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How to Become a Paid Speaker

How to Become a Paid Speaker

 

The Speakers Institute believes everyone has a message for the world. Imagine using that message to empower others, and be a positive voice of influence. Now imagine being paid to do that. 

I recently attended their 3 day bootcamp and would like to share with you my biggest takeaway on presenting on stage and getting paid speaking opportunities. One of the most important things I learnt was that it is a skill, and when you get paid to speak, you cannot ‘wing it’ or under prepare. You simply won’t present well and will not be booked again. If you want credibility as a paid speaker, you need to do what needs to be done to be paid speaker worthy. 

 

Getting stage ready:

  1. State of emotion: Anchor to get into state to show up with no matter what is going on. Always give your best. Be at a peak state of mind. What ritual do you have to activate the emotion into your body ? 
  2. Breaking down limiting beliefs: Stories you tell yourself which stop you from stepping into your purpose. Play a bigger game. Don’t allow past to define you. Continually need to manage that internal dialogue. I believe I am worthy of …. To break a bad habit, to be constantly reminded of it. Visually see, say it daily, set timers, research it, vision board. 3.
  3. Focus on your strengths and how people perceive them. Understand human potential. What’s right or wrong with people. Trying to FIX them. Focus on what’s right with people. Talent – but its untapped without putting in the work. 
  4. Decide your speaking avenue. Your avatar (who you need to talk to to get speakers opp). Determine your core idea or message for your differentiating value proposition.

 

Which speaker do you want to become:

  • Intrapreneur Employee: Current role manager, leader, corporate professional. Direct senior leader
  • Keynote speaker: Paid to speak on stage at a conference or event. Event manager or bureau
  • Thought leader: Coach, mentor, author, trainer, facilitator. SME or corporate client
  • Business Entrepreneur: Business owner who want to get their product out there. 
  • Expert Authority: The go to in their industry. The industry sector. 

 

The Authority Communication Framework:

 

  • Problem: Have you ever felt … (Take them to crisis – emotion)
  • Idea: I have found that … (One disruptive idea). There are 3 ways to come up with this idea. 1) Disrupt a common phrase 2) Create STANDOUT words 3) Make up a cool word. Keep it under 4 words. 
  • Evidence: Research tells us that … (Prove it stats)
  • Metaphor: There was this one time when … (Story)
  • CTA: Today I want to teach you (top 3 tips and end with key phrase) …. 

 

Example:

Have you ever felt stressed and overwhelmed navigating your online business?

For far too long we have been taught to outsource it if we don’t like it or gamble on paid advertising, and we just end up spending more time online which doesn’t mean you make more money. Right?

We have found that when you embrace Playology as part of your strategy, you can amp up your online marketing performance. 

Having helped over 1000 online business owners worldwide, I have found that you can turn your passion into profit when you apply the playology principles. 

I was broke and unknown in a new country, and had no tech experience. Using playology, I grew a 6 figure business online. My obsession is help you live a better life offline so you can perform better online.

Playology proves that when you include more play in your day, it will impact your creativity, problem-solving, social interactions, reduce stress and improve your personal growth.

It is time for you to unleash your inner player. 

Today more than ever we must follow the Playology principle and get better offline to perform better online. 

Now is the time for you to harness your inner player and transform your online performance.  

Right now is the time for you to adopt the 6 principles of playology so you can be more productive and profitable online. 

 

Incorporate humour:

 

Normal: Quick set up. Simple story. Here I was doing this. 

Normal: Raise the stakes. Out of nowhere, thinking omg. Amp up energy. 

Twist: Up end the expectation. Say something that wouldn’t normally be said. 

 

Jack and Jill, went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down and broke his crown and ….. 

 

Methodology and Content Takeaways:

  • Posture
  • BBI – Belly button insecurity (open hands not closed) 
  • Voice projection – become as big as the room 
  • Pace and Energy timeline. Offer tonal variety for emotional rollercoaster. High energy, laughter, games to emotional and reflective
  • Grounded (avoid swaying) 
  • Silence is golden 
  • Gestures 
  • Speak in Sound bites/Tweetable phrases (not like you reading a story)
  • Tweetable phrases 
  • Story showing: Step to the right for the past, middle is the present, Step to the left for the future. Show the audience – act, pause etc , unpack story, Relive and feel it 
  • Stage contamination: don’t push your trauma on others. 
  • Don’t talk at the audience.
  • Use WIIFIM: Engage audience eg. Have you ever felt, Can you imagine, Could you. 
  • Connection before content 
  • Grab attention from the start (example question)
  • Be Conversational 
  • Mention disruptive idea 12 times in 6 min (anchoring concept)
  • Hero’s story : quick setup (when where who), Ha-ha moment, realization 
  • Allow ideas to set in – the power of the pause 
  • Make very word count 
  • Less is more – more impactful 
  • Speak with authority 
  • Balance between approachable and credible 
  • When you die what do you want to be remembered for? 
  • Build up life before the life changing event. 
  • When you share, make them feel struggle and then hope 
  • The essence of influence is seeing it through the eyes of the audience which has to show pain, problem and hope. 
  • Don’t pitch – share the value / benefits of product 
  • Triple utterance – start with …. Eg. parents, teachers, guardians to land a point. Effective, safe, useful etc 
  • Use stage to advantage 
  • End on triumph 
  • Magnify and amplify problem – don’t assume they understand your topic
  • Make every word pay its rent 
  • Visualization (future pace – imagine what’s possible)
  • Clarity on one idea
  • Be a futurist. The current trends in 2024 are…

 

How to Create Speaking Content

Using sticky notes, write one per note, in colour categories: (example below)

  • Pink – Gather: All topics you passionate about
  • Green – Define method/process: How many steps eg. How to, discover, 3 ways 
  • Blue – Metaphor: Stories you have to validate 

 

Then, match the suitable topic, steps and story so you have a one theme speaking topic to create around. 

Do you have a message that you want heard? Do you struggle navigating social media in delivering and monetizing that message. As an online marketing strategist, I have helped many like you not only get confident online, but turn their passion into profit.

Book a call here

 

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