You may have noticed the button on my sidebar advertising ProBlogger’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog. I thought I might participate this time around. I’m not sure that every day will be something I can use since this is probably targeted to more professional blogger types, but can’t hurt to improve oneself, now, can it?
Today’s assignment is to Write an Elevator Pitch for Your Blog. THIS is an assignment that I believe I can benefit from because there is nothing worse than finding myself in a social situation and one of my friends blurts out, “Jo-Lynne has a blog!” Or worse yet, “Jo-Lynne is a big time blogger! She has hundreds of readers! She gets all this kinds of free stuff!”
Um. Open floor. Swallow. NOW. PULLEEEZE.
Because invariably that results in one of two responses:
A quizzical “What’s a blog?”
Or an enthusiastic “Cool! What do you write about?”
And both questions are directed at ME.
I know it’s hard to believe, but despite the fact that I have no shortage of things to say on the internet to people I hardly know, I am at a complete loss for a succinct response to either of those two questions. Invariably I stammer and stutter and klutz about, trying to explain the purpose of a blog and what I write about and why people send me free stuff and why in the name of all that’s reasonable anyone reads this drivel.
Of course, when I set out to write my Elevator Pitch, and I looked down through the list of starting points, I got clobbered with that same helpless feeling I get when a group of people at a social gathering all turn and look at me expectantly, waiting for me to wax eloquent about my blog.
I’m supposed to solve a problem or a need?
Who’s my blog for?
Keep it short? ME?
Be intriguing?
Oh the STRESS!
Then I realized, I do this all the time. On my About page. In my Media Kit. Every time I join a forum. When I write for other blogs, they often want a quick description of Musings of a Housewife. So to come up with my elevator pitch for the 31 Days project, I started by combining several of the blurbs I have about my blog in various places, but nothing was quite cutting it for me. Then I came up with this. It isn’t exactly brief, but then, neither am I!
Musings of a Housewife is the online diary of a busy mother of 3 writing about everything life dishes out with a pinch of humor and a hefty dose of reality.
Go ahead. Try it. It’s harder than it looks! But it’s a good exercise.
I’m going to try this month-long challenge, too. And I have no idea how I’m going to get my brain out on “paper” for this elevator pitch. Because even though I’ve been blogging for a year, I’m still SUCH a beginner when it comes to things like, you know, FOCUS!!
Thanks for Twittering about this! I’m brand new to blogging, so 31 days to a better blog sounds great to me!
Your “elevator pitch” is excellent! Short, to the point, tells me why I want to keep reading your blog. (Which I do, now!)
Now to try mine . . .
Conquering Motherhood…one nap at a time;)
Oh, that’s my pitch…
That’s very good – I like it. And you’re right. This is NOT an easy thing to come up with!
I signed up for this too – but you are a teacher’s pet having your elevator pitch already written.
I think yours perfectly represents your blog.
I read the 31 day post and have been “musing” all day with little success. Really like your results. Nice job. RT’d your Twitter post as well.
I have no problem saying “I wholeheartedly believe that part of the goodness in life is enjoying good food with good friends and family. goodLife {eats}. is a place for me to share what I find good in the kitchen.” on the internet, but when people in real life start asking me about blogging my confidence goes way down. It doesn’t help the situation when the person I’m talking to doesn’t really “get” blogging. Then I just end up feeling dumb.
Your Elevator pitch is perfect. I’ve been trying to think of a new name/tag line for my blog. I started with my last name because I didn’t think I would ever go public.. I’m having a hard time deciding.
oo love the elevator pitch. I am def. going to have to check out that site
Great pitch! I have to go check it out.
Emersongirls blog is a way for me to chronicle my days of motherhood and I hope it will be something my daughters will refer to for guidance and remembrance. I also review books with lots of giveaways at Tales from the Nightstand.
Does that work? I like yours, it is SHORT. I am wordy kind of gal.
Good idea! I should probably do something like this. I hate when people ask what I blog about. “Me.” How vain does that sound? Then I try to add in “and the family and faith – sometimes the dogs, you know stuff.”
Not such a good sales pitch, huh?
Isn’t it? I’m following 31DBBB too (thanks to you!) and am sweating the brain about it still.
As you say though, it’s a good exercise.
=)
Your description is great! Nice job! But I have to say that I have either been there when someone points out you have a blog OR I have been the one pointing it out to people(sorry!), and you always respond with grace! So even if you want the floor to swallow you whole, you certainly don’t show it!
Great work–I’m participating too, and almost let this first assignment drift by because I KNOW focusing is my biggest issue. Thanks for the inspiration! And writing a post about it too–you’re a genius!
I still haven’t written mine…working on it. I know I’m already a day late. But I did do the list post…
LOL, Grace!!!
It’s fine. Really. And now I’m prepared. Ha! I was just glad Sarah was there that night to take over. 
(And you SO aren’t the only one.)
*GASP* I’m SO sorry I did that to you! You’re so chatty I forget how shy you can be!
That is a good “exercise” – and a tough one too! Sometimes the shortest assignments are the most difficult.
I have a hard time explaining my blog in social settings too. Especially because so many people have no idea what a blog is or what I’m talking about. It’s actually kind of hard to explain quickly and succinctly…despite the fact that I could talk about blogging ALL. DAY. LONG.
Am I making any sense…? I think I need to go write an elevator pitch now…
Ha! I remember learning about elevator pitches in college… gotta but some of my BA into action now!