Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Training
    • Class Registration
    • On-demand Training
  • Useful Links
  • Team Directory
    • Albany Counselor
    • Atlanta Counselors
    • Augusta Counselor
    • Carrollton Counselor
    • Columbus Counselor
    • Gainesville Counselor
    • Savannah Counselor
    • Warner Robins Counselor
  • Directions
    • Atlanta – Training Facility
    • Atlanta – Office
    • Albany
    • Augusta
    • Carrollton
    • Columbus
    • Gainesville
    • Savannah
    • Warner Robins
  • New Client Application
  • Contact Us

What’s an “elevator speech”? And why you need one!

July 16, 2010 By ei2admin

It takes planning to make a good first impression.  And first impressions are usually made on the basis of just a few words.

Sometimes, a few words are all you have a chance to say to a decision-maker — a government contracting official or a representative of a prime contractor, for instance.

Companies who work with the Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center (GTPAC) tell us that decision-makers always seem to be in a hurry and want vendors to get right to the point.  Similarly, government contracting people tell GTPAC that they are weary of dealing with ill-prepared vendors who just can’t seem to succinctly state what it is they’re an expert at doing.

These circumstances constitute a few of the reasons why vendors who want to make a good first impression with the contracting officials need to have what’s called an “elevator speech.”

Simply put, an elevator speech is what you are prepared to say, in 30 seconds or less, to describe your expertise.

The term “elevator speech” comes from a situation such as realizing you’re in an elevator with someone you’d like to impress … but you’ve got only a few floors to say anything before they get off the elevator.

What if you suddenly found yourself on an elevator with a contracting officer, an elected official, a prime contractor, or some other a potential customer?  Are you ready to quickly and professionally describe the solutions you represent and the expertise you can deliver?

Here’s an outline of what a good elevator speech should address:

  1. Who and what you are
  2. What you specialize in
  3. What you do
  4. Why you’re the best at what you do
  5. What you want (a call to action)

Write a paragraph that addresses each of these five elements.  Make it to-the-point and conversational in tone.  Practice saying it in front of a mirror or to a colleague until you can say it smoothly, from memory, in 30 seconds or less.  Once you have this mastered, you’ll have an elevator speech that you’re prepared to deliver — whenever you may need it.

Contact your GTPAC Procurement Counselor for further assistance in formulating your elevator speech.

© 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 –  Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center – All Rights Reserved.

Filed Under: Contracting Tips Tagged With: elevator speech, government contract assistance, government contract training, government contracting, marketing

Recent Posts

  • Contractors must update EEO poster
  • SBA scorecard shows federal government continues to prioritize small business contracting
  • The risk of organizational conflicts of interest
  • The gap widens between COFC and GAO on late is late rule
  • OMB releases guidance related to small business goals

Popular Topics

8(a) abuse Army bid protest budget budget cuts certification construction contract awards contracting opportunities cybersecurity DoD DOJ False Claims Act FAR federal contracting federal contracts fraud GAO Georgia Tech government contracting government contract training government trends GSA GSA Schedule GTPAC HUBZone innovation IT Justice Dept. marketing NDAA OMB SBA SDVOSB set-aside small business small business goals spending subcontracting technology VA veteran owned business VOSB wosb

Contracting News

SBA scorecard shows federal government continues to prioritize small business contracting

OMB releases guidance related to small business goals

OMB issues guidance on impact of injunction on government contractor vaccine mandate

Changes coming to DOD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification under CMMC 2.0

Judge issues nationwide injunction halting enforcement of COVID-19 vaccine mandate

Read More

Contracting Tips

Contractors must update EEO poster

The risk of organizational conflicts of interest

The gap widens between COFC and GAO on late is late rule

Are verbal agreements good enough for government contractors?

CMMC 2.0 simplifies requirements but raises risks for government contractors

Read More

GTPAC News

VA direct access program events in 2022

Sandia National Laboratories seeks small business suppliers

Navy OSBP hosting DCAA overview (part 2) event Jan. 12, 2022

Navy OSBP hosting cybersecurity “ask me anything” event Dec. 16th

State of Georgia hosting supplier systems training on January 26, 2022

Read More

Georgia Tech News

Undergraduate enrollment growth reflects inclusive excellence

Georgia Tech delivers $4 billion in economic impact to the State of Georgia

Georgia Tech awards first round of seed grants to support team-based research

Georgia Tech announces inaugural Associate Vice President of Corporate Engagement

DoD funds Georgia Tech to enhance U.S. hypersonics capabilities

Read More

  • SAM.gov registration is free, and help with SAM is free, too
APTAC RSS Twitter GTPAC - 30th Year of Service

Copyright © 2023 · Georgia Tech - Enterprise Innovation Institute