For a rare few, networking comes naturally. For the rest of us, we need help. And lots of it!
That’s where Laura Allen steps in with her business 15SecondPitch.
Can you describe what value you bring to the table, your experience and what makes you unique in 15 seconds?
Me neither. Not until I got some help from Laura.
One of the very cool things on the 15SecondPitch website is that you can view other people’s 15 second pitches. There’s over 1,700 for you to take a look at! With that alone you’ve got enough inspiration and insight to tackle your own 15 second pitch. Which is exactly what I did…
A couple months ago, I wrote a 15 second pitch on my About page:
My name is Benjamin Yoskovitz and I am an entrepreneur specializing in turning ideas into real businesses. I help people shape their passions into profitable, successful companies. My focus is always on providing exceptional customer service, developing businesses that gain an incredible reputation with clients. I work extensively in the technology industry, including web design, software development, blogging and podcasting.
Not too shabby, but I emailed Laura (who is also a contributor at The Great Big Small Business Show) and asked for some help. We did some fine tuning and came up with:
My name is Benjamin Yoskovitz and I am an entrepreneur specializing in turning your ideas into a thriving business. I help people shape their passions into profitable, successful companies. I have been in business for over 10 years and work extensively in the technology industry, including web design, software development, blogging and podcasting. Give me a call for a free 30 minute consultation to find out how I can help you build your business.
Sweet.
Now I’ve got a “call to action” that stands out, and a much more refined 15 second pitch, where each point in that pitch is hammered home clearly and effectively.
Doing a 15 second pitch isn’t just about writing something for an “About” page. It’s an exercise that can help you focus on what you’re trying to accomplish, create a great conversation starter, and serve as a personal marketing tool to communicate consistently across email, phone, etc.
I think the most important thing about all of this is that it’s not hard to do. Chances are you’re already passionate about what you do, or what you’re trying to do, you’re energetic and eager to make things happen. 15SecondPitch and Laura Allen are there to help guide and focus that. But it’s not the kind of thing that will take years of practice or hundreds of hours of training and studying. We all want quick results, and I think the simple exercise of writing a 15 second pitch can make a difference.
Founding Partner at 