How to Get Speaking Engagements

To get speaking engagements, choose one talk that solves a problem your buyers already have and pitch it, with a speaker page, to the events and podcasts where they gather. Most people start with free talks at local business groups and associations, then use the video and testimonials to land bigger stages and, later, paid ones.

What are speaking engagements?

A speaking engagement is any invitation to present, whether you are the keynote speaker, sit on a panel, run a workshop, or join a podcast. The types of events matter less than the audience, because a 20-minute talk to 15 of the right people can bring in more work than a keynote to hundreds of the wrong ones.

Why speaking works for service businesses

People hire consultants and coaches they trust, and public speaking builds that trust quickly because the audience watches you think through a problem, while an association that puts you on its program is vouching for you to its members, as I explain in how to become a thought leader.

Step 1: Pick one or two signature talks

A signature talk is the one you give again and again, adjusted for each audience, because a long list of topics makes it hard for event organizers to see where you fit. Build it around the problem your best clients had just before they hired you, and explain why it keeps happening and what the audience can do about it. Give it a simple title that promises a result, such as “Why your proposals lose to cheaper competitors,” and add a shorter workshop version later.

Step 2: Build a speaker page and a speaker one-sheet

A speaker page on your website and a one-page PDF version, called a speaker one-sheet, give event planners what they need without having to email you, and both should include:

• A third-person bio of 50 to 100 words that organizers can paste into their program.
• One or two talk titles, each with a short description.
• Two or three headshots that are high quality, in horizontal and vertical crops.
• Video of you speaking, even a short webinar or podcast clip, which organizers often ask for first.
• An email address or short form for booking you.

Match your bio and titles to your personal brand on LinkedIn and other social media, as I explain in personal branding for female entrepreneurs.

Step 3: Find speaking opportunities where your buyers gather

Most public speakers begin at smaller events where their buyers spend time, so if you are wondering how to find speaking engagements, look for these, from easiest to hardest to land:

• Local business groups and women’s business organizations, which often need a new speaker every month.
• Industry associations in your clients’ field, which hold regular meetings and often an annual conference.
• Conferences with a public call for speakers, which usually opens months ahead, so search your industry plus “call for speakers” and track the deadlines.
• Podcasts your buyers listen to, which work like a speaking slot that stays online for years.
• Company lunch-and-learns, where the person who invites you may approve outside help.

Step 4: Pitch the organizer

Before you pitch, study previous programs or episodes to see what the audience has already heard, then write to a named person where you can, such as an association’s program chair, and keep the email under 200 words:

• Why this talk suits their audience, with one detail that shows you know the group.
• The title, a two-sentence description, and one line on why you can speak to this problem.
• A link to your speaker page and a video clip.

One polite follow-up after a week or two is normal, but a third message is not.

Step 5: Start free, then move to paid speaking engagements

Most consultants and coaches start by speaking for free, which is a fair trade when the talk puts you in front of 30 potential clients. Most people get paid to speak later in their speaking career, once they have video and testimonials, and mostly by company trainings and corporate events, because local groups rarely have a budget for paid speakers. Professional speakers who run a speaking business charge for the talk itself, while for you a fee is a bonus on top of new clients.

Step 6: Get video and testimonials from every talk

Before each of your speaking gigs, ask whether you can use the recording, and if there is none, have a colleague film on a phone. Clips of one or two minutes fit best on your speaker page and in pitch emails, and while the event is fresh, ask the organizer and a few attendees for one sentence on what the talk changed for them.

Step 7: Turn the audience into leads

A talk only brings in clients if people can stay in touch, so choose one next step, such as a checklist or a free call, and put it on your final slide with a QR code. Within a few days, send that resource with a short note on how you help, and connect on LinkedIn with anyone who came up to you afterward.

I have seen this with a founder in the games industry I worked with, who spoke on panels at events such as Comic-Con, the Game Developers Conference, and SPIEL Essen. He almost always came away from those rooms with new licensed properties to build games around, because the people who owned those brands had just heard him explain what he could do with them.

Track where each new client came from, so you know which rooms are worth returning to.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get paid speaking engagements?

Most speakers get paid work after collecting video and testimonials from free talks. Company trainings and corporate events pay most often, so pitch talks that solve a problem those companies already spend money on.

How much does a speaking engagement pay?

Speaking fees vary widely by field and type of event, so there is no standard rate. Many consultants charge their consulting rate for the full time a talk takes, including preparation and travel.

What is a speaker one-sheet?

A speaker one-sheet is a one-page PDF that tells organizers who you are and what you speak about. It includes a short bio, your talk titles, a headshot, a video link, and your contact details.

How do I get invited to speak at industry conferences?

Get to know the organizers who plan the program at the conference or its smaller events, then submit a talk that fits the theme when the call for speakers opens. Organizers often invite people they have seen speak, so association meetings in the same field help.

Can I get speaking engagements with no experience?

Yes, because local business groups, association meetings, podcasts, and lunch-and-learns welcome first-time speakers whose topic suits the audience. Use those early talks to practice and collect video, then pitch larger events once you have clips and testimonials.