Time to Craft Your Elevator Pitch

Learn more about working an event at my talk in Los Angeles April 22.

Right now, many book folks are getting ready for the LA Times Book Festival at UCLA (April 25-26) as well as Book Expo America in NYC (May 29-31). Therefore this is the perfect time of year to work on your elevator speech.

An elevator speech is a quick take on what you, your book, your publishing company or your service is all about. The basic idea is to pitch it as if you only had 30 seconds with a key person as they share an elevator ride with you. As you travel between floors, you can only use less than 150 words (time yourself!).

What do you want to cover? First, what is it that you’re pitching? Second, why should this person care (what problem will it solve? how will it help them?). Third, why should they choose you over others (brief sketch of your experience and past successes).

If you get ready now, you have over a week to practice before you hit the ground running at UCLA. Have fun! And come by the Book Publicists of Southern Calfiornia Booth and say hi! (I will be there on Sunday from 3:00 to 4:00 PM).

Also, I will be giving a talk on how to work Book Expo America at the Book Publicists of Southern California meeting next Wednesday (April 22). The first speaker will cover how to network at the UCLA Book Fair. Visit http://www.bookpublicists.org/pages/events.asp to learn more.