Public speaking is a skill that can be learned and honed over time. If you have a message that you want to share with the world, becoming a professional speaker can be a great way to achieve that.
There are many benefits to becoming a professional speaker. You can use your platform to share your knowledge and expertise, inspire others, and make a positive impact on the world. You can also earn a good living as a professional speaker, if you treat it like a business and do the necessary steps.
If you’re interested in becoming a professional speaker, here are some steps you can take to get started:
- Choose a topic. What do you know a lot about? What are you passionate about? Choose topics that you’re excited to talk about and that you can speak about with authority.
- Do your research. Once you’ve chosen a topic, it’s important to do your research. Learn as much as you can about your topic so that you can speak intelligently about it.
- Develop your message. What do you want your audience to take away from your speech? What message do you want to convey? Once you know your message, you can start to develop your speech.
- Practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become as a speaker. Practice your speech in front of a mirror, with friends, or with family. The more you practice, the more natural and polished your speech will be.
- Get feedback. Once you’ve practiced your speech, ask for feedback from others. Ask them what they thought of your speech, what they liked, and what they didn’t like. This feedback will help you improve your speech.
- Start small. Don’t try to book a speaking engagement at a large conference right away. Start small by speaking at local events or to small groups, try pro-bono alternatives first to get yourself known and start developing your marketing. This will help you build your confidence and experience.
- Market yourself. Once you’ve gained some experience as a speaker, it’s time to start marketing yourself. Let people know that you’re available to speak at events. You can market yourself online, through social media, or by networking with other speakers. Mainly, having an updated LinkedIn profile, along with a Speaker Website, can help you market yourself. Other avenues to consider for building credibility are having an active Podcast, YouTube channel or TikTok shorts that convey your message. Additionally, you might want to invest in having a Booking Agent to help with getting to speak in paid events.
Places like Toastmasters can really help you build your speaking skills and get to the next level in terms of handling audiences and conveying powerful messages.
Becoming a professional speaker takes time and effort, but it’s a rewarding experience. If you have a message that you want to share with the world, becoming a professional speaker is a great way to do it.
Here are some great examples of marketing that we have seen from different speakers:
Podcast: Julian’s Pathways to Success is an excellent way to get his message to the world, whilst also interviewing great people across different industries. Another good example of a podcast is
YouTube Channel: Having high quality videos of you speaking helps incredibly with credibility and event planners. A good example is Josh Linkner’s YouTube Channel.
TikTok shorts: Just like for stand up comedians, this format can also work marvels in the speaking realm. A good example is Julian’s TikTok.
Speaker Website: Having a proper Speaker Website works the same way a Portfolio website does for a designer. If you do not have a place where you show what you can do in terms of managing audiences and delivering your message, how will event planners find and book you? Consider also crafting a Blog into your website, as well as investing on Google Ads if you want to be as visible as possible. Some Speaker Websites are: Hilary’s, Jeff’s, Julian’s, Jim’s, and more!
Booking agent: While being on Speaker Bureaus can help you get booked, having your own booking agent for outbound marketing is unparalleled in terms of ROI. You can get to know more about this option and its benefits here.
Here are some additional tips for becoming a professional speaker:
- Be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Your audience will be able to tell if you’re being fake, and they won’t connect with you.
- Be passionate. Your audience can tell if you’re passionate about your topic. If you’re not excited about what you’re talking about, your audience won’t be either.
- Be engaging. Use stories, humor, and other techniques to engage your audience. Make sure your speech is interesting and interactive.
- Be professional. Dress professionally and arrive on time for your speaking engagements. This will show your audience that you’re serious about your work.
With hard work and dedication, you can become a successful professional speaker. So what are you waiting for? Start today! Working with Trinity Fix we can help you build your speaker brand from zero to start getting your first pro-bono and paid engagements through the help of our events database and booking agents!
