60 Seconds

I usually work on the Client Services side of MBM, but I went to a Business Development lunch today to mix things up. These lunches often involves presenting some sort of 30 or 60 second "schpeel" about your company and/or what you do - the infamous elevator speech.

First, I need to say that I hate speaking in public, even for 30 or 60 seconds. I can talk all day long with small groups or an individual, but the minute I have to stand up and have the attention of a room, my face goes beet red.

Second, clearly condensing what you do can be really challenging. Within a brief window of time, you need to clearly explain your business, but you also want to capture the attention of your listeners and be memorable. That's a lot of pressure for a minute or less!

The suggestion I've gleaned for describing what you do?

Get someone else to do it. Seriously.

An objective friend, client, family member, or professional acquaintance is perfect - anyone you don't work with. These people won't necessarily know the technical terms of your trade, so they can help you come up with more "user-friendly" ways to explain yourself.

Successfully explaining what you do is crucial, as it's often the first impression people have of you and your company.

It's also a marketing device that's free to create, maintain, and update. Doesn't get much better than that!