Writing a great elevator pitch is an essential part of networking.  It can take timing and practice to get right for those that haven't gone through the process before.  However, if you follow a few basic principles, you can create a strong persona and represent yourself as an expert in your field to the people you network with.
Some questions that you should ask yourself when writing your pitch are:
- Is my pitch relevant to me target audience?
- Does my pitch adequately cover my key points?
- Is my pitch delivered in a language that my audience will understand?
- Can I deliver my pitch in 30 seconds?
Let's start with the most important topic. It seems obvious that you need to focus on the most important points of your elevator pitch, but too many people ignore this advice.  If you are persuading someone to buy your product, focus on why your product will benefit them.
Always remember that people like to hear facts that support your position. But don't get lost in statistics. You have a very brief period of time to get your word out, so make sure that you use them sparingly and briefly. A quick reference should suffice. Then get back to your point before you lose your audience.
You have a little over 200 words in your pitch and have to compromise between making your pitch more succinct for your target and making it more descriptive.  The best rule of thumb is that if you do not have to say something in an elevator pitch, you cannot say it.  Limit your pitches to the most important topics. If your pitch is successful, you will be invited to share more detail.
Another mistake that people make in an elevator pitch is that they communicate the way they are used to with their own colleagues, even though they may be speaking with someone who is in a different field or specialty. If you are a web developer trying to pitch your services to a dentist, you need to focus on the benefits of your services not the scripting languages you know.
Getting the words down on paper is only the first part of the equation. The manner in which you go about delivering your pitch is every bit as important. First of all, you should never lead with your pitch. You need to put out a feeler and then transition into it gradually. It is also important that you show that you are passionate about what you are pitching. You are going to have a hard time selling someone on something when it seems as though you are not interested in it yourself. Remember that body language and the way you deliver your elevator pitch are going to be more important than the words you choose.  On the other hand, make sure not to overdo it.  If your emotions speak louder than your ideas it will sound impulsive and give the impression that you let your emotions dictate your business decisions.
Putting together a good elevator pitch is essential to networking. You might be able to get by without it at times, but when you have a limited time to discuss your ideas you will not be able to get by without it. Make sure that you have practiced it carefully beforehand so you can deliver it naturally and quickly. It is also a good idea to put together several different pitches ahead of time so that you can choose the most appropriate one for each situation.
Kalen Smith is the founder of Engineer-a-Business, a provider of business-to-business services and informational products for developing technology businesses. Read more about Kalen here.
