27-9-3 is a tool developed by M+R Strategic Services (www.mrss.com) for developing an “elevator pitch." An elevator pitch is a message brief enough that it could be delivered in the time it takes to ride an elevator with someone.

The 27-9-3 rule requires you to make your persuasive point in 27 words or fewer that can be said in no more than 9 seconds. 27-9-3 messages are also limited to 3 (or fewer) ideas.

These limitations help us focus on connecting to our listener.

This message is not the place to present your entire appeal – just enough to hook the listener into wanting to hear more.

WISDOM, a faith-led coalition based in Wisconsin, used 27-9-3 to develop messages about statewide campaign to reduce the prison population by half by 2015.

“Almost everyone in our jails and prisons will return to our community. Do you want them prepared to be a better neighbor
or a bigger problem?”

“Help us make our community safer by getting people the treatment they need, instead of giving them time – time to just get worse.”

“Senator, we have more than 20,000 inmates, costing over $1.3 billion, for mostly non-violent offenses. 11X15 could cut those numbers in half. It needs to be done.”

Try the tool yourself by going to Powerprism.org where you will find the 27-9-3 worksheet.

Thanks to Lori Fresina and Diane Pickles from M+R Strategic Services, for developing PowerPrism tools and making 27-9-3 available to County Health Rankings & Roadmaps website users.

Thank you, David Liners, for sharing with us how WISDOM used the 27-9-3 tool in your work on the 11X15 campaign. For more examples of messages used in the 11X15 campaign, visit prayforjustice.org

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