Grow Your Business by Speaking
By Stephanie Chandler
If you want to grow your
business and reach a lot of people quickly, consider
developing your skills as a professional speaker. There
are dozens of trade organizations in every major city
that need speakers for their weekly or monthly meetings.
As a featured speaker, you receive instant credibility
and establish yourself as an expert in your field. Your
event (and you!) will also be promoted to the entire
membership of the organization, even if only a fraction
of the members attend.
Be sure to think outside
the box. Your presentation can be loosely related to
your business, as long as it addresses the needs of your
audience. For example:
*A financial advisor
could present “Managing Small Business Cash Flow.”
*A Web designer could
present “10 Ways to Make Your Small Business Look Big.”
*A life coach could
present “Effective Strategies to Build Business
Relationships.”
In addition to trade
associations, consider teaching at your local adult
learning centers and community education programs. Even
if only ten students register for your class, your
business is promoted in their catalog - which is often
sent to tens of thousands of people. Other potential
venues include retirement centers, community centers,
churches and charitable organizations.
Here are the steps to
getting on the speaking circuit:
1) Write a brief and
interesting description of your presentation and what
attendees will learn.
2) Contact local trade
associations that reach your target audience and
let them know that you are available to speak.
3) Pack your
presentation with useful information. Do not make it
a sales pitch for your business! If the audience
likes what you have to say, they will want to learn more
about you and your business.
4) Your presentation
doesn’t need to be formal. Write an outline for your own
reference and keep it with you while presenting so you
stay on track.
5) Engage the audience
by asking questions and soliciting their participation.
6) Use props for visual
interest.
7) Give attendees
something to keep such as a single page hand-out with
tips or a booklet. Be sure to include your company
contact information.
8) Respect the time
allotted. It’s better to finish early than late—then you
can open the floor for questions.
9) Wrap up with a brief
pitch for your business and let them know you’ll be
available for questions after the presentation.
10) Send the event
coordinator a thank you note!
*Optional: Partner with
someone in a related field or host your own events.
For additional value,
have a product available for sale at the back of the
room such as a book, workbook or audio recording. Most
organizations are happy to provide you with a display
table and the ability to promote your products and
services. You can also provide the audience with a
special offer. For example, “Save 30% off a consultation
when you schedule one with me today!”
You might be surprised
by how quickly your business can grow as a result of
your speaking engagements. Soon you may find that you
don’t have to go looking for speaking opportunities. As
you build a reputation and reach the masses, the
invitations to speak will come to you.
About the Author:
Stephanie
Chandler is a small business expert and the author of
three books including FROM ENTREPRENEUR TO INFOPRENEUR:
MAKE MONEY WITH BOOKS, E-BOOKS AND INFORMATION PRODUCTS.
She is the founder of
http://BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of
resources for entrepreneurs and
http://ProPublishingServices.com, a custom writing
business specializing in electronic newsletters,
information marketing, and sales copy for websites and
brochures.
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PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING ~ GROW YOUR BUSINESS BY SPEAKING
