Article of the Week

Your 1-Sentence Bio vs. Elevator Speech

(What They Are, Why They Matter… and WHY You Should Care!)

“What do you do?”

I was standing in the hallway at a big conference last week, and a huge group of people were walking by. Everybody was in a rush, heading to their breakout sessions or speeches.

Some people stopped to ask me, “What do you do?” I didn’t have a lot of time to explain everything, so I had to think quickly.

I experimented with different things to say. I wanted something short and easy to understand.

First, I said, “We help you fire your copywriter, your social media coordinator, and your blog writer and replace them with a tool that gets the job done faster, easier, and at less cost.”

It seemed to grab people’s attention. They looked interested and asked more questions.

The other thing I tried was, “Meet your new blog writer, sales copywriter, and social media coordinator that never calls in sick and always gives you exactly what you want.”

People liked this explanation too.

It was quick and easy for them to get what we do.

Both sentences worked well and got people excited about our tool.

I had rediscovered the “1-sentence bio!” 😊

There is a big difference between your one-sentence bio and an elevator speech.

A one-sentence bio is a short and sweet way to tell someone who you are, what you do, and how you can help them.

On the other hand, an elevator speech is a bit longer. It’s about 30 seconds and goes into more detail.

The term “elevator speech” came from the idea of pitching someone an idea during the short time you ride an elevator together.

One-Sentence Bio: The Quick Snapshot

A one-sentence bio is like a quick snapshot.

Imagine you’re meeting someone for the first time, and you have only a moment to tell them something important about yourself.

 For example, “I help authors write and publish their ebooks in just one week.”

This sentence tells you what the person does and how it can benefit you, all in one breath.

Elevator Speech: Providing More Details

Now, an elevator speech gives you more time to share more details.

Imagine you’re riding an elevator with someone, and you have 30 seconds to make a great impression.

“Hi, I’m Jane. For the past 10 years, I’ve been helping authors and aspiring writers bring their ideas to life. In just one week, I guide them through writing, editing, and publishing their ebooks. My team and I have helped over 200 authors publish best-sellers on various platforms. Whether you’re starting from scratch or need help finishing your book, I’m here to make the process smooth and successful.”

See how the elevator speech includes lots of details?

It tells you about Jane’s experience, how long she has been doing it, and how many authors she has helped. It also adds a personal touch by mentioning her team and offering to help you specifically.

Impact on the Listener: Bio Vs. Elevator Speech

The one-sentence bio is all about the listener.

It quickly tells them what you can do for them.

On the other hand, the elevator speech is a bit more about you.

It shares your background, your skills, and your accomplishments.

This way, the listener gets to know more about you and why you are a good choice for them.

Working Together: Bio and Elevator Speech

A good one-sentence bio and a strong elevator speech can work together well.

You can use the bio to catch someone’s interest quickly.

If you get more time with them, you can then follow up with your el­evator speech to give them a fuller picture of who you are and how you can help them.

Bottom Line: while both the one-sentence bio and elevator speech are important, they serve different purposes.

The one-sentence bio grabs attention and tells the listener how you can benefit them.

The elevator speech provides more background information and details about you and your accomplishments.

Using both effectively can help you make a great first impression and connect with others quickly and meaningfully.

If you’d like to discover how to craft an incredible 1-sentence bio in just a few minutes, check out the “What I Do In One Sentence Hook Wizard” inside of CopyAndContent.AI

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