A big THANK YOU to all of our entrants in the elevator pitch contest and to Peter Bowerman and Linda Formichelli for getting us signed copies of their books (and a set of e-books in Peter’s case as well)! Your participation was very much appreciated. And even if you didn’t win, please get yourself a copy of all of the books included in this contest — they’re outstanding resources for freelancer writers, new and old. You can find purchase links below (not affiliate links):

• The Well-Fed Writer by Peter Bowerman
• The Renegade Writer by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell
• The Renegade Writer: Query Letters That Rock by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell
• The Wealthy Writer by Michael Meanwell
• Writer’s Market 2010 Deluxe Edition (includes online access to writersmarket.com)

And now, here are our winners (and their winning entries) for the elevator speech contest!

First Prize: Keisha Foster

I write web content to get pre-qualified leads for small BtoB companies in professional services. Your company could see a 69% increase in conversions and decrease advertising costs using my proven 7 step process. If you’re interested in a better return from marketing online, I’ll email you my report showing how I can do this for you. Let me get your card. After you read it, email me if you want to get started with the free offer in the report.

Why it works: Not only does Keisha emphasize a direct and measurable benefit for prospective clients, but she demonstrates that she really understands lead-development by doing it herself with her free offer and report.

Second Prize: Stephanie Smith

Ever been pooped on by a rattlesnake? I have. I use experiences such as that and the solid research skills I gained getting my Ph.D. in clinical psychology to turn out informative, helpful nonfiction articles on such diverse topics as dogs, gardening, woodworking, and bugs. That way you can stay at a safe distance from the snakes in life and avoid all the other pitfalls there, too. What article may I write for you?

Why it works: In most cases an elevator pitch has absolutely nothing to do with being in an actual elevator. But the idea is simple — you have a limited amount of time to get someone’s attention and make your point. People are too busy for droning job descriptions. Stephanie immediately grabs your attention by asking something you’d never expect, and then goes on to talk about her background which sets her apart from other multi-niche writers.

Third Prize: Margaret Montet

I write travel articles and essays that focus on destinations daytrippable from my home in New Jersey, and I have also published essays on international travel, food, games and hobbies. Because of my twenty years of librarian experience, my articles are impeccably researched and frequently include suggestions for further reading. My articles are published in a variety of print and online periodicals. Check out my blog for samples of my work: it is listed here on my card with my contact information.

Why it works: It gets right to the point — very specifically telling someone what she writes, how it’s different from the competition (both in her experience and format-wise), and she tells them where they can learn more without putting on too much pressure.

CONGRATULATIONS again to our winners! You’ll be contacted privately later today so I can send you your cash prizes and I can get your mailing addresses for your books.