This document provides tips for creating an effective elevator pitch. It recommends focusing on a clear aim and keeping the pitch short and sweet at 150-250 words delivered in 90 seconds. Key points include selecting the most relevant information, writing and refining the pitch, connecting the beginning and end, getting the audience's attention, avoiding jargon, including a call to action, rehearsing extensively, and delivering with passion. The overall goal is to engage the listener and encourage further discussion in a limited time frame.

1. PLAN
TIPS FOR CREATING AN
ELEVATOR PITCH
giulia.conti@uniurb.it

2. TRYING TO AVOID
THAT…

3. PLAN

4. FOCUS ON YOUR AIM
Before writing your speech, you should
ask to yourself:
what do I want to get out of this
presentation?
What results am I trying to achieve?
Will it be clear to my addressee?
Start from the conclusion:
what is the aim of your speech?
What do you want to present in these
90 secs?

5. KISS:
KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET!
It's called an elevator pitch for a
reason: you have a limited time to
make a good first impression.
An elevator pitch that takes 90 secs
(and no one more!) to deliver at a
good pace and includes roughly
150-250 words.

6. SELECT WHAT IS (MOST) RELEVANT
Elevator pitches are meant to be short,
so don't try to pack in too much.
Divide you topic identifying 4/5 micro-
aspects to touch (like paragraphs) and
work in a logic way in order to build
on, step after step, your target aim.
Prefer direct sentences (S+V+O).

7. WRITE AND WRITE AGAIN
The best way to prepare it is to write
down the sentences and work to
refine the effectiveness of any line and
any word.
Include numbers and concrete details.

8. CONNECT THE START WITH THE END
Try to connect the incipit with the
conclusion; the first sentence with
the last one (as in a cognitive circle);
an element, a word, an image is
enough.

9. GET AUDIENCE’S ATTENTION
If you can, get the attention of your
audience with a rhetoric question (e.g.
YES/NO question) or with a short
funny joke.
And don’t forget about the importance
of the tone of voice.

10. SKIP SPECIALIST JARGON
AND ACRONYMS
Assume your audience has no
understanding of your work.
You want to be able to use your
elevator pitch in front of anyone and
know that they will understand what
you do by the time you're finished,
even if they have never even heard of
your work before.

11. INCLUDE A CALL TO ACTION
Include a call to action at the end of
your elevator pitch.
Outline what you want to happen
next, whether it's giving the other
person a chance to ask you questions,
introducing you to a colleague, or
scheduling a time to talk in more detail

12. SHARE YOUR PITCH
You can choose to share your 90 secs
with someone else. In case, divide the
speech in a meaningful way and use
the chance of the speaker as a plus to
reinforce your audience’s attention
and be more compelling.

13. AVOID PPT PRESENTATION
You can help yourself (or your
audience) with a support (a video, a
flipchart, one slide) just if it doesn’t
represent an obstacle in keeping the
pitch concise and conversational.

14. RUN

15. REHEARSE, REHEARSE, REHEARSE
An elevator pitch on paper is very
different from one said out loud.
Read your elevator pitch in your head,
read it out loud, then recite it in a
mirror to make sure it flows and
sounds conversational. It's usually a
good idea to run it by a colleague,
friend or family member, too, to get a
fresh perspective.

16. LEARN IT BY HEART
You won't have the benefit of a cheat
sheet when you're in a live situation,
so memorizing your elevator speech is
vital. The challenge is learning it by
heart but still being able to deliver it
naturally and not robotically. The
more you practice delivering your
elevator pitch, the easier it will be to
sound conversational and relaxed.

17. SHOW YOUR PASSION
The best elevator pitches are those
that are unique, engaging and lead to
further conversation. One of the best
ways to accomplish this is by showing
the passion you have in what you do.
Show your fire and the passion can be
contagious.

18. PASS THE MIC!
You've put a lot of time into your
elevator pitch, so it will be a big relief
once you've delivered it successfully.
But don't forget about the person on
the receiving end.
The best way to transition from a
successful elevator pitch to a
successful conversation is giving the
other person a chance to wow you
with his or her own elevator pitch.

19. SHORT RECAP
1. Choose a very precise topic (you have just
90 secs!)
2. Divide it in 4/5 steps
3. Write down around 150/250 words
4. The incipit should include all the essential
parts
5. Refine any sentence, any word
6. Memorize it and practise
7. Practise. Practise louder. Practise in front
of a colleague
8. Try to be engaging. Use your tone of voice,
jokes, rhetorical questions
9. Include a call to action (eg. encouraging
questions)

20. Enjoy the experience!
giulia.conti@uniurb.it