helps. Just remember...practice, practice, practice. It really does make the elevator speech easier

__________________
Angie
Blue Water Business Services

DOH ! Had not thought of that. Thanks.

__________________
~ Norma Guerin
DSA Virtual Assistant Services

Norma - Have you done a search here on elevator speeches? There's quite a bit of info ...

Overall, say what your audience needs to hear. An elevator speech is NOT about you. It's about the way you can make the lives of your audience easier. When you stand at a networking meeting, the audience wants to know - What needs of mine do you meet? If you imagine they just asked you that question, how would you answer, in the most personable and rational way you can?

__________________
Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

Quote:

This is great for my clients because I am tax deductible unlike an in-house employee. I bill by the minute and you only pay for the time I actually am working for you, not for personal breaks or for me to play solitaire on your computer.

I don't know if I like this, instead try to let them see their benefit: Each task you need completed is given my personal attention and the added benefit is that you pay for only the time I spend completing that task.

Quote:

I provide all my own equipment and supplies and work out of my own office. I work in town and through the internet with collaborative applications so that we are constantly in touch.

Again, word this for their benefit: Short on office space, no worries, I work out of my own office and use the most up-to-date technologies so that you can be in touch when you need to be and I have what you need to get professional results.

Think about the events that you attend and which speeches catch your attention. Most that keep me hooked are about the benefits they provide and not what their industry or business is.

Good luck to you.

__________________
Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

Want to jump in here and let you know about a woman I met on Wednesday, she's actually called The Elevator Speech Therapist. You can find her at www.EllenKaminsky.com. There is a free interview on her Facebook Fan Page. She's giving free advice on networking. You can also find her at http://www.twiter.com/30seconds2nubiz. I have a call with her next week and can't wait.

K

__________________
Kathy McHenry - Your Virtual Advantage -www.YourVirtualAdvantage.com

Thanks to all that responded. I rewrote my elevator speech and got it out (mostly) in my chamber of commerce meeting this morning. I appreciate all the great advice ~ Norma

__________________
~ Norma Guerin
DSA Virtual Assistant Services

I agree Norma, elevator speeches are hard to compose and deliver. It truly does take practice. I can tell people the many virtues of someone else but when it comes to "tooting my own horn" I find it hard to do. I guess I will just practice, practice, practice.

Robin

I would use your first two sentences and maybe add that you bill by the hour. Then get them talking about their business. What. Who does their admin and clerical tasks?. And then end with giving them your business card -- and hopefully getting theirs. But remember their name and busienss name and you can research and even follow up with a nice-to-meet-you email.
Vicky

________________
Vicky A Stein

Vicky, thanks for the input. This seems to be a constantly evolving speech. I think it is great that you suggest a quick two sentence intro and then ask what their needs are. I also like getting a card for a follow up. I am learning all about follow up this week...

Great advice and thanks!

__________________
~ Norma Guerin
DSA Virtual Assistant Services