3 Tips to Attract Paid Speaking Opportunities

I’ve talked before about the difference between speaking to promote your brand versus speaking for money. If you missed it, check out the article here. When you’re just getting started, you’re much more likely to use public speaking to build your brand, but sooner or later, you will outgrow that — you’ll reach a place where your brand is recognized, and you’ll begin to attract paid speaking opportunities.

To build a bookable brand, you need clarity in your message and a brand built on authenticity to create trust and a connection with your audience. Your message combines your values and the impact you want to make while showcasing your expertise in a non-salesy way. This is the foundation for getting paid speaking gigs. Once you’ve constructed the foundation, you can begin to attract paid speaking engagements. 

1. Clearly Define Your Area of Expertise

It’s essential to clearly define who you are and what you do using consistent messaging. When I transitioned from counterterrorism to career coach, I established myself as an expert in two ways: I had clear and consistent messaging and a unique approach — do what you are, not your passion. My area of expertise was helping people figure out who they were and apply for jobs based on their unique core skills rather than chasing their passion.

If you’re stuck trying to narrow down exactly your expertise, try this: 

• Identify your go-to advice. What do people ask you, or what advice do you find yourself giving over and over? Is there one topic that repeatedly showed up? 
• Analyze Common Themes. When you look back over your career, hobbies, and side projects, is there a recurring theme or pattern? 
• Pinpoint what lights you up. We all have topics that we can talk about for hours. What are those? Instead of listing the topics, think about why those topics energize you. 

Dig deep to uncover your area of expertise, yet remain flexible enough to make small changes as you evolve and grow.  

2. Amplify Your Credibility 

One thing that distinguishes paid speakers from those building brand awareness is credibility. When you’re building brand awareness, you’re building credibility. When you’re going after paid engagements, you use your credibility to get booked and secure higher speaker fees.

Use your accomplishments to boost your credibility. The best way to do that is to create a speaking reel. Your speaking reel is 45 to 90 seconds and needs to be relevant to the direction you’re going as a speaker and should include these things: 

• Use a recording from a previous speaking engagement as the backdrop of your reel.
• Obtain two to three testimonials that are results-based.
• Get interviews on podcasts or other media to pepper throughout your reel.

Here is one of my first speaking reels you can use as an example.

3. Proactively Pitch Yourself

You need to get yourself out there to get paid speaking gigs — that means actively pitching yourself. You’re selling your services as a speaker. This is one of the hardest things to do. We’re inherently poor at selling ourselves, which is why at Wise Whisper Agency we have a team dedicated just to pitching our clients for big stages around the world. 

Make it easy for organizers to find and book you. Reach out. Be proactive. Provide a clear speaking topic, bio, and speaking reel.  

If attracting paid speaking engagements is your goal, you need to be intentional in your efforts … that means proactively pitching yourself with a clear message. Building a bookable brand means clearly defining your message, establishing credibility, and getting yourself out there. Consistency and authenticity are key.