Where to Find Speaking Gigs to Grow Your List and Attract Your Dream Clients
More and more heart-centered entrepreneurs like you are using speaking as a way to grow your list and attract new clients. Which is great!
The problem is… where to find those places to speak?
Before sharing a few ideas to get you started, let’s start with your mindset.
You may be thinking there aren’t very many opportunities in your local area to speak or that it’s too hard to find those places.
Maybe you’ve put a few “feelers” out already, but haven’t gotten the response you expected, so you’re feeling disappointed and frustrated and have stopped putting energy in that direction.
Or maybe you’re just not feeling “ready” to speak: your signature talk isn’t put together; you don’t have clarity on your ideal audience; or you don’t have a proven strategy on how speaking can help you bring in new clients.
(If you need help with these things, check out my SPEAK, SHINE, SELL 1-Day Workshop here.)
Whatever may be holding you back from booking yourself to speak, let’s start by simply getting you in the highest vibration to attract those perfect speaking opportunities!
Here are a few affirmations to support those high vibes:
- There are infinite possibilities and places for me to speak.
- I easily attract the perfect speaking opportunities.
- I’m prepared and take action toward the wonderful speaking opportunities that are abundantly here for me.
- My ideal audience can’t wait to hear what I have to say!
Pick the affirmation that works best for you (or create your own), post it on a stickie in a visible place like your desk or bathroom mirror, repeat everyday for the next 21 days, and get into action with booking yourself to speak!
Here are 5 ideas to get you started:
1) Start with your inner circle, and ask for support.
Share with your closest friends, colleagues, business associates and family members that you are looking for places to speak. Be sure and let them know the specific audiences you want to reach as well as the topic you speak on. Then, simply ask them, “Who do you know… “
2) Be intentional and detective-like in your networking.
When you meet a new colleague in your field or a complementary field at a networking event, inquire if they speak as a way to grow their business and then ask where they have spoken recently. Be genuinely interested in their experience and also share you are looking for places to speak. You can also share at a networking roundtable you are looking for places to speak (be sure and specify your audience) and ask for referrals.
3) Create your own event.
Speak in your friend’s living room or invite a group of friends and colleagues to your own home, as a way to get started. You can also book a room at your local library, community center or clubhouse.
Make your event fun and enticing, or give it a theme. I recently attended a free presentation put on by one of my SPEAK, SHINE, SELL workshop participants, and she called it a “Fashion Mimosa Night” and gave a talk on how you can dress to manifest success in your life.
Tip: Make your event FREE, and you will remove all barriers to entry and draw more people in the door. You can also get free advertising in your local paper when you position it as a free community event.
4) Go where your ideal clients hang out.
Brainstorm and create a list of groups, organizations your ideal clients are already part of as well as businesses and places they hang out.
For example, if you work primarily with spiritual and ambitious women entrepreneurs such as I do, you’ll want to list out places where these types of women gather. Do an online search for “women’s networking” or whatever your niche is. Check out local Meetups, civic organizations and entrepreneurial groups. Play the “who do I know” game and get creative here. In addition to speaking in more traditional business settings, I’ve spoken at a chiropractor’s office, a women’s workout studio, and even once at a socially-conscious hair salon!
5) Warm up your speaking “chops” by speaking weekly.
If you’re new at speaking or want to have regular speaking practice, then I highly recommend joining Toastmasters and/or a weekly networking group such as BNI or Team Referral.
In addition, service organizations such as Rotary Club, Kiwanis and the Optimist Club are always looking for speakers, so those are great audience members to help warm up your speaking “chops”!
I hold the belief there are infinite speaking possibilities waiting for you. Stay alert to the opportunities. Be willing and ready to take action, then move your feet, as you say YES to speaking as a way to grow your business!
Learn more about the SPEAK, SHINE, SELL 1-Day Workshop here.
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