When you’ve sat in a conference or event and listened to a talk, have you ever thought “I could do that?” Maybe you don’t know how to get started or maybe you’re not sure it’s worth your time. We look at the advantages of being a speaker and offer advice about how to get the right slots for you and your business.
The benefits of giving talks
There are a number of reasons that you might want to consider speaking at conferences and events. It can help you to:
- Raise the profile of you and your business
- Show authority and expertise in your area
- Bring in new business from people who hear you speak
- Attend conferences at a lower cost - speakers often get free entry and sometimes get their expenses, such as travel and accommodation, paid
- Network within your industry
How to find opportunities
If you’ve decided that all sounds great, the next step is to find the speaking opportunity itself. There are a number of ways to do this:
Use your networks
As with many aspects of business, finding a speaking opportunity is often about who you know. Stay in touch with your contacts and ask if they’re aware of any talks coming up. Make sure they know that you’re willing and able to speak about your chosen subject.
Social media is also an excellent source of information about talks. Groups on LinkedIn often post speaking opportunities, so make sure you’re signed up to the right ones and subscribe for email updates. Twitter is also a good way to stay informed. Follow event organisers and leaders in your industry.
Keep up to date with industry news and events
If there’s a publication, blog or email list for your industry, make sure you’re subscribed.
Look for local events that might need speakers
There’s nothing wrong with making speculative approaches. Use sites like Eventbrite and meetup.com to find events in your area and ask if they need any speakers.
Look for lightning slots
If you’re new to giving talks, these can be a great way to get time in front of an audience. They’re normally about 5 minutes long and give you a chance to focus in on one aspect of a topic. You’ll find your feet and learn how to give a great talk, and it will raise your profile with organisers and the audience. That experience is helpful when pitching for longer speaking slots.
Arrange your own event
This one can be a lot of work and might have a cost associated with it, but it does mean you can control the schedule. People are often willing to come along to free talks, especially breakfast events, to gain valuable information. It’s a good way to reach a new audience and can give you valuable experience.
Five tips to getting accepted
Once you’ve found a speaking opportunity at an event, you’ll need to apply for a slot. You normally need to send over a summary of your talk and also give some information about yourself.
This can be a daunting prospect, especially if you haven’t done it before, but there are ways to increase your chances of being successful.
1. Understand the audience
You need to know who will be attending and think about what they might like to know about. Think about the challenges they face and what information you could share that will help them. That will help you find the right angle for your talk.
2. Have a new angle
Recycling the same information as everyone else isn’t useful. Try to find a way to incorporate a new approach, a different way of looking at things or use examples and case studies to show how the theory works in the real world. If your approach is different, it may help you to get the gig.
3. Provide value
If you’ve ever been to a talk that was a thinly disguised sales pitch, you’ll know how frustrating it can be. You’ve paid to attend a conference and the speaker is using your time to try to sell their business. You come away with nothing of value.
Don’t be that speaker. The opportunity to talk about your chosen topic will bring in interest on its own and by offering something of value upfront, you’ll be demonstrating how you could help potential customers.
Demonstrate this value in your outlines and include information about what your audience will learn from your talk.
4. Emphasise your experience
Event organisers want speakers who will be confident and engage with their audience. That means they’re looking for people who have expertise in their chosen subject. Be sure to share why you are an expert in your field and what insights you can bring. If you have any speaking experience, list that too.
5. Keep going
Once you’re known for giving informative and entertaining talks, you should find that your reputation helps you win future slots. Stay consistent and try to get a few speaking opportunities booked in each year. The momentum will help keep your name at the front of event organisers’ minds.