How to Market Yourself as a Speaker
What is the best marketing for speakers?
And "how" should you market yourself?
I get these questions a lot from newer speakers and folks just starting out. I get them even more from speakers with some experience but who are struggling a bit.
They think, or assume, that speakers have to spend a lot of $$$ on expensive marketing, social media ads, website, demo videos, contact lists, databases and more.
NOPE. Not me. This approach (i.e. spending lots of $$ on marketing) hasn't worked for me -- been there, done that AND already bought the t-shirt several times.
This approach also hasn't worked for numerous other full-time professional speakers I connect with regularly.
Throwing money out "hoping" you get business isn't good speaking business strategy. That's called hope and it's no different than throwing spaghetti on the wall hoping something will stick.
Especially in the speaking industry ... one reason being is that there are SO MANY "speakers" out there already paying lots of $$$ to promote themselves. And most of these speakers are paying LOTS of money for little ROI (Return On Investment).
To quote Marc Cuban from Shark Tank, the reason most marketing is expensive and doesn't work is because "marketing professionals have to spend a lot of money to prove their worth."
So here's my solution for you ... and it's what I believe is the best marketing for speakers. And it's also how speakers at any level should focus on to market and promote themselves.
This solution will help you not only focus on what you need to do next but also help you not waste $$$!
Ready? Here it comes ...
The best marketing for any speaker at any level is this ONE THING .... to have an incredible speech.
Nothing else matters if your speech needs work. Websites do not matter. Neither do demo videos or lists or databases ... or anything else for that matter.
Even a Speakers Agent or a bureau can't help you if you're speech just isn't as good as you think it is.
Here's why --- their brand and reputation is attached to the speaker as well!
Remember the speech IS the product of any speaking business! And if the product needs work, i.e. the speech, the business will consistently struggle.
An incredible speech is not only referable, but it's the heart of any speaking business.
Unless you're 100% confident that your speech is 10/10 and you've also gotten that feedback consistently from numerous sources (including me!), then focusing on your speech is target to start.
If a speech isn't that good, or if it's just mediocre, it will never be "talked about" after the speaker is finished. Audience members remember great speeches delivered by a great messenger - the speaker.
As I proudly admit and write throughout my book PAID to $PEAK, 80 percent+ of my speaking business comes from referral -- i.e. people who have either seen me speak OR heard about me speaking.
Being referred is the #1 marketing strategy of any business ... and it relies on the business product.
If you don't agree with me, I wish you peace and love.
So how to you create an incredible speech? What are tips to help you?
Read one of my recent blogs - click here - outlining 4 strategies to get you started!! I don't write these blogs for my health ... I write them to help you.
But it's not what you know ... it's what you apply.
So if you're serious about getting PAID to $PEAK, then designing a great speech is where to start. It's all you need to focus on.
If people aren't immediately emailing you or waiting in life (in-person or virtually!) to speak with you after a speech, then respectfully your speech needs work.
If you aren't getting immediate inquiries to speak again and 1-2 months later after a speech, then respectfully your speech needs work.
Friends, this is what I tell myself constantly as well! If I ever have a speech where I don't have audience members writing me or connecting with me, then I don't blame them. I look inside myself and my own speech.
Your Call to Action ... don't spend $$$ on marketing or lists or ads of any type. Invest any $$$ on what it takes to help you craft a great speech.
Read my blog here to help you -- again, click here -- 4 tips and guidance from me. You need these 4 items to help you craft art in a presentation. Your audience is the canvas.
If a speaker truly does already have a great speech, then they should be getting asked to speak not only consistently, but also about their fee!
So if you're speaking regularly, or even off and on, but never getting inquiries or referrals, then your speech is the place to start. Respectfully, your speech needs to be looked at.
It's no different than a car not running well. You need to take your car into a mechanic to have a diagnostic. The mechanic will tell you in 30 minutes what your issue is and how it should be fixed.
I hire a coach to help me with my speaking even now. My speaking journey is just getting started and I've already been doing this for 20 years! We're all on a journey together and a great speech is a work in progress.
The moment I stop working on my speech is the same moment my speaking business will begin to stall and struggle. But I won't notice it until 6 months and 1 year later ... this is why I will not allow comfortability or complacency to seep in again. I've allowed it to before, thinking my speech was "good enough." No speech is ever "good enough." You work your speech until you present it.
"Good enough" didn't work for Kodak, Blockbuster or SONY. Don't ever settle for good 'enough.'
To quote my own coach ... "A coach without a coach is a fraud."
I have one ... do you? And even though I've been speaking for 20 years and the past 10 full-time professionally, I am always seeking to find my blind spots, eliminate them, and become better ... and better. It's a Journey -- literally -- < insert "Don't Stop Believin'" >
One reason I'm so passionate about speaker coaching is because most speakers have an authentic desire to help people. And the speaking platform provides a scalable way of getting a message across to people all over the world.
If you'd like to explore me helping you with your own speech and/or speaking business, see below to schedule a 1:1 call with me personally.
Take care -- onward and upward!
Desire to become a professional speaker?
Not getting PAID speaking engagements yet?