How to Write an Elevator Pitch as a Freelancer
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It’s important to learn how to write an elevator pitch as a freelancer so you can pitch your services quickly and succinctly to anyone who asks. There’s nothing worse than having an opportunity to pitch your services and not being prepared. So, it’s a good idea to have one or two elevator pitches ready for when the opportunity presents itself.
In this blog post, we’ll:
- Define the term elevator pitch.
- Explain how to write an elevator pitch.
- Provide you with a handy elevator pitch template.
- Take a look at some examples.
What Is an Elevator Pitch?
An elevator pitch (also known as an elevator speech) is a short, pre-prepared summary of your professional background, experience, and the services you offer. Put simply, it’s a concise way to explain who you are and what you do.
It can be useful in all sorts of situations and environments: at networking events, on calls with potential clients, when cold pitching via email, or when explaining your job to friends and family. An elevator pitch should cover:
- Who you are
- What you do
- Who you do it for
- How you do it
Done well, an elevator pitch can spark interest in you or your business and help you secure new clients – so it needs to be memorable and attention-grabbing.
How To Write an Elevator Pitch
Getting your elevator pitch right can take time, but there is a process you can follow when you’re thinking about crafting your pitch:
- Define your niche.
- Identify your goal.
- Discover what makes you unique.
- Write your elevator pitch.
- Practice until you are confident.
1. Define Your Niche
Do you specialize in a specific area or type of work? Including your niche in your pitch will help clients identify whether your services would be a good fit for them, which will spark their interest.
For instance, as a proofreader and editor, you might specialize in a particular service, like developmental or line editing, or a particular format (e.g., essays or novels). As a freelance writer, you might favor a specific subject (e.g., travel writing) or a particular type of writing (e.g., blogs or marketing copy). If you have a niche, it’s important to include it in your elevator pitch.
2. Identify Your Goal
What are you trying to achieve with your elevator pitch? Are you looking to partner with a company to provide your services? Or are you pitching to an individual? It’s likely that companies and individuals will have different priorities, so it’s worth tailoring your pitch to suit each.
3. Discover What Makes You Unique
The best thing you can do in your pitch is highlight what makes you unique: your unique selling point (USP). What sets you apart from your competition? It’s possible that your potential client has had many people pitch their services to them (sometimes unsolicited). If there’s nothing unique in your pitch, they may forget about you. Try to establish what makes you different from everyone else and use that to convince your potential clients to choose you.
4. Write an Elevator Pitch
You can use the template below to help you script your first draft. It’s unlikely you’ll get it right on the first occasion, so you might need to revise a couple of times. Remember, an elevator pitch should be short. The idea is that you can provide all the necessary details in the time an elevator ride usually takes – approximately 30 seconds.
5. Practice until You Are Confident
You want to be able to deliver your elevator pitch confidently and smoothly but without sounding robotic. This takes practice and lots of it. Perhaps you could try it out on your family and friends! Try to keep your body language friendly and open while maintaining eye contact with the person you are speaking to.
Elevator Pitch Template
Here is a basic template you can use to script your elevator pitch:
“I am [your name] and I’m a [your job]. I help [your target audience] do/with [the task] by [your USP].”
If you prefer to structure your elevator pitch in a different way, that’s absolutely fine! Just make sure you include the key components: who you are, what you do, who you do it for, and how you do it.
Elevator Pitch Examples
Below are some example elevator pitches to help you get started.
Example Elevator Pitch for a Writer
I’m Sarah, and I’m a freelance writer who specializes in writing SEO-friendly content for the elearning industry. I help elearning providers reach a wider audience and connect with potential customers by producing engaging, keyword-rich blog content.
Example Elevator Pitch for a Proofreader
I’m Charlie, and I’m a proofreader. I specialize in academic writing and proofread everything from student essays to journal articles and published books. I help students and academics refine their work by correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, reviewing citations and references, and providing comments on other potential issues.
Example Elevator Pitch for an Editor
I’m Lyn, and I’m an editor who specializes in medical writing. I help my clients express complex ideas clearly and accurately. I ensure that technical language is used correctly, that content is appropriately structured, and that texts adhere to standards for regulatory compliance.
Example Elevator Pitch for a Social Media Marketer
I’m Adam, and my passion is helping freelancers and small businesses reach their business goals through social media marketing. I guide clients through the process from start to finish, showing them how to create an effective professional profile, craft content that entertains, engages, and converts, and use analytics to refine their strategy.
Example Elevator Pitch for a Graphic Designer
I’m Fran, and I’m a graphic designer with over 10 years of experience in the traditional publishing industry. I now help self-published authors create eye-catching book covers that stand out from the competition and convince readers to pick up their book.
Becoming a Freelancer
Have you ever considered becoming a freelancer? With our Becoming a Proofreader, Becoming an Editor, and Becoming a Freelance Writer courses, you can make that dream a reality and begin your journey toward a flexible and rewarding career. Try them out for free today!
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