How do I get started as a public speaker in 2weeks?

19 replies
My marketing plan includes public speaking as a method and would like to know how you all got started and what are your recommendations for me a newbie?

I have tried to email about 20 organizations with mediocre results (booked up for months and no replies)

I plan to sell 20k+ packages and I would like to speak in front of groups that can afford these prices

I can speak about offline and online marketing

I stay near Atlanta so if you are familiar please respond

I would like to start within 2 weeks, thanks for your responses
#2weeks #public #speaker #started
  • Profile picture of the author danielkanuck
    How do u plan on demonstrating your credibility to these people? What will you do if they ask you about any case studies and previous clients?
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    • Profile picture of the author mike3188
      Originally Posted by danielkanuck View Post

      How do u plan on demonstrating your credibility to these people? What will you do if they ask you about any case studies and previous clients?
      I have written 2 books (not published) and have plr rights to other ebooks and free reports. I plan to distribute 2 press releases and thats about all I have as far as credibility. I think once I publish my book this week then that would be enough credibility
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Hi again, Mike,

    Answer these questions and you should be well on your way.

    1. Do you have a nice bio of yourself, preferably online?

    2. Is there a well-known expert in your field that you could phone and request an interview with?

    3. Can you Google three associations in your field that you could join, and use the credibility of being a member of to help you?

    4. Is there a local college you could approach to speak at for free, say for educating students? (Hint: you can use your interview material and connection with the famous person to generate interest.)

    Do these four things and you'll be able to approach other organizations to speak at with a lot more credibility and "hook" than right now....you'll be able to say that:

    -You're a member of these three industry associations (1, 2, 3)

    -A well-known personality in your field allowed you to interview them, and are able to share that information in your talks

    -You've spoken at XYZ College.

    Is this helpful?
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    • Profile picture of the author mike3188
      Originally Posted by kaniganj View Post

      Hi again, Mike,

      Answer these questions and you should be well on your way.

      1. Do you have a nice bio of yourself, preferably online?

      2. Is there a well-known expert in your field that you could phone and request an interview with?

      3. Can you Google three associations in your field that you could join, and use the credibility of being a member of to help you?

      4. Is there a local college you could approach to speak at for free, say for educating students? (Hint: you can use your interview material and connection with the famous person to generate interest.)

      Do these four things and you'll be able to approach other organizations to speak at with a lot more credibility and "hook" than right now....you'll be able to say that:

      -You're a member of these three industry associations (1, 2, 3)

      -A well-known personality in your field allowed you to interview them, and are able to share that information in your talks

      -You've spoken at XYZ College.

      Is this helpful?
      Yes this was helpful, what associations (well known preferred) would you recommend that I join? Would you recommend marketing associations or general business?

      I do have a Bio I plan to put on LinkedIn: What are your suggestions to expand my bio online?

      and there are plenty of colleges in my area that I can approach (Atlanta)
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  • Profile picture of the author PatrickP
    Would YOU pay $20,000 to see a person speak who is not recognized as an expert by anyone, any organization, has no published writings and have never been paid to speak nor paid for a video or teaching program?
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    • Profile picture of the author Carl Fridsjö
      Originally Posted by PatrickP View Post

      Would YOU pay $20,000 to see a person speak who is not recognized as an expert by anyone, any organization, has no published writings and have never been paid to speak nor paid for a video or teaching program?
      They're not paying him 20k to see him speak, he wants to speak to sell something for 20k.
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    • Profile picture of the author mike3188
      Originally Posted by PatrickP View Post

      Would YOU pay $20,000 to see a person speak who is not recognized as an expert by anyone, any organization, has no published writings and have never been paid to speak nor paid for a video or teaching program?
      I plan to start speaking at free meetings and seminars etc. I want to speak in front of my target market that can afford these services. Backend is a $20k package
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      • All good suggestions so far. The main thing any group wants to know is how you are going to benefit their members/group/audience.

        Your communication with them should stress what the members will learn or how they will benefit. This is true even if it is a non-profit group.

        It applies if you are giving a free seminar at the local library. Benefits will outweigh any lack of credentials you may have.

        You'll benefit by giving the talk a few times for free or just practice at home. It will be 50x better after that. Leave room for questions at the end. Those questions should help you shape the next presentation around what the audience really wants to know (benefits again).

        You also benefit from attending Toastmasters meetings.

        Good luck.
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        Marketing is not a battle of products. It is a battle of perceptions.
        - Jack Trout
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        • Profile picture of the author mike3188
          Originally Posted by Joe Ditzel View Post

          All good suggestions so far. The main thing any group wants to know is how you are going to benefit their members/group/audience.

          Your communication with them should stress what the members will learn or how they will benefit. This is true even if it is a non-profit group.

          It applies if you are giving a free seminar at the local library. Benefits will outweigh any lack of credentials you may have.

          You'll benefit by giving the talk a few times for free or just practice at home. It will be 50x better after that. Leave room for questions at the end. Those questions should help you shape the next presentation around what the audience really wants to know (benefits again).

          You also benefit from attending Toastmasters meetings.

          Good luck.
          I am designing a speaker one sheet with presentation info and the benefits on there. thanks
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  • Profile picture of the author RKCastillo
    I would suggest joining groups like the Business Networking International and your Chamber of Commerce.

    Also, it wouldn't hurt you to speak wherever you can.
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    • Profile picture of the author Heidi White
      Start with the online speakers circuit. I can hook you up with at least 3 Hosts that do talk radio and or webinars related to your business - and they are always looking for quality guests speakers.

      I also highly recommend signing up with Report Connection - just today a freelance writer is looking for someone to help them write an article regarding how to manage a medical office's online reputation - but often times there are also speaker request for online radio talk shows like mine - or even regular commercial radio.

      http://www.ReporterConnection.com/JoinNowFree/ (not an affiliate link)
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      • Profile picture of the author mike3188
        Originally Posted by Heidi White View Post

        Start with the online speakers circuit. I can hook you up with at least 3 Hosts that do talk radio and or webinars related to your business - and they are always looking for quality guests speakers.

        I also highly recommend signing up with Report Connection - just today a freelance writer is looking for someone to help them write an article regarding how to manage a medical office's online reputation - but often times there are also speaker request for online radio talk shows like mine - or even regular commercial radio.

        http://www.ReporterConnection.com/JoinNowFree/ (not an affiliate link)
        Thanks I would like to talk to those radio host and anyone else you have in mind
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Hi Mike,

    I meant a bio on your own "public" website, that you can direct people to see. The sooner you can put a video up there, say 2-3 minutes of a highlight of you speaking, the better.

    Join any three relevant organizations in your field. Look at my copywriting site for examples. Whether they are well known or not is irrelevant: if CNN suddenly wants you as a speaker, they'll rattle off the three associations deadpan and your credibility will be instant.
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  • Profile picture of the author webcare
    Get some media releases out there in your field. Purpose of this is to get some of your quotes picked up in some media. Even better is then to be interviewed. You then start to have some credibility..."as featured in..", "as seen on...." ... and if you can use the logos of the media organisations on your site (and seminar invitations) then you are on the road to recognition as an "expert".
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  • Profile picture of the author Arjjun Sarja
    Banned
    Confidence could get you up as a public speaker in a month...
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  • Profile picture of the author TianaBanana
    Read a book on public speaking!
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  • Profile picture of the author DaniMc
    You need to start your funnel with something small.

    So, make a small product that you could sell for just a few dollars. If you are going to sell a 20k package, then take a little piece of it, some info or something you can do almost free, and make a product out of it.

    Create a squeeze page about this product. It is best if you can mail them something so get their postal address and ship this product to them somehow. On the squeeze page have a video of yourself talking about their struggles and what you do and how this little product can help them. Begin marketing this squeeze page, you will quickly build a list of people who are willing to spend money and like you.

    Keep following up with these people with professional looking videos and emails. Help them. Make them realize you are the one they trust. Put these videos and emails in an autoresponder sequence.

    Once you have at least 50 or so, start holding small meetings with limited numbers of seats. Sell these seats for $299. Start small, you can raise prices later.

    In these meetings you will tell them a TON of great information. Tell them everything about your products and how you do them. Don't worry, they wont go do it themselves.

    At the end sell them on a bigger package. They bought something small so you know they are interested. They paid for a seat so you know they will spend. Now, pitch them $2,999 package or something with high recurring monthly charges.

    Keep delivering videos and emails via auto responder.

    Rinse, Repeat this over and over. Make each meeting more expensive. Make each product they buy more expensive.

    When you have sold 5,000 or more of your little product, you will be making mega bucks with your seminars and larger products.

    This is a simple outline but it works.

    A speaker in two weeks who makes a lot of money? No way. Not going to happen. Take baby steps and you will build a fortune. Tony Robbins is THE MASTER of this process. Go to his site. Sign up for something small and copy his video style and process. He makes hundreds of millions with this same outline.
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    Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
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  • Profile picture of the author danielkanuck
    If these ideas are too overwhelming, you may want to purchase a course like this:

    http://www.dankennedywebsite.com/speaking.htm
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