What does It Take to Make it as a Professional Speaker?

I have been in the sidelines of this wonderful business of professional speaking, working with Professional Speakers preview videos and marketing plans for over 20 years now. I have seen several speakers make it big while others fail miserable. In the following paragraphs, I will tell you exactly what you need to know, from my point of view, to make it big in the speaking business!

Before we get to that list, understand that you are not simply a professional speaker with a huge ego. You are a humble expert. You must have an expertise. Professional speaking is simply one of your income generators. One business model that works great is to be a consultant, author and professional speaker. Your subject is your expertise. You can make a lot of money in each of these areas if you position your expertise properly in your marketing efforts.

For example, if you have a passion for motivating people to success and happiness, then you better have authored books, cd’s and dvd’s on success and happiness. You better have one or two excellent speeches on how to become happy and stay successful. You better have helped some people become happy and successful. Now you have the experience to position yourself as a professional speaker on success and happiness. All you have to do now is let the world know. It’s that simple.

People come to me and ask me to help them market their speaking business on happiness and success and the only tool they have is a speech and their own success and happiness. That may have worked years ago when this industry was getting started. Today, with so many people competing for a piece of the “speaking” pie, you not only have to be really good to have the privilege to taste the pie, you have to position yourself as an expert in all of your marketing materials.

You have to have a message people want to hear. Companies what to hire speakers whose messages will help their people perform better not just live happier lives. Companies also hire speakers who are entertaining, not just informative. Keep in mind, people want to hear about your failures as well as successes and how you overcame the failures in an entertaining way.

You also have to be real good! If you are just starting out, look to speak at least once a week, even if for free to get the experience of standing on a stage in front of audiences. Experience is the key to becoming a great speaker. Rotary, Chambers, Scouting organizations, men’s and women’s clubs, NABO, ASAE and the list goes on and on of potential pro bono speaking opportunities. Not only will you be able to gain experience you will also gain visibility. It’s hard to get business when the world does not know who you are.

You must be entertaining. There is nothing that will end your speaking career quicker than to be a mundane, so so speaker. If you are not entertaining, hire a coach to help you become entertaining. This is not just humor, but other characteristics that make you interesting to listen to. Take a look at the preview videos of big bucks speakers. You will see entertainment.

Lastly, you have to have a marketing plan. What markets and audiences is your message suited for? What plan do you have to gain visibility with those markets? What tools do you have that will show what you do, how you do it and who you are to that audience/market? Does your preview video entertain as well as exemplify? Is your video current? Is your video on your website? Does your website look professional? Are you listed with search engines? Are you linked with your clients and other industry giants?

By the way, if your video is not on your website, you are an armature. Get with the program folks, most speaking prospects today shop for speakers online.

The National Speakers Association is a great organization that will help you develop your speaking business through programming, mentoring and resources. Some of the best of the best professional speakers will attest that NSA helped them launch their careers. Keep growing as a professional by adding to your expertise and gain experience in front of audiences and you can’t go wrong.

Ed Primeau works with professional speakers to produce preview videos and marketing strategies for growth. Contact: Ed@PrimeauProductions.com.

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