This week I was fortunate to interview Sharla Jacobs about how she has helped thousands of “heart-based” business owners build their practices into six figure businesses.
(You can find out more about Sharla here and also listen to the interview in the gold members’ area of Wonderful Web Women.)
Sharla shared some great ideas on how to answer the question “What do you do?”
It is quite common for people to answer this question with details on HOW you deliver services. Eg “I interview the most successful women on the internet on live webcasts to learn how to grow a successful business” or “I run workshops and work with clients one-on-one to help them reach their goals”.
The problem with this type of response is it doesn’t answer the question that is really in their mind which is “What in it for me?”
Sharla suggested you rephrase the question in your mind to be “How do you help people?”, rather than “What do you do?”
Because really, you are in business to help people after all.
A useful Template to Use
Sharla shared a template you can use which helps to get your “elevator pitch” clear in a way that really answers the question “how you help”.
‘You know how some people………….. well what I do is……….”
I’ve been working on my own answer to the question “What do you do” using this template, so here goes 
“You know how some people want to build a successful business on the Internet around something they are passionate about? But they have no list, no product, and don’t know where to start?
Well I help people build an Internet business from scratch and position themselves as an expert very fast so they can build a 6 to 7 figure business that will last.”
So, here’s my challenge to you.
I’ve taken the plunge to rewrite my “elevator pitch”. Now it’s your turn! Share YOUR response to the question “What do you do?” by leaving a comment on the blog here. Make sure you include a link to your web site ( if you have one) because you may attract new customers simply by taking this simple challenge.
Can’t wait to see what you come up with!
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Janet Beckers is the host and founder of Wonderful Web Women. An award winning on-line community recognised for generous and honest marketing advice for women on the internet. To learn from the most successful women on the internet through live webinars, masterminds and forums absolutely free, visit http://www.WonderfulWebWomen.com and join today.
Gday Janet,
I hope it’s OK for a fella to leave a comment on here???
My pitch sentence is really simple now after being a long and garbled nonsensical stuttering mess for quite a while..
When asked what I do, I just reply with “I have my own travel consultancy. I am Australia’s Family Travel Expert.” (This is both my website tagline and my registered trade mark).
At first, I thought it was big-headed and arrogant but now I know it really IS what I do. I specialise in family travel and am called on to speak and give comments regularly on family travel making me something of an expert. I think if one thing is all you do then you are of course an expert on that one thing!
Thanks Janet,
Nick
PS. Loving all the solid Central Coast businesses online these days…
Here’s my third attempt (not showing you the first 2!!):
“You know how some people seem to try everything to get more leads, more sales and more time off, but nothing seems to really work anywhere near as well as they wanted?
Well what I do is make it easy for people to test and find out what works best for their business, so they can get those results – more leads, more sales and more time off – much sooner.”
Would love comments from others…
“You know how single women these days have real difficulty attracting their soulmate?
Well, what we do is take them on a journey of self discovery, finding out who they are, what they want and what is in the way of them attracting their soulmate. Then they too can experience the deliciousness of a soulmate relationship!”
http://www.SecretsToSoulmateSuccess.com
“You know how a lot of single women have great difficulty attracting their soulmate these days?
Well what we do is take them on a journey of self-discovery to find out who they are, what they want and what is in the way of them attracting their soulmate. Then they too can experience the deliciousness of a soulmate relationship.”
Imagine being able to position your online business as a leader in your market. Build a brand that people virally wanted to share with the world. Leverage the power of emotive marketing and social media to attract, connect and convert your target market in to lifetime customers. I help entrepreneurs and small business owners turn that dream into a reality in a very short period of time.
Drop-in and let me show you how to emotively connect with your market today!
Pam Brossman
Emotive Marketing Queen
http://www.emotivemarketingqueen.com
“You know how many female entrepreneurs and women in business want to earn more money and more freedom from their business? Yet they experience overwhelm and frustration as they become tired of working long hours, disillusioned with being self employed and working in isolation, and struggle to make their business profitable?
What I do is take them through a step by step process that teaches them how to attract more clients, become an expert in their target niche and leverage their expertise trading value for money rather than their time.
What makes me different is that I work exclusively with female solo professionals, teaching them the strategies that I myself implemented to grow my prospects, my prestige and my profits.”
Great idea Janet, Thanks
Danette
http://www.ProductFunnelFormula.com
http://www.AccelerateInBusiness.com
” you know how some people always seem to be hitting a brick wall in attracting abundance in one or more areas ot their lifes?
Well I help them to get clarity on what they really really want in the lives and show them a simple way to attract that abundance into all areas of their lives”
Totally impressed with such great action takers. It’s quite difficult isn’t it?
An d Hey, Nick! Always happy to have men here, especially ones from the central Coast!
I think one of the biggest challenges is keeping it short and sweet. So your prospects eyes don’t glaze over before you finish talking
You know how some women feel really unhappy with their weight and their shape, and it’s all they think about and all they talk about, and they feel they can’t be happy until they’re the perfect weight and size? Well I help them learn to feel happier about their body.
Hard to stop, isn’t it?
Thanks Janet, nice exercise 
“You know how some businesses want to save money on hiring fulltime administration staff?
Well I help them save costs on holiday/sick pay, superannuation and training. By hiring a Virtual Assistant they save money and only pay for the hours spent on their set tasks.”
http://www.myvirtualangel.com
and for my other business…
“You know how some couples have difficulty falling pregnant?
Well I help by teaching them about charting their cycle and increasing their chances of conception.”
http://www.preconceptions.com.au
P.S. Nick i’m also from the Central Coast
Love it Janet so here goes.
You know how people love to invest in real estate but are never quite sure when to buy, what to buy or where to buy?
Well, I hold their hand and show them HOW to buy using none of their own money and WHY there are so many ways to invest in real estate that will create weath and a cashflow income for them from day 1.
The website and free gifts should be ready to go in a month. Hope to see you all soon. Cheers, Fran
You know how some network marketers are so afraid of the phone they don’t make the prospecting and follow-up calls necessary to their success?
Well, I teach network marketers how to turn their phone fear into fun and become a Dialing for Dollars dynamo. In my hands-on Webinar Workshop Intensive participants develop the mindset, skill set and tool set every networker needs to attract more business and make more money faster and with less effort….and it’s fun!
Cha Ching!
Tracy ‘Power Gal’ Monteforte
Here’s mine –
“You know how most people have paperwork all over their house, so can’t find what they need and stress themselves out?
Well I help people re-gain control of their paperwork, so they can find things really quickly, saving them lots of time and preventing all that stress with our Organize Your Life Organizer.”
Great idea Janet
Claire
co Creator – Organize Your Life Organizers
Hey Folks
Totally impressed with the amazing variety of specialities you all have. If you’re reading this and having trouble writing your “pitch” let’s see if we can help you. Why not put down a description of what you do and how you help people and what your main clients are….sort of a brain storm,. We’ll see if we can help you condense it down into this format.
Hi Guys,
I have written a book that all parents that have teenagers in high school need to get a copy of, so my elevator speech is more so directed at my book:
“Student Mind Power – The High School Student’s Guide To Great Grades”
is a book that exposes teenagers to the untapped power of their mind, so that they can create outstanding grades, massive self-confidence and live a life without limitations.
You can get a copy at: http://www.questcoachingclub.com/smpower.html
Would love to know what you think.
Cheers,
John
I’d come up with the tag line “fabulous cakes for fabulous people”. And here’s the first attempt at the new structure of the elevator pitch. Is it too bold?
You know how you want to impress your party guests with a dessert that’s surprising and delicious. I create fabulous cakes that look too realistic to cut, and taste incredible when you finally get the nerve to eat them.
Wow, such incredible variety of niches. Jeanne, your description just makes me want to eat one of your caked NOW!!
John, following the formula Sharla shared, what is the problem your clients have?
Maybe…You know how some high school students struggle to get the grades they know they are capable of but don’t know what is holding them back?
Cheers
Janet
You know how some people spend years having the same things happen to them over and over again?
I help people get unstuck, get rid of the old habits or pattern and start living a more fullfilling, peaceful and HAPPY life doing what they love.
Are you ready to say YES to being the best that you can be and make a difference in the lives you touch?
Than k you, MaryAine
You know how some people sadly can’t move on from their grief and loss?
I help people have resolution with their pain and feel inner peace so that their inner strength is available for the present to embrace life now.
Blessings, MaryAine