Where my most recent speaking engagements have come from ...
From my experience, speaking opportunities come in all shapes and sizes.
There's also more than one way to run a successful speaking business. I am connected with several different speaker communities and am constantly learning how others target and focus their speaking, training, coaching and consulting.
If you've read my book PAID to $PEAK, then you know I focus my speaking business on association audiences. I also focus my business on PAID speaking engagements, not pro bono ones.
More than 80% of my business is referral because when I get in front of association audiences, every seat is a different business being represented. Think about it ... this is why associations are ideal for speakers. Association events are how I land speaking engagements from specific companies, schools and colleges as well.
And when I do outreach campaigns 2-3 times a year, I focus each on a targeted association. This approach helps me with clarity, structure and the follow-up business systems I have in place make it easy - these are the basic business fundamentals I can help you with.
Speaking as a hobby is different than speaking as a business. Isn't that why you're reading this ... to learn about getting PAID to $PEAK? Hope so.
Not to impress you; but rather impress upon you my point, below are some of the groups I've spoken to
... my full client summary is on my website here and it's a bit outdated!
If I've spoken to a group or industry you're desiring to speak to, we should have a 1:1 to discuss how I landed the engagement so that you can too.
Anyways, I thought it would be helpful to share how some of my most recent speaking engagements came to manifest. They did not result by accident.
Where did this first recent speaking engagement come from?
Audience: SHRM event (SHRM = Society for Human Resource Management)
Source: This event was a referral because the Past President had been in an audience where I had spoken before.
Since my speech: 7 immediate leads for future speaking opportunities and 3 already booked.
Where did this second recent speaking engagement come from?
Audience: Team training event for the Foundation of HOPE
Source: My TEDx talk called PURE Vulnerability.
Since that speech: 6 immediate leads for future speaking opportunities and 2 already booked. If you haven't already viewed my TEDx talk, called PURE Vulnerability, I'd be honored if you watched it.
Preparing for it was difficulty and delivering it was cathartic. You'll see.
But my TEDx talk has unexpectedly opened up an entirely new keynote and training program on the topic of mental wellness and resilience ... which leads into #3 below.
TEDx is an incredible opportunity for you to share your story, introduce an idea and springboard your speaking ... if you have an idea worth spreading!
Where did this third recent speaking engagement come from?
Audience: NASLEF (National Association of State and Local Equity Funds).
Source: Referral from another organization who booked me from my TEDx talk.
Since my speech: 3 immediate leads since last Friday (!) for future speaking opportunities.
Where did this fourth recent speaking engagement come from?
Audience: Private company (internal training event)
Source: GigSalad
If you're not on GigSalad, you should be. It's one my easy systems to be found.
Referral code: Happy25 for 25% OFF a GigSalad subscription. For an extra FREE month, be sure to choose a 6-month or 1-year paid membership and then email Info@InspirActiveSolutions after subscribing stating you'd like your extra month.
Where did this fifth recent speaking engagement come from?
Audience: College orientation event
Source: CAMPUSPEAK, collegiate speakers bureau which I am a "veteran" member
College speaking is how I got started into speaking ...it's my jam. Every year CAMPUSPEAK brings in a new pool of speakers. If you're interested in speaking to college students, applying to be on the roster for CAMPUSPEAK is a no-brainer.
Again, would behoove you to schedule some 1:1 coaching time me to discuss in more detail. Otherwise, wish you the best!
There's more but 5 is enough to set an example that speaking engagements come in all shapes and sizes.
If you desire to get PAID for speaking and are not in a community of other aspiring and emerging and seasoned speakers, I invite you to attend an upcoming Speaking Professionally Toastmasters meeting. We started Speaking Professionally Toastmasters because of the 17,000 Toastmasters clubs worldwide, there was not a club for professional speakers like SPT in existence.
We're a unique club and darn proud about it.
* If you're not a member of Toastmasters and want to speak professionally, we're the club for you.
** If you already are a member of Toastmasters and want to speak professionally, we're the club for you too!
Our club provides resources and community to help you develop your speech, practice your speech and then get group feedback to make it even better.
We also provide over $2,500 in professional speaking resources for our members!
In addition to practice opportunities with round robin group feedback, we also have an education segment with Q&A on a business aspect of professional speaking.
Every meeting you will learn and grow!
We meet virtually the 1st Tuesday of each month, have an additional Mastermind work session in between and also an active Facebook group.
Visit SpeakingProfessionallyToastmasters.org for details and how to request a guest invite.
Want to speak professionally, part-time or full-time?
Not getting PAID speaking engagements?
I've been honored to present for over 1,000,000 people through 1,150+ audiences in all 50 states and several countries. Whether I'm on a stage or in a training room with professionals or students, I absolutely LOVE motivating and inspiring people for higher performance. And in addition to my own speaking business, I have a passion for helping and coaching speakers learn how to catapult their speaking whether part-time or full-time. My book, PAID to SPEAK, outlines a proven model for speakers and is now an online course as well! Click here for online course info!
If you are serious about becoming a professional speaker, explore my coaching and mentorship options. I don't want you to flounder like I did and be frustrated.
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