| A handful of tips to help position yourself within the | | | | career. Most planners are eager to work with the |
| speaking arena and get those speaking engagements! | | | | speaker, but you also have to be willing to "give a little |
| Find your Niche | | | | to get a lot". Remember you want to be a magnet to |
| One of the biggest mistakes a speaker can make is | | | | planners and the "hiring" company, not an itch under |
| having a "general" topic. You want to narrow your | | | | their skin. So be pleasant, be negotiable and give them |
| expert niche as much as possible. Research the | | | | the best performance possible and in return they will |
| industry so you know "what's hot" and "what's not". | | | | continue to book you and recommend you! |
| Take that research and develop a niche around it, be | | | | Introduce Yourself as a Contingency Speaker |
| sure it is something you have experience with and will | | | | This is one way to get your "foot" in the door. One of |
| be able to present it as a professional expert speaker | | | | the biggest fears of a meeting planner is a "no-show" |
| in that field. Don't waste your time, energy and money | | | | or cancellation of the scheduled speaker. You can |
| on developing a "niche" that just isn't going to get any | | | | send out a letter via e-mail or regular mail to event |
| recognition because it isn't something that planners or | | | | planners, program managers, etc. Your initial contact |
| organizations will be looking for! I do put emphasis on | | | | with the event planner should be on eliminating one of |
| this tip! Once you have discovered your niche, you | | | | their largest fears. If you have a properly written letter |
| must continue to practice your speaking skills and | | | | and have done your research, you will more than likely |
| update your material and presentations to keep-up | | | | make an immediate friend. This is where the business |
| with the trends and changing issues of today's society. | | | | relationship begins and in most cases, the event |
| Develop a Stunning Media Kit | | | | planner or "hiring" authority will book you in because |
| Make sure that your media kit is up to date, precise | | | | you have approached them this way. Click here to |
| and professionally put together. Nothing else turns | | | | view a sample introduction letter you might wish to use |
| away a meeting planner or organization more than an | | | | and adapt as needed to promote your public speaking |
| unattractive and unorganized media kit. They won't | | | | services. |
| even bother with it nor have the time of day to look | | | | Network ... Walk the Talk |
| over the remaining contents if they don't like what they | | | | Standing out from the crowd is a major challenge for |
| see at first glance. It may very likely end up in | | | | today's professional speaker. Marketing yourself and |
| someone's trash can and as harsh as that may sound, | | | | your company, should be one of your major priorities, |
| it is the truth. Planners and organizations get hundreds | | | | which requires to be done on a regular basis. Unless |
| if not thousands of proposals and media kits every | | | | you have ample time on your hands and the expertise |
| year. You have to "wow" them immediately to grab | | | | it takes to market yourself effectively, one of the best |
| their attention, before they set it down and go to the | | | | suggestions we can make is hire a professional |
| next one! If you would like information or need | | | | marketing specialist or consultant/public relations |
| assistance with your media kit, please contact us. | | | | company. Find someone that will work side by side |
| Develop a Professional Demo Video | | | | with you in developing a marketing campaign that will |
| You want to make sure you leave a lasting image on | | | | benefit you and your speaking career. Click here for |
| the minds of the "hiring" company. They may not use | | | | more marketing tools and tips on self-promotion. |
| you immediately and it may be months down the road, | | | | Interact with Potential Clients |
| but if you put together a professional and entertaining | | | | It is very important to mingle and network! Get yourself |
| video clip that portrays you as an expert in your field, | | | | noticed. Hand out business cards every where you go. |
| then they will remember you! Your demo video should | | | | Talk to everyone you meet. Go to seminars and |
| always show you speaking within the first minute of | | | | meetings that are the same as your expertise. Watch |
| the video. You also want to capture the audience and | | | | and pay attention. Who are the attendees, what is |
| the energy they're generating such as clapping, | | | | their reaction to the speaker on the platform? Most |
| laughing, listening carefully and possibly jotting down | | | | importantly, be very personable and agreeable with |
| notes. Your first anecdote or presentation needs to be | | | | every meeting planner you meet. You want to leave |
| the most powerful! We have more in depth reports on | | | | the impression that you are easy going and willing to |
| how to make a professional demo video. Click here | | | | make adjustments at the last minute. Meeting planners |
| for more info. | | | | don't like to work with difficult and irritating speakers, it |
| Have an Online Presence | | | | doesn't matter how well known you are in the |
| Develop a professional website to match your media | | | | speaking industry. They look for someone with humor, |
| kit - with information on your experience, topics you | | | | an abundance of energy, flexibility, and great content! |
| cover, promotional material available and testimonials | | | | Write a Book |
| from previous clients. A 5-6 page website is not | | | | I know it's not as easy as it sounds, but if you are an |
| terribly expensive and worth its weight in gold. It can | | | | expert in your field and you have information you want |
| save you a lot of time and money in the long run and | | | | to share, I would suggest writing a book or some |
| it's a great communication tool. Ask us for web design | | | | informational products. This is an excellent marketing |
| tips if you need assistance in planning an effective | | | | tool and an addition to your income. We know you |
| website. | | | | have the speaking ability and you know what you |
| If you can't afford your own web site, join speakers | | | | want to say, but some speakers just don't have the |
| organizations and add your name to their online listings | | | | ability or the time to put it in book form. You do have |
| - many of them are free, others require a membership | | | | the option of outsourcing that task. There are many |
| fee. The more exposure you get, the better your | | | | companies or virtual assistants who specialize in that |
| chances of being found by people seeking speakers. | | | | field and can assist you with your project. Refer to our |
| Work with Meeting Planners | | | | resources page. |
| Very important: be willing to work with them. Don't be | | | | Best wishes as you travel down the road to a |
| so stubborn that you talked yourself right out of one of | | | | successful public speaking career! |
| the most important speaking engagements of your | | | | |