The speaking world is changing… again? Or maybe it isn’t. Maybe it’s just slipped into a rhythm we’re just beginning to recognize. When it’s cold outside, Zoom is very convenient. No boots, coats, or scraping ice off your windshield. As soon as the weather starts warming up though, both speakers and their audiences start looking forward to in-person events.
In fact, I was having a conversation about finding more in-person speaking opportunities with a client this weekend. Who can blame them? I can’t. Yes, Zoom is convenient, but there’s no way it can replicate the energy and synergy of in-person interactions that take place at events.
After speaking with my client, I got to thinking a bit deeper about a few things as a result. For example, something I often ask my clients is if they know where their target audience is hanging out. It seems like a simple question to answer, but let’s take a fresh look at this question, along with a couple others.
Do you know where your target audience hangs out? Hopefully, you do, but now’s your opportunity to refresh your list. What local, regional, and/or national meetings, conferences, and association meetings do the people in your audience attend? Make a list and then do some research to find out who’s been booked to speak in past years at those events. This is going to help you narrow your list of which in-person opportunities would be a good fit for you.
With events that are a good match, consider the topics previous speakers got booked to speak about. That way, when you approach the event planner of a specific event, you’ll be able to highlight how your talks are similar, yet different enough to bring a new perspective to their audiences.
Do you hang out where your speaking peers hang out? Sometimes speakers shy away from interacting with other speakers because they worry that one of them will take advantage of what they shared. It’s true that some speakers might target your clients, or go after speaking engagements you’re pursuing. Fortunately, those scenarios are less likely when you meet fellow speakers in person. Plus, more often than not, meeting a speaker in-person might lead to a connection where they become your best cheerleader. After all, wouldn’t you do your best to help a fellow speaker if you could? I’m sure the answer is yes, so why wouldn’t it work the other way around too?
There are advantages to hanging out with your speaker peers too. You can brainstorm, share strategies, and keep each other informed about what’s going on in the speaking world. Maybe you could form a panel, or create a mastermind group for speakers. The fact is, you’ll never know what’s possible until you put yourself out there.
If someone wants to find you, will they know where to look? Sometimes speakers spend so much time looking for speaking opportunities they neglect to make sure speaking opportunities can find them! Obviously, there are some basic industry standards here. If your name comes up in a conversation and someone wants to check you out online, will they find you? Are you on Facebook? LinkedIn? Instagram? TikTok? (Yes… even TikTok… if that’s your thing.) There’s nothing to say you have to show up everywhere online, but you definitely want to have a presence so people can find you.
If you’re looking for more in-person speaking opportunities, make it possible for people to find you, in person, at local networking events and meetings. Many local groups are always on the lookout for speakers too, which means a speaking opportunity might fall right into your lap just by attending in person!
I had fun writing this article because it’s exciting thinking about adding more in-person events to my calendar and thought you might feel the same way. Who knows? Maybe we’ll meet in person at one of those events!
‘Til we speak again….
~Beth