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“Why the heck would I put myself through that?”  I get asked a variation on this question pretty frequently. (Public speaking is the top fear most people cite when asked about their fears – beating out death itself by a pretty wide margin.)

One reason is that public speaking boosts your career.

Public speaking gives you credibility – it’s an external validation of your awesomeness. Someone outside your company knows of you and likes you enough and thinks enough of you to invite you to speak at their event.

Public speaking makes you more visible. You’re more visible to the audience; you’re hard to miss at the front of the room, on that stage. But you’re also more visible to other people. They might have seen an email promoting your presence at the event. They might have seen a Tweet or a LinkedIn or Facebook post about you, your topic or your presentation. Some of those other people might be potential employers, partners, customers or industry influencers.

Public speaking can connect you with people who have the power to influence your career.  You might end up sharing the stage with potential customers, partners and other influencers. Bring in that big customer and get promoted! Who me? A board seat? You’d like to interview me for your article?

And, confidence is a by-product of public speaking. Confident people are self-motivated and are willing to take risks, attractive traits in an employee. External speaking engagements lead to internal results (promotions.)

So, how do you boost your speaking career? We have a couple of tips. Read the full article at our sister company Innovation Women.

Or, learn more about how to get leads for speaking opportunities with My Speaker Leads. Boost your career and get paid by reaching out to the event leads you can get through My Speaker Leads!

Dear Innovation Women,

I have a potential opportunity to speak in Italy in November for a women’s technical association conference! (This is a result of a speaking engagement last week.)

The conference is small and doesn’t have funds to cover travel and I am wondering if I can help them by getting my talk sponsored. I can think of potential companies that might want to be seen there, but have no sense of where to begin/whom to reach out to, etc. Suggestions? Thanks, Linda

Dear Linda,

We know that many conferences and events have no budget for speakers. They also expect speakers to pay for their own travel (or live nearby). When speakers work for a large company this type of arrangement may pose no great barrier – the company pays for your travel and still pays you a salary.  The company may see it as part of your job, encouraging you to travel and speak. But if you work for yourself, or work for a small firm, unpaid speaking engagements, without a travel stipend, more often than not, have to be turned down.  Or do they?

There are some organizations that sponsor speakers, pay for travel in exchange for a report about the show, social media support or even pay for you to attend on their behalf (usually “under their flag” representing them for new business purposes, etc.)  A lot of this is the type of stuff that is pitched and managed by people with pre-existing relationships. It’s harder to get in the door cold with something like this but if you are trying, I might start with sales, marketing, strategic alliances, PR or HR, or, if you have access, upper management.

Want to see all the tips about getting speaking engagements sponsored? Read the full article at our sister company Innovation Women.

Or, learn more about how to get leads for speaking opportunities with My Speaker Leads.

Dear Innovation Women,

“Help! A group asked me to come speak early next year to their group. I am known for the content I write about my experiences but not as a speaker – yet. The group asked me for more information, specifically my speaking fees. I have never been paid to speak before but am very interested. Do you have any resources you can point me to? What should I tell them?” ~ Natalie

Dear Natalie,

We get this question a lot. The easiest way to deal with this is ask what their budget is and see if it makes sense for you. But it’s rarely that simple. This is more art than science. Here are a few questions to ask and some different ways to think about it.

Find out more about the speaking engagement.

How big is the audience and who is in it? Are the audience members of a particular group? Is the event open to the public? Is the organizer selling tickets? How much are the tickets? Is it part of a larger event? Are there other speakers or activities? Where will the event be held? (There’s a big difference between an event held at a convention center and one in the local church basement, for example.) This information gives you an indication of what range the potential budget might be.

Who has spoken to this group in the past?

Is there someone of comparable experience you could ask about their fees to the same group? Are the previous speakers people who speak for a living, or people who do something else interesting and who get asked to share their story?

To learn more questions to ask, including about the type of group, your speaker business model, your value as a speaker, calculating a speaking fee and more, read the full article on LinkedIn.

Or, learn more about how to get leads for speaking opportunities with My Speaker Leads.

Dear Innovation Women,

I am new to Innovation Women and have a question about speaker compensation. The conferences listed in the “Speaking Opportunities” section of your latest email typically don’t call out payment on their website. How does this usually work? Do conference speakers who submit proposals generally get paid or is their compensation “The people’s ovation and fame forever” or “bragging rights”?

Laura

Dear Laura,

Speaker compensation is one of the most complex topics we deal with on a daily basis. The short answer is, it depends. And here’s the long (really long but lots of good detail other people don’t tell you) answer.

Who pays speakers?

When we started Innovation Women, we did a survey of event managers and conference organizers. We asked about speaker budgets. Half of the event managers we surveyed had absolutely no budget for speakers. Forty-two percent had some budget for some speakers – whether paying a keynote or money to cover travel for speakers in need of assistance. Only 8 percent paid all or most speakers.

When we dove down further into the data, we could see very little correlation between paying speakers and the general wealth and stature of the organization. Some of the largest, prestigious (and wealthiest) events pay no speakers, and some of the smallest events pay. every. single. speaker.

How do you know if a conference or event has speaker budget?

Ask – we generally recommend starting off the conversation by asking “Do you have budget for speakers?” Since speaking is so highly negotiated, many conferences are deliberately publicly vague on the topic. (Another tip? Ask if they have budget for workshops or education – sometimes it just matters what you call it.)

Want to read the rest of this article, including how speakers get paid, how much they get paid, and what types of speakers get paid? Read the full article at our sister company Innovation Women.

Or, learn more about how to get leads for speaking opportunities with My Speaker Leads.

Dear Innovation Women,

Recently my friend and I submitted a topic to a local group. It was rejected and now we’re awaiting feedback on why. What makes a good speech proposal? How can you shape an idea to best fit the audience? Any suggestions? Sandra

Dear Sandra,

Thanks for writing!

There are lots of speaking opportunities that speakers need to apply for. There are formal calls for speakers as well as the proposals we do to conference and event managers when we have speakers to speak at their events.

Here are some suggestions on creating great speaking proposals.

The Topic

What do people want to know?  What do they care about? What do they worry about? What are the big trends in your industry? What are the pain points? The answers to these questions will drive the most popular sessions at any event.
If the conference has been held before, look at the agenda for ideas. If possible, go back a few years. Are the same sessions held year after year?  If so, it’s unlikely a new topic will make an appearance so you might need to fit into what exists. You also want to make sure you are different from what else is being presented. If there are 6 other cyber-security presentations, don’t be #7.

If you get a chance to talk to event managers, do so. What are they looking for? If there is a specific Call for Speakers or Call for Papers (a holdover from the academic world), read them carefully for clues as to what topics the organizers want.

Want to read the rest of this article, including advice on your topic, title, talk, takeaways, and talker? Read the full article at our sister company Innovation Women.

Or, learn more about how to get leads for speaking opportunities with My Speaker Leads.

The answer to ‘How to Get Booked for Speaking Engagements’ is multilayered. There are a number of things which contribute to how many speaking engagements you are able to book.

Below, we have outlined a few helpful steps to on how to get booked for speaking engagements. (You can also join our sister company Innovation Women and get invitations from event managers PLUS access to our lists of opportunities.)

1. Maximize your Online Profile

It is probably safe to say that you have some sort of online presence. Whether it is on Innovation Women, social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or your own website, you should maximize these and use them to your advantage. If you are trying to target a specific topic or industry, tailor your online profiles to demonstrate that: what you do, what can you talk about, and details of your story. Make sure all your online channels are consistent.

• Follow industry or topic specific organizations and associations. These are often the people organizing big conferences and looking for speakers.
• Research popular speakers in the chosen industry – which speaking engagements are they targeting? What are they doing that you can also be doing?

Event organizers looking for speakers sometimes have to go through an exhaustive (and exhausting) list of potential candidates. If you give them all the information they need in one place, you’re making their job easier, and increasing your chances of getting booked. (In other words, make sure they can find your biography, your topics, your speaker video and other relevant information in one place.)

2. Settle on your topic(s), and write abstracts

This comes even before you apply for any speaker opportunities. (The more you think about it, the more ideas you will have.) Stick to what you know, like, and feel comfortable speaking about. Don’t assume anyone else already knows it, and even if they know some of it you bring your own twist or experience.

Every sector has at least one expert with a book, or a Ted talk, or that one person that the networks always bring in to talk about that subject. Don’t try to be them — be yourself. The experience you bring to the subject is yours alone, and if you believe in what you’re speaking about and are passionate about it, all the better. Enthusiasm is contagious.

Want to read five more tips for how to get booked for speaking engagements? Read the full article at our sister company Innovation Women.

Or, learn more about how to get leads for speaking opportunities with My Speaker Leads.

If you’re reading this, the chances are high that you have already decided public speaking is a good move for you. You’ve worked out the ‘why.’ Perhaps it’s because you feel stuck in a professional rut and you need that next step up — to amplify your visibility and give brand ‘you’ a boost. Public speaking is a direct line to business opportunities and professional growth. Perhaps it’s part of your career progression (your boss suggesting it is a “sign”,) or perhaps you’re tired of attending industry events and hearing the same kinds of voices on stage.

You are a brand. Your brand needs marketing. Are you ambitious? Do you deserve that promotion/next step up the ladder/corner office? Of course you do!

Now all you have to do is work out the ‘how.’ How to find speaking opportunities? (Helpful hint. There are literally hundreds on our sister site! You can get access to them. Sign up for Innovation Women!)

The answer to how to find speaking opportunities is multilayered. Any cursory google search (“call for speakers”) can cough up multitudinous opportunities (we share 100s of opportunities  with our members on our platform) and it’s a very good place to start. The internet is one reason there are more speaking opportunities than ever. It’s easier than ever to “put on a show” and sell (or give away) tickets on tools like Eventbrite. It’s easier to market an event using social media. And, with marketers busy collecting leads online, there comes a time in many sales processes when you just have to get face-to-face with a prospect. (Pandemic note: virtual and online events need speakers too!)

We call it “The Speaker’s Paradise”. There have been more than 50,000 TEDx individual talks and counting; there 3 million events selling tickets on Eventbrite annually; and there are more than half a million monthly Meetups. Never mind that there are more than 92,000 identified professional organizations, many of whom run events. One of these will surely tick a box for you. 

Want to read the rest of this article, including five tips for finding speaking opportunities? Read the full article at our sister company Innovation Women.

Or, learn more about how to get leads for speaking opportunities with My Speaker Leads.

We are frequently asked to guide novice speakers – both younger people and more mature people who haven’t previously gotten on the speaking circuit – we decided it was time to revisit “How to get started in public speaking”. We’re going to kick off this series with seven questions to ask yourself on your way to public speaking success.

1. What are your goals?

Why do you want to get onstage? Answers vary from “I have something to promote” (myself, my business or maybe a book) to “I have a special story or skill or experience I want to share,” to “My boss or mentor or friend is urging me to do it.” Knowing why you want to speak is important and can help you make many decisions during this process. It can also help you measure your success in the end. Are you achieving your goals?

2. Who do you want to speak to?

Visualize your perfect audience. If you are speaking to promote your business, who is your perfect customer? Are they younger? Older? Working in a certain field? Do they have a certain title? Or do they have a specific question you can answer? Where do you find this audience?

3. Know thyself.

What’s your natural comfort level with public speaking? Some people are naturally more out-spoken than others but it is our firm belief that almost anyone can do this with the right situation and enough practice. Maybe you are shy and so solo speaking engagements feel like too much (especially right out of the gate). You’ll want to stick with panels or round-tables, or maybe be a moderator to start off. How much experience have you had speaking? (Side note: While giving the webinar this week, I was asked how I handle the physical “tells” of nervousness, red-face, blushing, sweating, etc. I talked about how audiences don’t want you to fail and how they tend to overlook small issues like these. However, now, I will say that the perfect “venue” for you if you have these challenges is a webinar!)

Want to read the other four questions to ask yourself? Read the full article at our sister company Innovation Women.

Or, sign up to start receiving speaker leads every week.