How to Answer "Tell Me About Yourself" (and Nail Your Elevator Pitch)

I recently spoke at the REx Summit, hosted by Dorie Clark, on Confidence on Camera. The room was full of smart, accomplished experts: authors, consultants and founders. They're exactly the people who should be more visible, and often aren't.

Two ideas landed hardest. Here they are, plus the exact elevator pitch formula I shared.

Takeaway 1: Getting better on camera makes you better everywhere

Most people think of "being good on camera" as a social media skill. It's so much bigger than that.

The same skills show up in your webinars, your sales calls, your panels and your podcast interviews. Knowing where to look, how to open, and how to sound warm and certain at the same time: that's all one muscle.

So every hour you invest in getting better on camera pays you back in every room you walk into, virtual or in person.

Takeaway 2: Fine-tune your elevator pitch until you can say it in your sleep

Here's what I see constantly, even with very senior people. Someone asks, "So what do you do?" and they ramble. They start with their first job. They list titles. They trail off.

How to Write & Deliver a Great Elevator Pitch

A great pitch isn't something you write once and file away. It's something you say out loud so many times it comes out smooth, even when you're nervous. Especially when you're nervous.

Step one: Start at the end

Don't go chronologically. Your first job is irrelevant now!

Start with what you do today and the transformation people can expect from working with you. Be specific. "I help people communicate better" is forgettable. "I help founders get confident on camera so video brings them clients" is not.

Step two: Add your ABCDs

Once you've led with the transformation, layer in these four pieces.

A – Accolades: Your accomplishments, like press, client wins, degrees and awards. This is your proof.

B – Business: What you actually do, in plain words.

C – Confidence: Your pitch is spoken, so how you say it matters as much as what you say. Deliver it with gusto. A strong pitch said timidly loses to a decent one said with energy.

D – Detail: A fun, human detail people can ask you about. It gives them an easy way to keep the conversation going. Mine? I'm scuba certified.

Here's mine, put together

"I help founders, coaches and consultants get visible and confident on camera so video brings them clients. I spent 20 years in media at Netflix, Fox and Us Weekly, I've given two TEDx talks, and I've been featured in Fast Company. And fun fact: I'm scuba certified."

It takes about 15 seconds: transformation first, proof in the middle, a hook at the end.

Your turn

Write your pitch using the ABCDs. Then say it out loud five times today. Better yet, record it on your phone and watch it back.

It will feel awkward the first time. By the fifth, you'll hear the difference. By the fiftieth, you'll be able to say it in your sleep.

Thank you to Dorie Clark and the whole REx community for having me.

Want to turn that confidence into clients? Connect with Kim on a call.

Kim Rittberg is The On-Camera Visibility Expert, a 2x TEDx speaker and host of The Exit Interview podcast. She has been featured in Fast Company and Business Insider.

Grab her free On Camera Confidence Guide here.