3 Steps to Getting Paid Speaking Engagements

The opinions expressed by entrepreneurs contributors are their own.

So you're looking to get paid to speak as part of a personal and professional growth strategy, but don't know where to start? As a paid speaker since 2001, I'm happy to share that the process is actually not as difficult as you might think. In fact, if you're a service professional with a great message and entertaining delivery, then getting a handful (or more) of paid gigs a year is more than doable.

A few steps you will need to follow to move forward:

1. Be very clear about topic titles

This seems like the easiest step, but can actually be tricky. Why? Because when you do free concerts, the organizers usually don't ask a lot of questions about what you're going to talk about. They probably already know who you are (perhaps you've worked with them or someone they know) and are excited that you're going to make them look good in front of their group. But a paid talking gig is the professional equivalent of going from minor to major (and that doesn't imply any disrespect: I always do a few free engagements).

Related: 3 Easy Ways to Get Paid for Speaking engagements

Just as going from the Barons of Birmingham to a starting position for the Yankees is a quantum leap, so too is it. And it's not because you're playing a different game (talking is still talking), but once you get paid, conference organizers usually have different expectations.

Proper preparation starts with a clear, indelible headline: a headline that succinctly and engagingly articulates the topic, as well as what you will offer an audience. Personally, I'm a "how to" man when it comes to titles, such as:

"How to exceed expectations without overcommitting yourself"

"How to lead so that others follow"

"How to speak so that others will listen"

Headlines that include phrases such as "communication skills" or "leadership skills", on the other hand, may seem much less appealing to an organizer looking for 20 other people for a paid conference.

Related: 3 Steps to Book Your First Paid Gig

2. Provide a video of yourself speaking

One small positive ramification of Covid is that this step isn't as difficult as it used to be, as most presentations for the better part of the past 24 months have been virtual. If that's all you have, so be it, but in a perfect world, you'll also have images of you on stage, in the real world, giving meeting organizers and planners a better idea. of your style. In my further experience, these professionals actually prefer two videos: one of a full presentation ("full movie") and the other with maybe two minutes of highlights, professionally edited and maybe be same with music track.

If you don't have something that fancy to offer, that's fine, but you must provide something people can look at.

Related: 5 Things You Need to Know Before You Start a Paid Chat

3. Be clear about the types of events you want

A common misconception I've encountered is that the corporate approach is the only way to get paid to speak. These gigs can be lucrative, sure, but don't sleep on other paid options like professional associations, schools, nonprofits, and business conferences. So find an avenue (or two) that works for you, then take action by finding good opportunities.

There are a few additional actions you'll want to take along the way, such as creating a website and developing a pipeline of leads for potential paid gigs, but these first steps will set you on the right track. path to success.