One goal most of us speakers have (but don’t talk about) is to earn top-of-mind status as a speaker. And who can blame us! The more often our name shows up on someone’s short list of speaker candidates within our topic, the better our chances are of being invited to speak… which gets us closer to earning those follow-up conversations.
The challenge is figuring out how to earn that status. We know it can be done because speakers we respect have done it. But how? First off, their journey to earning top-of-mind status began with the decision to be remembered as an expert in their topic, who totally delivered when they took the stage. Once they made that decision, it was just a matter of employing these five top-of-mind speaker strategies.
- Top-of-mind Speakers capture their audience’s attention right out of the gate. They don’t waste those very valuable first 7–30 seconds with “polite” opening comments thanking the event organizer, or espousing the virtues of their credentials. Instead, they give their audience something to sink their teeth into right from the get-go. Is there a story, intriguing/startling statistic, result achieved, etc., you could share to capture your audience’s attention right from the get go?
- Top-of-mind Speakers make sure their audiences never have any reason to doubt what they’re going to talk about. Pre-event, they make sure their event planner has everything they need to advertise the event. They advertise their upcoming speaking engagements on their own social media platforms too. Before they take the stage, they make sure their talk is in alignment with what they said they were going to speak about. Does the information you’ll be sharing pre-event align with what you’ll be sharing in your talk, and then with your takeaway too?
- Top-of-mind Speakers are authentic. They’re purposeful on stage, and they’re generous with their expertise. They don’t hold things back. They don’t leave their audiences “hanging.” Instead, they make sure their audience walks away with something valuable. Does your signature talk provide enough valuable information for people to remember you in a good way… even if they don’t reach out to you after you leave the stage?
- Top-of-mind Speakers share a piece of their heart. In other words, they let their audiences know why they’re there, and/or why speaking about this topic matters to them. This is important because when a speaker’s motives aren’t clear, the people in the audience aren’t likely to reach out after the stage. It doesn’t matter if their speaking topic is as dry as can be either. There’s almost always a way to share your expertise that will have your audience accepting your sincerity, and the value of what you have to offer. Is your sincerity evident in your signature talk?
- Top-of-mind Speakers inspire their audiences in three ways. They inspire them to: 1) Believe it’s possible for them to solve their problem. 2) That they can get started solving their problem right now with the takeaway they’ve been given. 3) They can reach out with questions, to start working together, or just to have a conversation. Does your signature talk inspire people in these three ways?
Your signature talk is an unofficial contract between you and your audience. You’ve promised to share part of your problem-solving solution. They’ve agreed to hear you out. Now you get to deliver on your promise… just like a top-of-mind speaker would. You get to prepare, practice, and share your content in engaging ways… just like a top-of-mind speaker would. Best of all, you get to inspire and empower your audience to take action… just like a top-of-mind speaker would.
I know you can do this. And each time you do, you’ll be one step closer to earning that top-of-mind status for yourself and your signature talk.