Well maybe not Hell if you take the advice of Nicole Fallon of Business New Daily and recognize that the greatest business plans likely don’t stand a chance without an equally strong elevator pitch. So how do you go about knocking one of those impassioned two-minute diatribes out of the park? Below is a sampling from Nicole’s article, “10 Tips for a Winning Elevator Pitch” from this past February.

1. Start Strong: “Eighty percent of your success will depend your opening line. It must snag your listener’s interest and make them want to know more. Do this right, and your prospects will follow you, wanting more.” – Bert Martinez , Bert Martinez Communications

2. Prioritize: “While creating interest and value is key, remember to be authentic and realistic. Making outlandish claims about your company will eventually be discovered, and your integrity will be diminished.” – Ed Cederquist, CEO and co-founder of Bistro MD

3. Keep it conversational: “You want to stand out and generate excitement. Don’t regurgitate a memorized pitch that sounds like a pharmaceutical ad. When I hear a pitch, I don’t necessarily want to feel like I am being pitched. I would rather have it be more conversational. Start with the problem you are trying to solve, the way the current alternatives are lacking; then, briefly describe your solution.”  – John Torrens, assistant professor of entrepreneurial practice at Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Management

4. Think about your end goal: “You should build your exit strategy along with your business plan. Investors want to know that you’ve evaluated the risk and thought your plan through from soup to nuts” – Summer Kramer, founder of SummerSkin

5. Make a connection: “An elevator speech is an important networking tool. It should serve as a verbal business card that provides a brief, compelling introduction to one’s company and intrigues new acquaintances to seek more information. At your earliest opportunity [after giving your pitch], express an interest in your new acquaintance and learn as much as you can about him or her. The information you gain will provide insight as you proceed with efforts to build a genuine, mutually beneficial relationship.” – Juana Hart, founder of J-Hart Communications