Finding Paid Speaking Gigs Webinar - hosted by Dawn J. Fraser

 Story to Speech Strategy to Find Paid Speaking Gigs

1.) Choose a Niche - By specifying who you will be speaking to, what you will be speaking about, the change/ transformation you want them to have, and why you are an authority in the subject, you will be able to maximize as well as streamline your outreach efforts. Use the Story to Speech Road Map to help you determine these factors to set a solid foundation. 

2.) Identify an Ideal Buyer - If your goal is to find paid speaking gigs, you will need to identify the right people and/or events that are relevant to your field. Factors that may help you determine if a gig is paid include the budget of the office or coordinator, the role/ responsibility of the buyer, monetary contributions from audience members/ grants, marketing efforts, the longevity of the event and any non monetary benefits gained for the speaker. Your role in the event, for example a keynote speaker vs. a panelist, may also be a key factor.  

3.) Choose a Lead Generation Strategy - Once you've identified the right kinds of people and/ or events to target, make time to find leads online and/or in person. Online strategies include using an internet search engine like Google and entering keyword combinations such as '(your industry) + (conferences) or (events) or (associations)'. For social media, most notably Facebook, Linked In, Instagram and Twitter, search for groups, or use hashtags (#) to find the right people and events. In person strategies could include things like networking groups, lunch and learn sessions, and conferences.

4.) Create Customizable Templates - Save time and effort by utilizing templates that can be customized. Many email service providers and customer management programs have this option (for example, in Gmail its called 'Canned Responses'). Keep these emails short and simple, yet specific to the reader. Some components to include may be your website, demo reel, and any press or testimonials that may be relevant. You may also want to include any information specific to the event, such as your unique angle, or any other insight about the event that might make you a timely, relevant or unique speaker.

5.) Organize a Work Flow - Find a way to keep your contacts in order, and create a system for follow up. Some may prefer to keep a simple excel spreadsheet, while others may consider customer relationship management (CRM) software. By utilizing customizable templates, you can quickly tweak content, and send out many messages at a time. Depending on the software, you may even be able to tell if a prospect has opened your emails. Create a simple follow up sequence for anyone who hasn't replied, as well as a series of replies for those who are interested.   

Keep in Mind - You may want to consider blocking off chunks of time to execute each part of this strategy. For example - you might take a half of a day to just find prospects and inserting them into a CRM and another half day to just send out emails to prospects. Remember that the key is to create a dialog, and to show that you might be able to provide something of value to the reader. The goal is NOT to simply pitch yourself. Many organizers plan events many months in advance (6 - 12 months is common in many industries), which is why it is recommended to first find out when an event is taking place, and to get a general timeline of when the organizers will be accepting submissions from content providers. 

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