Speaking gigs create multiple opportunities. One, you could get hot prospects or leads. Two, you could get so many speaking engagements that you could become one of the highest paid speakers in your field. And three, you could successfully build your brand. What all of this translates to is growth for your business.
Of course, the key to achieving these favorable results is to actually get invited to do a speaking engagement. So what do you do? Try these three important steps on how to get your first speaking gig.
1. Build your audience.
When you know your target audience, you can start to drum up interest on your knowledge and experience. Most beginner consultants, for example, establish niche audiences online through their websites, through relevant forums, and through social media. If people discover that you have the very expertise they need, whether that's in financial growth or Web design, you will start to get those offers for speaking gigs.
2. Keep learning, and be the best speaker in your field.
Seminars and workshops can get lifeless, especially when they run too long, with little to no insight from speakers. So it is important to keep learning and adding to your knowledge base. Pursuing knowledge is particularly critical when you are consulting in fields that continue to evolve like technology and marketing.
But being the best speaker is not just about having all the right -- and current -- information to hold your audience's interest. You also need to work on your speaking skills as well as your presentations. It's important to get the gestures and the voice projection just right for the specific audience, and to use sufficient tools to maintain their attention. By improving your public speaking skills, you can effectively get your message across.
3. Use the Web to create interest and to market your expertise.
The great thing about attracting speaking engagements these days is that you don't have to invest a great amount of money on marketing yourself. The Web offers multiple opportunities for gaining exposure.
You can produce a series of Web videos on any current issue where you have expertise, like Internet security or restoring a damaged reputation.
You could join podcasts and talk about your unique point of view on certain subjects. You could also hold webinars.
Each one will not only create interest in you as an expert in your field but also showcase your engaging approach to talking and presenting certain subjects.
And before you know it, you'll be getting that invite for your first traditional speaking gig.