A lot of authors, businessmen, entrepreneurs, etc. make a big chunk of their money by participating in public speaking engagements. If
you’re working on positioning yourself as an expert on a certain topic, you may want to consider getting involved with organizations that allow you to speak in front of a crowd to further your reach. It’s great practice and will be very important to developing your brand.
Since speaking in front of groups of complete strangers isn’t so easy for most of us, I’ve included a few pointers that will help you be a sought-after speaker.
- Get to Know Your Audience:
Make sure you know what the organization is about before you get in front of them. Do you research. Be well versed on their most current topics. Offer your time before and after your speech.
- Promote the Event:
If you’re actively promoting the event not only will the turn out be better, but also the organization is bound to invite you back. They’ll know you’re truly invested in your work.
- Know your Stuff:
Make sure you’ve put together a well research presentation with facts and examples. Use your personal stories as reference points.
- Be Confident:
Go in there and present yourself as the expert you say you are. Don’t apologize if something goes wrong. Instead, make a little joke. And honestly, the audience probably won’t even notice any mistakes unless you point it out.
- Have a Backup Plan:
Don’t assume your Power Point presentation is going to work or that the facility’s WiFi is going to be up and running. Make sure you have a back up plan that doesn’t depend on technology.
- Practice!
The more times you hours you put into practicing, the better you will be. It’s as simple as that. Make sure to rehearse out loud and with all your snazzy equipment.
