It's probably happened to you. You find yourself in a conversation with someone (it might be a parent at the park, a colleague in the office, a new friend at a conference or your non-techy father-in-law) and you mention you have a blog. Assuming you've already tackled the "What's a blog?" question, you'll get the inevitable "What's your blog about?" question.
Do you have a good answer?
Or do you ramble, wonder where to start, or offer a vague, generalized overview of your posts?
I'm the rambling type myself. 
But we want traffic, right? We want visitors, right? Then people have to know our blog exists and be interested enough to stop by.
That's why I think all bloggers should have an elevator pitch–a planned, punchy and intriguing answer to the question, "What's your blog about?"
What's an elevator pitch?
An elevator pitch is a clear and concise summary of your company, service, product, ebook, or in this case, blog or website.
The "elevator" part comes from the idea that you should be able to communicate it to someone you meet on the elevator, within the time it takes before one of you gets off. In other words, it should be short, to the point and compelling.
When you part ways, they should have the "Oh I get it! Sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out…" look, not the "Huh? I'm not sure what you just said, but whatever…" look.
I need to work on my elevator pitch. Here are my 5 elevator pitch tips:
1. Turn it into a question
Here's an idea from The Problem With Your Elevator Pitch–And How To Fix It (fastcompany.com) by Deborah Grayson Riegel,
If you’re a professional organizer, ask "You know that pile of papers you’ve got somewhere in your house that you’ve been meaning to get through? As a professional organizer, I help people finally get through it."
I love that, you now why? Because it's relevant. You just named my problem and offered a solution. I'm instantly drawn in. I like it.
2. Prepare a few different versions
The version you present to the mom standing in line behind you at the grocery store might be different than the version you present to the brand representative at the conference. Of course, there's a second tip buried in here too: always know who you're talking to. (Incidentally, the ability to put myself in the other person's shoes is one of my marketing secret weapons.)
3. Be normal
By that I mean, ditch the explanation that makes you sound sophisticated and important. Be relatable. Be real. Don't lose people in the ten-dollar words.
4. Practice it
In the mirror, to your spouse or friend, in a video or to your dog. The goal is to make it so natural it rolls off your tongue effortlessly.
5. End with a call to action
I haven't decided if this part should be included in the pitch itself or should be an addendum. I'm thinking the latter.
After someone hears your elevator pitch, what is it you want them to do? Visit your blog? Buy your ebook? If it seems like they're trackin' with you, first ask them to do something and then tell them how to do it. For example, "I'd love it if you stopped by my blog sometime. The address is BloggingWithAmy.com…" The goal here is to not sound sales-y but informative. (That's why I think it should be an addendum you can throw in if it seems like they're genuinely interested.
Bonus Tip:
If you're a project junkie like me and have more than one blog, ebook, product or website, consider creating one internet home where you can send people to find them all. If I didn't do that, my entire 30-60 seconds would be eaten up as I rattled off all those URLs. (This is where I plug the idea once again of registering your name as a domain and using that.)
Remember, whatever you do, your elevator pitch has gotta be short and sweet.
What do you think?
I love it!!! I shall be practicing my elevator pitch – short, sweet, intriguing. "What's your blog about?" turned into a question/solution: "Do you think you can retire with the lifestyle that you really want? I'm getting there and I share what I do and the lessons that I have learned along the way." A bit long, but it is a start.
Much mahalo Amy! You are a great sharer.
Yes, great start!
My problem with registering my name as a domain is that it is a bit common. Also there is a Jacqueline Wilson from England who writes children's books and there was a singer by the name of Jackie Wilson. Not sure how to get around that issue. Any suggestions would be helpful!
My current domain name is wilssearch – based on my last name and word research – something I love to do.
Ah, yes, I've been there. That's why I had to insert my middle name (even though I don't use my middle name normally). Sometimes you have to think a little creatively.
A few times I've thought twice about my domain name but reading this confirmed that although it's targeted there is still plenty of wiggle room to expand into other areas should I so chose. Thanks for settling the debate amongst the voices in my head (hereto known as my cumulative blog voice). ~ Dee
Glad to help.
Great tips as usual. I got my name as a domain as well to give me one spot to direct people to. I have elevator pitches but need to refine them. Lucky for me it wasn't taken yet.
Most all of the versions of my name are in use. I was able to get JacquelineAnnWilson.com. But not JackieWilson or JacquelineAWilson. I really hate using my middle name as I really don't like it! When I was a kid and got in trouble it was always "Jackie Ann, you get over here right now!" that got yelled out at me.
Maybe it's time to reinvent yourself. New beginning?
That is what I am currently doing! LOL Trying to find a 3rd career, clean sweep (de-clutter) my home, lose weight, and find my vision and mission! But not all at the same time. I am changing one habit at a time – either losing a bad one or gaining a good one. I have a long ways to go before I will be the person I want to be. Lots of changes to be made.
Way to go, Jackie. Inspiring!
Hello Amy
What a great informative article. The majority of the areas you pointed out, I learned at Toastmasters International. Part of the teaching is to help the members learn to speak off the cuff, or elevator speeches. We call them "Table Topics". It is nerving to stand up and have only two minutes to answer. After a while it becomes an "Art" to speak off the cuff.
Thank you so much.
And Yes I would recommend anyone who needs sharpening in their speeches or speaking off the cuff, to join Toastmasters.
Great suggestion, Gladys! Thanks. Here's the link to Toastmasters for anyone who's interested.
Oh my gosh, did you write this for me? People ask me and I say things like "It's kind of complicated" or "I'm kind of all over the map". Am I trying to sell myself here? Goodness. My husband wants to kick me every time he hears me talking to someone about saving money, shopping online, fitness, etc and he doesn't hear me mention my blog. Sometimes he swoops in with "Do you know who she is?" which is probably equally as unhelpful as the things I spout.
How did it not occur to me to actually think about this? You've saved me again!
Great article as usual Amy! I love that first one, it's really good for painting a specific picture and making an emotional connection.
I've been surprised at how many times I've wished I had a business card. When it comes time to give my web address, I don't want the person to have to search their purse for paper, or try to remember it. So, business cards is on my list of things to do ASAP.
Yes, great idea. Here's my #1 business card tip.
This is a very interesting post. The 5 point you mention here, It is helpful to me and got great info, Thanks for helping…!
I LOVE how you think. Once I started sharing my ideas on my blog I overcame any shyness when asked what I blog about. I'll share it because it is short and sweet and anyone can use it. "I blog to be a worldwide influence for good." Sounds corny but they eat it up. I have a slew of unused business cards so I just write my website on the back and hand them out to everyone who seems even remotely interested. I am just totally amazed with the results! Thank you, Amy.
I haven't been in this situation yet since I'm still at the prelaunch phase of my blog. But this is still great information that I will certainly be utilizing in the future!
Glad you stopped by, Amber! Congrats on your upcoming blog.
By the time I've finished explaining what a blog actually is, I've lost them. But I think we will see a change in that over the next few years…at least I hope! Sometimes I just use "website" and that usually helps.
Great ideas, and I will start working on my pitch!
LOL, I hear ya. Maybe you should just skip that part and move straight on to your elevator pitch.
I have one but it needs work, I have used it a few times and got a lot of "ohs" as in "I don't really get it".
This is something I definitely should have worked on before I attended my first conference last year. Thanks for the tips to finally work on it before I embarrass myself with a deer-in-the-headlights look again. Knowing what you do and how to talk about it should be a no-brainer–but it isn't for me
It's harder than it looks. That's what I think!
I have been blogging for about 3 months. At this point almost everything is new to me. However, the elevator speech has been a great tool for many years. Thank you for sharing the idea that the elevator pitch works just as well for blogging networks as it does for occupational networks.