How To Speak at Industry Events?

I haven't done that much public speaking. But when I have, it has ALWAYS brought results. Whether that's direct business, referrals or JV opportunities.

One of the best things to do is try to find out who will be attending. If you can find people who are 'regulars' of one of these groups, speak to them directly, and help them out with something. You can then ask them for a referral.

But that's not always so easy. Almost every time over contacted an events organiser, they're really excited to have someone to come in and talk about marketing. So just contact them, and ask them about the marketing problems that their event members are having. And offer to prepare a talk for it.

First. Don't assume you're a nobody !!!! You probably know more about marketing business online that many of the business owners that attend industry events.

The best way is to find the person that's organising the event and speak to them direct. You need to know if what you have to say will benefit the members (obviously) and i'm sure you'll tailor it so that it will.

You can find them on LinkedIn usually. So work hard to build solid relationships.

You have it slightly backwards. You say you don't have a niche yet, but that's exactly what you need to booked as a speaker. More to the point, you need a talk that addresses problems people have. You need to convince the person booking the program that your speech will benefit their members.

Examples:

Ten Ways To Make More Sales and Profit Using Google Adwords
How Content Marketing Saved My Pool Company
The 5 Biggest Mistakes (Enter Your Town Here) Business Owners Make in Their Marketing and How to Fix Them in 3 Days

You get the idea. Now it's a matter of contacting the person booking the event and selling your speech.

Big trade shows usually have a "Call for Speakers" page that explain what you have to submit to be considered, and the deadline. They work far in advance.

If I were you, I create one killer speech on a hot topic. Then give that speech for free at least 20 times to various community groups. You don't have to be a "great" speaker, but you want to work out the kinks before you ask someone to give you $3,000 for a speech. Get video for every speech, and create a demo video. Use that when you pitch for paid speeches.

Write a book.

Write a column.

Get interviewed on the web, radio and TV.

Become known for your topic. "Hey we need an expert in (Fill in your topic here) to be interviewed on air. Call Irwin Dominguez." That's what you want the media to say.

Search on Claude Whitacre in this forum for public speaking. He shares a lot of tips and tricks on how he gets booked and sells from the stage. For example, this thread has a video of one his seminars and some of his advice on pre-selling yourself to the group.

http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...ion-stage.html

Interview here:

http://www.adam-dukes.com/2013/03/ho...-time-in-2012/

More:

7 steps to getting booked as a speaker l Public Speaking ...
12 Ways to Use Public Speaking to Get Booked Solid
Public Speakers - How to Get Booked! - Industry Specific
How to Book 20 Speaking Gigs in 30 Days - Public ...
Toastmasters International - Manner of Speaking: Get Paid ...
1001 Ways to Make More Money as a Speaker, Consultant ...

If you get a client in one business, it's easier to sell lots of others in the same business. Sometimes you don't choose a niche. You make the sale, and then that becomes one of your niches. There is no law that says you can't have 10 niches, and nobody need know that you aren't exclusively in their niche.


You haven't spoken at all? Your Toastmasters doesn't count. You need to speak where they aren't all supporting you, before you speak. A few Chamber talks will let you decide if it's for you.

Just call trade associations. Directories are for sale.

The first several trade associations I spoke for, I did it this way;
I got a client ion the niche.

That client recommended me as a speaker to the trade association event planner. After I knew that the client called the event planner (I asked them to), I would call the event planner.

I would speak for free (You'll get lots more work if you don't charge)

I would speak in a break out session at the trade show, selling my services. Usually 2-8 sales at $4-6,000. each (you can sell whatever you want)

A couple of times, I was asked to come back as a Keynote speaker. Then I would get paid. But I really make more money speaking for free, as a platform salesman.

But don't make one of these "travel to a trade association annual event" speeches your first. You'll get eaten alive, and won't sell anything.

Speaking is selling. You have to know how to sell.

Careful what you wish for... I know a few people, some who had no business speaking out publicly, actually pull it off. It's simple, just contact those in charge and tell them you want to speak. Even organizers are always looking for good speakers... even those with limited experience. Ofcourse you might not star in the premier event of your industry but if you start low and work your way up... it's very possible.

Get out there and start pitching.... just make sure you know what you are talking about, and more importantly... be entertaining!

All the best.

There is a lot of good advice in this thread. Most of my thoughts as I was working through it have already been expressed by others.

I have been booked to speak at 20ish industry events over the last few years. If you would like to read how I got started with that, I tell the story in my sig link (Jack Gives Back) about half way down, starting with "How I came to be THE authoritative voice of the consumer litigation environment in the credit and collection industry, practically overnight..."

Once I made a name for myself in the industry, I settled into a strategy going forward that has worked out well.

There is a difference (in my niche at least) in how the major national conferences book speakers and how the smaller state or regional conferences book speakers.

The majors put out an RFP (request for proposal) to the industry they serve, looking for topic ideas and industry speakers. They are usually looking for educational content, NOT any kind of a sales pitch. And unless you are already in high demand, they don't have policies of paying you, beyond the possibility of a free ticket to the rest of the conference and maybe a room at the conference hotel for the night.

If you want to speak at one of those, you have to already have a track record of speaking and serving in the industry they represent. Or you have to be a celebrity with drawing power. There is not going to be much space for anyone that does not fit in one of those two categories.

Then there are the smaller state and regional conferences. Big difference. Once I had spoken at one of these events, I had adequate credentials to speak at any of the others. I simply got a list of all of the industry events, and once each year I sent a mailing to the organizer. Postal mail, not email, to get their attention.

I talked about my presentation, how timely and useful it was to their exact audience, and that I did not charge a fee, but I did expect my travel expenses, hotel and conference ticket to be included.

Just doing that (plus having a name in the industry helped), I have managed to get 3 or 4 of those smaller conference speaking invitations per year. Those speaking gigs have opened the door to the larger, national conferences bringing me in around once a year as well.

About being nervous, it is a good thing. It keeps you questioning your content right up until the last moment, making changes and tightening it into the best presentation it can be. My nervousness usually dissipates within 2 minutes of being up there speaking. It is a nice rush the rest of the way through.

As you maybe can tell, I am a proponent of zooming in to a niche and selling yourself as the expert in that niche. Being known for something specific will help differentiate you from the crowd.

Good luck!