In my previous blog I shared the first 5 ways to market yourself and gain visibility and clients by public speaking. I covered: speaking to groups, putting on your own seminars, guesting on podcasts, doing webinars, and live streaming on social media.
These ways are in no specific order. You’ll need to assess what makes the most sense for you and your business.
The following are the next 5 ways to market your business with public speaking.
6. Videos
Videos are a great way to market yourself. It’s so easy today. Most mobile phones have the capacity to create videos. There’s no excuse to not use videos. I don’t care what business you’re in. You need some video.
Your videos must be short, 30 seconds to a minute. The shorter they are the more apt people are to look at them. It is such a fast-paced world, that people don’t want to sit in front of their computers for 30 minutes watching you. Create short videos that give good information. It is not a commercial or an infomercial about how great you are. Give them something that they might not know.
For example, my financial planner client can create several different 30-second videos on what seniors should look out for in terms of financial products. She can give some really good tips. Knowing that she is willing to give a good financial tip for free will resonate with her demographic. She can do a whole series on her area of expertise and so can you.
When you do videos, use them in several different ways. One of the ways is to put them on YouTube® because it creates backlinks to your website. Search engines are always looking for that. Any time someone wants to put your website on their website, say yes. From YouTube®, you can share it on Facebook®, Twitter®, and LinkedIn®. You can also upload them to Instagram and TikTok.
You can also send emails with a video clip. I send weekly “nurturing tips” by email with a video from me. It’s a 30-second tip. It inspires them for the day, gives them great information, and builds rapport.
You can also use video in your presentation. I use video testimonials on my PowerPoint® instead of a testimonial on the screen. I have a video of a person talking about how great my programs are.
There are lots of ways to use videos. Here’s a new idea; use a videotext to connect with your customers. One of my mentors sent me a video instead of a text message. He was “talking” to me. This is way better than a text message because it is video.
What if you sent a videotext to your customers? Use it as a way to let your clients know about something new coming out. It would be a powerful way to connect.
7. Speak on panels
Panels are really hot today. A lot of events are having a panel of experts, instead of a multi-speaker event where there is one speaker after another. Five or six people will speak on a panel. Each individual might get 30 seconds to speak and then they’re asked some very specific questions.
As a public speaker, you might think it’s not worth it, but it can mean a lot. It positions you as an expert; it lets you market yourself. It’s very powerful to be on panels.
You never know what will happen. I did a panel of Christian businessmen at my last event, Christian Women Who Rock. One of them, a movie producer I know, got connected with one of my speakers. Now he’s going to produce a documentary on her life. Two of the other panelists became very good friends.
Believe it or not, a lot of event organizers are charging speakers as much as $5000 to be on their panels nowadays. If you paid $5,000 and the audience is 70-80 people, that isn’t worthwhile. However, what if you got a sponsored table, a list of attendees, and the right to speak to 10,000 people? I know it is a lot of money, but if 10,000 people didn’t know you existed and now they do, and your company is advertised in the program, it can be very valuable.
8. Networking meetings
When you’re at a networking meeting, not as the main speaker but as an attendee, you need to hone your elevator speech so that when you stand up to talk about your business, you do it with confidence, clarity, and power. People will say, “Whoa, I’ve got to talk to that person!” Practice it, hone it, and get up and deliver it. There’s no difference between a powerful 30-second speech and a powerful 30-minute speech. If you learn to do it right, they can both be effective.
That goes for the self-introduction core message, elevator speech, five-minute showcase, one-minute pocket speech, or whatever it might be at a networking event that you get to do. Always make sure you know exactly what you’re going to say, that it is beneficial to the person hearing it and that it is done powerfully and persuasively. You will get clients from a 30-second speech. I have; one word that resonated with them.
9. Other people’s stages
Pay attention to who’s doing what in your industry. See if you can get on their stage, even if it’s only for a few minutes. If they’re holding a 90-minute seminar or an evening seminar, ask if you can bring the donuts and speak for 10 minutes–as long as you’re complimentary and not in direct competition with them. Ask! Give them something they need and offer to speak for free. Work it out. Get on other people’s stages.
People in the seminar industry swap stages all the time. From time to time at my events, I will invite someone to speak because they let me speak on their stage and it made sense. I usually get clients when I speak on others’ stages, too. If someone speaks on your stage, make sure it’s reciprocal.
I do this all the time with a few people in my industry. I’ll be on this guy’s stage and then he’ll be on mine. It always works out. I know what he’s going to say. I trust him and it’s always reciprocal. Find some people you can trust, people you can work with who share your demographic, and have an ongoing relationship with them.
10. Sponsorships
Look for sponsorship opportunities. That’s when you go to an event, whether it’s a networking or speaking event (in your target market), and sponsor a table. Look for luncheons or events that you can sponsor. I have a Christian Women’s Business Luncheon every month. I usually get 10 sponsors every time because I have 60-80 people in the room.
When you sponsor an event, there are a lot of people who are exposed to you. My sponsors not only get a booth, but they get to speak on my stage for at least 30 seconds up to 3-4 minutes (depending on how big the sponsorship is). They also get to host a table. It’s really an inexpensive sponsorship and it includes lunch!
Look for those kinds of opportunities because when you come in as a sponsor you’re automatically an expert. People almost always look up to you and you get some stage time.
Summary: How To Market Yourself with Public Speaking
Let’s reiterate these top 10 ways to market yourself through public speaking:
- Speak to groups like your local Chamber or other organizations
- Put on your own seminar so that you can control the room and the outcome
- Be a guest on relevant podcasts and eventually you may start your own podcast
- Hold webinars because they are convenient and make good use of technology
- Live stream your presentation so you can interact with them from your home
- Create videos that will have a wide reach using social media sites
- Speak on panels because this is becoming very popular at large events
- Attend networking events so you can deliver your persuasive elevator speech
- Speak on other people’s stages because it will give you more exposure
- Become a sponsor, which will position you as an expert
These 10 ways to market yourself through public speaking are great but they won’t work if you don’t get out there and speak. People need to hear your message. So, what’s stopping you?
If you’d like to determine the best ways to market yourself with public speaking, schedule a complimentary strategy session with me here.
