Elements of an Elevator Pitch

We've all heard of the popular "elevator pitch," used to quickly and succinctly tell people who you are and what you do. If you have developed one for yourself, be sure that it is not as tiresome as the traditional "elevator music."

What people need to know: your name, your firm or company, and the issues or problems you address or solve for your clients. Avoid using lingo and buzzwords popular in your field, but use layman's terms. This will help get your point across regardless of the person's familiarity with such terms. 

Finally, and possibly most importantly, plan for follow-up. Ask for a business card, set up a time to meet for coffee, or offer to place a follow-up call to address a question. Doing this before the conversation ends will make future connections easier and expected, helping hold you accountable.