Building thought leadership? Nine tips for finding speaking engagements

Speaking at events can be a great way to develop thought leadership and promote your brand. But when you're new to the business game, or even just to the thought leadership space, figuring out how to find, narrow down, and register for these events can feel a bit overwhelming at first. The pressure of not knowing where to start can even prevent you from starting at all.

But finding the perfect speaking event for you doesn't have to be a daunting task. Below, nine members of the Young Entrepreneur Council each offer their top tip for finding great speaking engagements and why those tips can help you succeed as a new thought leader.

1. Start with your local Chamber of Commerce

The best way to find great speaking engagements is to start by checking out your local chamber of commerce. Chambers of Commerce typically host a variety of events and programs for businesses to attend, and they are always on the lookout for new speakers. By getting involved in your local chamber, you will not only be able to find great speaking opportunities, but you will also be able to connect with other business leaders in your community. - Sujay Pawar, CartFlows

2. Let the engagement come to you

One way to find speaking engagements is to let people come to you. If you want to talk about a specific topic, include an option on your personal website to invite you to speak. You might want to do some sharing and outreach on traditional social media to let people know it's an option. This option will also let you choose where you want to speak, which can help you better connect with your target audience. - John Turner, SeedProd LLC

3. Join professional groups on social networks

Taking advantage of social media platforms like LinkedIn and other closed professional online groups is a good idea. There, you will get real-time updates on upcoming conference sessions relevant to your respective niche and explore potential opportunities that might match your skill set. These communities are also home to renowned speakers from around the world, so you will be able to contact speakers from various industries and follow their advice to find the right opportunities for you. - Stephanie Wells, Terrific Shapes

4. Outsource to a PR agency

My best advice for finding great speaking engagements is simple: outsource. With so many industry events to choose from, it can often be overwhelming and time-consuming to research each one, contact the event organizers, and wait for a response. Organizers will often need m...