Every entrepreneur has heard they need to have an "elevator pitch". So what is that? What does that really mean? Most entrepreneurs want to drone on for 30 minutes talking about their business opportunities almost in the hopes that a VC or group of investors will say. . . . . "OK, OK. . . I give. I'll invest if you will just shut up!".

News Flash. . . . that is not how it works. It is almost comical how so many entrepreneurs network with investors. They are like a faucet. They turn it on and it pours out. Boom They think to themselves, "I'm Done. . . whoo, glad that is over with" and then sit there like a lap dog with their tongue hanging out. . . "so whadya think. . . huh. . . huh. . . huh? Wanna invest, huh. . . huh. . . huh?"

The only time an entrepreneur should do a core dump like that is when they are in one of those beauty contests where they parade in front of mike to give a fast pitch to a sea of faces whom they have no idea who is really an investor and even more tragic, have no way of following up with any of those "potential investors". These community do-good events serve only one purpose. . . to be memorable so when you meet that potential investor another time, it will ring a bell and they have a positive emotional response. The odds of an investor rushing up to you after hearing 60 seconds of your heart and soul are so low as to be non-existent.

So first step in mastering your Elevator Pitch is to know there are two types.

1. The kind you deliver when you have 1-3 minutes to deliver a fast pitch. We'll call this the Fast Pitch Version When we coach clients on developing this skill we focus on three key elements to include.

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a. Relatable intro that leap frogs and puts your listener into your world, usually in a form of a rhetorical question.

b. Bold statement of what your business accomplishes that shocks or challenges the listeners beliefs so they want to reach out to you to find more or to disagree with your statement.

c. How to reach you, name, company name, website. . . . repeat the website.

2. The kind that is actually more like verbal tennis. We'll call this the Volley Version. It is delivered one on one or one on a few in a networking setting or when calling a potential investor and is strategically planned to cause predictable reactions and uncover if the person you are talking with is a potential investor, customer, joint venture partner, or someone just good to know or forget.

The Volley Elevator Pitch is the one that will net you more investors and more customers than the Fast Pitch Version that people most often focus on. The Volley version is supposed to be a 30-60 second sound bite. It is the sizzle. So when an entrepreneur is at a cocktail party or in an elevator, they can give a nugget about their opportunity so if the person they are talking to is an investor, they will respond in any of the following ways:

"Wow, that is really interesting, I'd often learn more. I may be able to help you with capital and resources. Here's my card, call my office and set up an appointment. " OR

"Hey, I was just reading about that stuff. . . you've figured it out. Happen to be looking for money to grow your business? Why don't you meet me and some of my friends for lunch on Tuesday so we can learn more. " OR

"Hmmm. . . . Got a few minutes? Let's get a refresh and step over here to this table where it is a little quieter and we can talk more. " OR

"Very interesting. Happen to be raising money? I'm part of the Network of Business Angels and Investors. . . . NBAI. We hold regular events where companies pitch to our investor group. I'd often nominate you to the screening committee. Here's my card, send me your executive summary so I can pass it along. " OR

"You know I'm in that field. I may know someone that would want to carry that or buy that. . . . Let's talk more. "

What you don't want to hear. . . . .

"Oh I forgot something. . . let me get off at the next floor so I can wait for another elevator. "

"Oh, sorry. . . I view someone I have not seen in years I need to go talk to. . . . right now!"

"Oh, look. . . . they just refreshed the fried chicken gizzard tray. . . . love these things. . . . talk to you later. "

Raising investor capital is an art, with a little science mixed in. Mastering the elevator pitch is a critical component. An entrepreneur should be able to do the Volley version at the neighborhood BarBQ, at the kids soccer game, at the chamber meeting, and the investor meet up. The reality is that most entrepreneurs think their friends and family cannot invest but in reality they don't have any idea what their financial situation is and most importantly they don't know who their friend or family knows that might be an investor. Informing them through a upbeat interactive conversation specific to your business opportunity is the easiest, least threatening way to figure out if that person opposite you can play in a role in moving your business to the next level.

Obtaining the business credit that you need to recognize your dreams for professional growth is a very real possibility – even if your personal credit rating is less than perfect. Taking the proper steps is of paramount importance in securing business lines of credit. There are optimized processes that will maximize your potential to get accepted when a lending institution reviews your credit application. Here are some very helpful tips to guide you along your personal road to accessing capital.

Steps to getting the business credit that you need and desire:

* Stop using your personal credit cards to fund your business endeavors. Business credit is credit that is granted to your company – not you. In fact, most often, your personal credit score doesn't matter at all when you are establishing business credit lines. In most instances, you will not even have to provide your social security number.

* You need to incorporate your business. That means following the legal procedures necessary to have it listed as an "INC" or LLC" entity. This one tip alone will save you loads of taxation and interest expenses. This does not mean to list it as a sole proprietorship.

* Obtain a credit card or cards in the name of the corporation or LLC. The debt incurred on these cards may or may not be personally guaranteed, but will not affect your personal revolving debt ratio.

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* Always keep your personal and business revolving debt ratios at 30% or less. This will help you to look better to lending institutions when you are attempting to obtain cash and capital.

* Separating your personal and business credit lines also improves your cash flow and saves you money. This increases your assets and helps the success of your company by making it a more liquid, viable entity.

There are many techniques for you to employ that will better your business credit application scoring from the lenders of your choice. You have to begin thinking and functioning like a company in order to become a company. Learn more right now by stopping by the Credit Line Millionaire site. Accessing capital and acquiring the supplies and cash you need to develop and thrive in your business is a matter of knowing and taking the proper steps. Your future and the future of your business awaits you.

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I feel like I have to put this out there as a corporate strategies consultant with a firm that is completely submerged in the industry of authoring business plans, private placement memorandums (regulation d rule 504, 505 and 506), facilitating direct public offerings to our database of investors and taking companies public on the OTCBB.

When I get calls about private placement memorandums it is typically one of two scenarios:

1. They want to raise capital and they are shopping around for the cheapest PPM author they can find.

2. They have made the mistake of using the cheapest PPM author they could find and now they cannot find an investor that will fund their 70 page stack of toilet paper.

It never ceases to amaze me when companies are trying to convince investors that they are ready for that next step in their corporate evolution, yet they are being penny wise and dollar foolish with the most technical document their company has ever had done. And why do people put the cart before the horse? I mean, why do people write the private placement memo before they know whoever their audience is? As a rule of thumb you should write for your audience.

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A ppm that is being written for venture capital firms will demonstrate and cater to more of an equity control and technical audience whereas a ppm that is being written for angel investors, private investors and small private equity firms whoever want to be in and out of a transaction will typically want to buy low and sell high and will typically want to invest in companies that are going public in as short of a time as possible.

The investors in pre public companies and other 'angel' type investors have a minimal bankroll of $1m or less (usually) so they have to be in and out of a transaction fast, thus the need for a 'selling shareholder offering'. This is a mandatory prerequisite for a company that wants to raise capital from angels and go public. With a selling shareholder offering you are setting up a scenario that ever investor dreams of.

You are giving them the ability to buy deeply discounted stock and 3 or 4 months later, when the company goes public, they can sell their stock into the market at an offering price that is typically 4 or 5 times what they originally purchased the shares at and the company is happy because the investor created a bridge for the company to go public and then created a public float.

Now, after reading this, you will notice why writing a PPM before you know whoever your audience is and before you've contracted with a consulting firm is a critical mistake. Find a consulting firm that is well rounded as a capital raising facilitator and have them help you set a goal as an end result and then build your strategy from there.