How to create and refine your elevator speech to make yourself known to a stranger in 1.5 minutes.

1. Elevator Speech
JJ Casas

2. The Scenario: You are in an elevator and
you recognize a person who is involved in
media one way or the other. You have
about two stops until you part ways and
you want to make sure you let him leave
with him knowing about you, your
company, and services.
How will you accomplish that in
approximately 1.5 minutes?

3. Step One:
Define WHO

4. Defining WHO
1. Be able to say who you are clearly.
2. State your name, your position, and company that
you work for/affiliated with.
3. It is not a laundry list; do not list everything you do.
4. “Hi! My name is JJ Casas and I am the principle
photographer for MotionScope Studies--a company that
provides photo and video coverage for various events.”

5. Step Two:
Define WHAT

6. Defining WHAT
1. Proceed to explaining what you do briefly and
what you do it for.
2. Once again, it is NOT a laundry list.
3. Describe briefly what you do now in clean and
crisp words.
4. “Currently, I am leading the photography
department.”

7. Step Three:
Define WHERE

8. Defining WHERE
1. Simply explain where you are based.
2. “We are operating not only here [it’s quite obvious
you are around the area wherever you are] but as
well as the greater Bay Area.”

9. Step Four:
Define WHEN

10. Defining WHEN
1. Explain when do you provide your services and
leave room for flexibility.
2. “Our services are available year round and have
received bookings months in advance.”

11. Step Five:
Define WHY

12. Defining WHY
1. Probably the most difficult question to answer in a
sentence, yet the most important.
2. Explain clearly the importance of you and your
company’s existence.
3. “Our goal is to provide not only a good photo/
video product, but to also create a memorable
experience beginning to end with great personalized
client/company relationships.”

13. Step Six:
Define HOW

14. Defining HOW
1. This part is variable as you can end the conversation
by giving a business card and say “This is how you can
contact me if you ever need me.”
2. Leave room for a future meeting: “I’d love to explain
more how we can serve you if we can meet again
sometime.”
3. Best option for me is to leave it open-ended: “I’d love
to hear how you can benefit from us. What is the best
way to contact you?”

15. Step Seven:
“Do you have a business card?”

16. Contact in the Future
1. Ask him first if he has a business card. You want to
show interest in him and his company.
2. Exchange business cards if you can. You need to
leave with something as well. If not, ask for his website/
email.
3. Write down his info immediately on the back of his
business card or take note for future reference.

17. Step Eight:
Follow Up

18. Following Up
1. Always make an impression by opening the email
with something you remember particularly of that
person i.e. tie, watch, jewelry and be specific as
possible.
2. Be consistent in spacing your follow up emails: 3
days, 3 weeks, 3 months.
3. Do not be a nuance: leave room for replies.

19. Summary

20. Eight Steps to Make Contact in 1.5 Minutes
1. Define WHO
2. Define WHAT
3. Define WHERE
4. Define WHEN
5. Define WHY
6. Define HOW
7. Obtain contact information
8. Follow up!

21. My Elevator Speech
Hi! My name is JJ Casas and I am the principle photographer for
MotionScope Studies--a company that provides photo and video
coverage for various events. Currently, I am leading the
photography department. We are operating not only here but as
well as the greater Bay Area. Our services are available year
round and have received bookings months in advance. Our goal
is to provide not only a good photo/video product, but to also
create a memorable experience beginning to end with great
personalized client/company relationships. I’d love to hear how
you can benefit from us. What is the best way to contact you?

22. Tips
1. While this is a “speech,” do not make it sound like
you’ve rehearsed this verbatim. Remember this is just a
frame of what you will say!
2. Sound personal and lively--you’re not a robot reading
text.
3. Do not rush to try to squeeze every detail of what you’ve
practiced into each elevator speech.
4. Assess situation and if there’s more time, be prepared to
expand on your points.