How to get speaking engagements that build your business

One of the best ways to build your business is to start speaking in public. That may scare some people, but the truth is that talking is scary for almost everyone before they even try.

So before you freak out, at least consider giving it a try. Some people build their entire business by talking a few times a month.

Know who your ideal audience is

You need to know exactly who your ideal audience is before you begin. Since you’ve built a business, this part should be easy now. You need to know so you can find the events they are going to. Then you can apply to speak at those events.

Determine what you want to tell them

You can approach your talks in various ways. You can see it as a workshop and get their participation. You can see it as an opportunity to tell your story. Whatever your approach, you need to know your audience, the products you want to promote, and the rules of the venue.

Create a website page

Create a section on your website for people who might want you to speak so they can learn why you speak, what you speak about, and other information about your talks.

Develop a demo video

You can add this to your site so people can see parts of your talks. This is a great way to encourage people to invite you as a speaker. When they can see how your speeches are going, they will be more likely to ask you to speak.

Collect Testimonials

Whether it’s product testimonials or speaker testimonials, this type of content helps build your reputation well. If you want people to take you seriously as a speaker, make a habit of asking them for testimonials after your talks using your phone’s camera or by submitting a form.

Find events your audience attends

When you know enough about your audience, find out what events they attend. Those are the ones you want to talk on. One tip is to stick around for the entire event when and if you can, so you can network with each other to get more information from your audience.

Contact the event organizers

Once you’ve found out, you’ll want to get in touch with the event organizers. Submit the information that will make you look good to them and talk only about what they get, not yourself.

be willing to talk for free

When you start talking, you probably have to talk for free. But often, event organizers give speakers hats as free tickets to the rest of the event. In addition, they will allow you to promote your product among your guests.

practice and delivery

When you land a gig, hone your pitch based on the people who will be coming to see you. Practice until you can do it without much thought and meet your time constraints.