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Booking speaking engagements?

by Headstart
14 replies
For those of you who have had success with speaking engagements and selling through speaking - what types of events & associations have you found to work best?

I'm researching:

- Chamber of commerce
- Local Biz clubs
- Association events for specific industries

Anything else that comes to mind?

I'd also be interested in how you're getting them booked. The last one I did was through a networking contact but I'm definitely interested in doing more.
#booking #engagements #speaking
  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by Headstart View Post

    For those of you who have had success with speaking engagements and selling through speaking - what types of events & associations have you found to work best?

    I'm researching:

    - Chamber of commerce
    - Local Biz clubs
    - Association events for specific industries

    Anything else that comes to mind?

    I'd also be interested in how you're getting them booked. The last one I did was through a networking contact but I'm definitely interested in doing more.

    Here. Enjoy.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...t-seminar.html


    Here's another thread.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...o-seminar.html
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  • Profile picture of the author ChrisNosal
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    I usually network with others in my industry. Basically, I don't try to find engagements. I've just developed my business by offering valuable articles and content that helps people via Facebook, Twitter, and other social media, then over time developed relationships with people who resonate with influential people who connect with with my content.

    You can't really force or trick or set up speaking engagements. Whether it's customers or other businesses, speaking engagements only happen when others in your industry connect with you.

    But, if you want to start getting engagements, start reaching out to other members of your industry, and offering them content and value, where they'll be impressed by it, and want to share it with others.

    It's the same way as you did your first, through network contacts, but just build relationships - there's no easy answer to just magically send emails and get engagements - it all comes down to contributing and sharing value.
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  • Profile picture of the author joe golfer
    You can set up speaking engagements starting today. Here's a simple way. First, create a speech that can benefit an organization's members. For example, "7 Ways to Get More Publicity For Your Medical Clinic Today." Call associations and organizations that are related to your topic, and ask if they book speakers.

    If yes, find the right contact, email a one sheet with your bio, program title and your photo. It should look like something like these:
    Professional Speaker one sheet samples and graphic design services

    Here is more specific information on how to use a speaker one-sheet. The main thing is it should talk about your program and what the audience gets out of it than about you and your background.
    The Importance of a One Sheet to Your Speaking Practice! | Book More Business

    Follow up with phone calls, and ask to be booked on an open date.

    Give a great speech, rinse and repeat. You don't have to wait to be chosen. Create a great speech, and reach out to groups that can benefit from the information. Have fun.

    PS. Make sure you video your talk so you can use it as a demo video for future engagements. Also, if you give a talk to non-profits or local service groups, ask upfront for a testimonial letter. That will be valuable when you start booking paid speeches.
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    • Profile picture of the author Headstart
      Great info Claude & Joe. I 100% agree with the idea of going out there and asking rather than waiting to be picked. I've started mailing out my book to people as well to give them an idea of what we do and position myself, of course with a followup call.

      Thanks again guys.
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by Headstart View Post

        Great info Claude & Joe. I 100% agree with the idea of going out there and asking rather than waiting to be picked. I've started mailing out my book to people as well to give them an idea of what we do and position myself, of course with a followup call.

        Thanks again guys.
        To book local speaking gigs, just call the organization. No need to position yourself. No need to sell. Believe me, their biggest problem is, "Who are we going to get to speak at this month's meeting?"

        Sell your book at the meeting. It's allowed if you just show the book and mention that you wrote it.
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        • Profile picture of the author Headstart
          Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

          To book local speaking gigs, just call the organization. No need to position yourself. No need to sell. Believe me, their biggest problem is, "Who are we going to get to speak at this month's meeting?"

          Sell your book at the meeting. It's allowed if you just show the book and mention that you wrote it.
          Okay. Is there a specific type of group you find you get best results from for sales or good prospects (not that read the book then contact you but directly want to sit down with you following your talk). I would think that the higher up you move from local events to regional the more success you have.

          Any advice you can give in terms of what types of events to try and book for quality prospects? Thanks again Claude.
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          • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
            Originally Posted by Headstart View Post

            Okay. Is there a specific type of group you find you get best results from for sales or good prospects (not that read the book then contact you but directly want to sit down with you following your talk). I would think that the higher up you move from local events to regional the more success you have.

            Any advice you can give in terms of what types of events to try and book for quality prospects? Thanks again Claude.
            It isn't the group, it's you. You position yourself as someone they will seek out to help.

            And, as much as you won't want to hear this, that skill (making yourself the obvious go to guy) isn't going to be learned here. It's a long learning process, and a wide ranging aset of skills.

            But you need to be in front of business owners, not knitting groups.The local Chamber will be a great place to start. Any business group.

            When I work a group, it's purely to get new clients that day. Not to get phone numbers, not to exchange cards, not to build my list, but to make sales. To get a sales appointment right there and then.

            I know this is self serving, but my sales prospecting book spends the last third of it, explaining how to do exactly that. But even then, you need to learn from other sources and get experience. No matter what you do, you'll bomb the first few times.

            After you read the book, I'll recommend a few others that will greatly speed up this process.
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            • Profile picture of the author Headstart
              Yeah, I read the book - I will re read it again. I actually did my first talk and it went very well, positioned me nicely wouldn't say I bombed at all and got some good leads from it.

              How many speaking engagements do you guys try and shoot for within a month period? My goal right now is to try and get 2 solid gigs per month, I think there will be some great opportunities if I can do it.
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              • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                Originally Posted by Headstart View Post

                Yeah, I read the book - I will re read it again. I actually did my first talk and it went very well, positioned me nicely wouldn't say I bombed at all and got some good leads from it.

                How many speaking engagements do you guys try and shoot for within a month period? My goal right now is to try and get 2 solid gigs per month, I think there will be some great opportunities if I can do it.
                Speak as often as you can to get used to it. You learn the timing, how to answer questions, how to sell something.

                Eventually, you'll see it as work, and you'll just be looking for speaking gigs that offer a real opportunity to make huge sales on site.

                At the beginning, I was talking to small groups a few times a month, but I was always working full time besides that. I've always been a salesman first, a speaker second. Now, it's maybe 3 or 4 times a year.
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                • Profile picture of the author Headstart
                  Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

                  Speak as often as you can to get used to it. You learn the timing, how to answer questions, how to sell something.

                  Eventually, you'll see it as work, and you'll just be looking for speaking gigs that offer a real opportunity to make huge sales on site.

                  At the beginning, I was talking to small groups a few times a month, but I was always working full time besides that. I've always been a salesman first, a speaker second. Now, it's maybe 3 or 4 times a year.
                  I agree 100%. I find in person meetings or opportunities to build authority like speaking bring in some of the best prospects but those opportunities are only there for a few hours a week.

                  The rest of the time is spent selling & prospecting in other ways to keep the pipeline full.
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                  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
                    Originally Posted by Headstart View Post

                    I agree 100%. I find in person meetings or opportunities to build authority like speaking bring in some of the best prospects but those opportunities are only there for a few hours a week.

                    The rest of the time is spent selling & prospecting in other ways to keep the pipeline full.
                    if you can speak in front of small groups at least once a week, and have a book to sell them (and as a way to build authority), you shouldn't have to prospect in any other way. I didn't.

                    In fact, for years, my only prospecting was calling trade associations to book myself as a speaker. Remember, one of the event planner's jobs is getting speakers.
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              • Profile picture of the author Oziboomer
                Originally Posted by Headstart View Post

                How many speaking engagements do you guys try and shoot for within a month period? My goal right now is to try and get 2 solid gigs per month, I think there will be some great opportunities if I can do it.
                When you are launching a book or a program and you can get momentum you can do a sequence of events to promote yourself.

                Personally speaking, on an ongoing basis 2 per month is a hard task unless you have a team who are working at on going bookings.

                I know when I've been in the media's eye and having big money behind me and a PR company working for the big money behind me the best I managed over about a two month period was....

                Two segments Australia National news Broadcast

                Three Australian Live TV broadcasts

                Two breakfast radio broadcasts

                One article in Sports Illustrated....

                One International Magazine to Industry

                Two or three local US Radio broadcasts.

                Live close on The Today Show with Katy Couric and Matt Lauer

                (we tried for Letterman but unsuccessfully)

                Australian National Radio 3 broadcasts

                Local and National Press

                This was done with Major financial backing and some serious contacts who had media contacts and knew how to use them.

                I've also been a public speaker with some good contacts and support from larger groups and it is flat out hard to do serious groups of 150 plus more than once a quarter and in many cases you may only do three major gigs a year.

                Sure there can be times of compacted interest when you are "topic of the month" but then it is like flat out and then you recover.

                Best of luck in getting sustainable results for the long term.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    Here is another resource:
    Daphne Bousquet | Event Strategy Solutions
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    "If you think you're the smartest person in the room, then you're probably in the wrong room."

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