Vanessa Van Edwards argues elevator pitches fail because they over-explain. Instead, use a logline: a one- or two-sentence hook that creates curiosity and makes people ask questions. Example: "I teach ambitious people how to become impossible to ignore."
How do you answer the question, "What do you do?" This is your pitch, and whether you realize it or not, how you answer this question can make or break how people remember you. First, let's rebrand the elevator pitch. It almost never happens in an elevator. Most people think they need an elevator pitch, but what they actually need is a logline. Hi, I'm Vanessa Van Edwards. Follow me for more people skills tips because this one completely changes the way you introduce yourself. The problem with elevator pitches is that most people use them to explain way too much. And the second you start overexplaining, people stop listening. A logline does the opposite. It creates curiosity. Loglines are actually used in Hollywood to describe a movie in 1 or 2 sentences with a hook. Nobody says, "It's a complex story about marine biology, local politics, and tourism." They say, "Shark terrorizes a beach town." That's it, and immediately you wanna know more. Your introduction should work the exact same way. Instead of saying, I help organizations improve communication and leadership development. Say something people will actually remember, like, I teach ambitious people how to become impossible to ignore. That's a logline. It's short, clear, and memorable because the goal of an introduction is not to explain your entire career. It's to make people lean in and ask the next question. I'm Vanessa Van Edwards. Follow for more people skills that make you unforgettable. I talk about how to answer boring questions in a memorable way in my latest book, Conversation. I'd be honored for you to check it out. Comment book and I'll send you all the details.
