We’re discussing how to pave the way to your next paid speaking gig for both new and seasoned speakers. My guest is Laurie Guest.
Laurie is a 28-year member of the National Speakers Association. She is a Midwest farmer’s daughter from DeKalb, IL and is known for her quick wit and slightly sarcastic sense of humor. Her expertise in the marketplace is customer service, however, today we are talking about how to clear the hurdles that stop speaking leads from converting into paid bookings. Laurie was inducted into NSA’s Speaker Hall of Fame in 2021.
Your Next Paid Speaking Gig
When looking at paving your way to your next paid speaking gig there are hurdles to overcome if you want to get there, whether it’s your first paid gig or you’ve been speaking professionally for 10 years.
Laurie has spoken for 26 of NSA’s 33 chapters. Over the years, she started to notice a common theme after her presentations. She would go in with her prepared content and every time they opened for questions all (yes, all) of the questions had a common denominator, and it was presenting a hurdle to overcome. Attendees didn’t always use that word, but the questions were commonly “I’m having trouble with this? Why can’t I achieve that?”
Laurie shared some perceived hurdles and what you can do to overcome them, what she has done, and what her colleagues have done to get over those hurdles.
Overcoming a Big Hurdle that Newer Speakers Commonly Face
The biggest hurdle for a new speaker is “How can I find someone that wants me? I’m ready to go, I have my one-sheeter and marketing materials. But nobody is calling because nobody knows about me.” That becomes hurdle number one. The solution to that is answered by realizing that people cannot buy what they do not know. You must figure out a path to being known in whatever your niche is going to be. And if you want to be “known to the world” you have some big challenges ahead of you. It’s better to pick a niche.
As a new speaker Laurie suggests that they start tunneling. Figure out where you have the most expertise. Where do you already have some name recognition? If you’re already in a niche association where people know you, start there. It has to do with narrowing your approach instead of trying to appeal to everybody. You’re going to tunnel on down.
Overcoming a Big Hurdle that Seasoned Speakers Commonly Face
If leads are drying up, all is not lost. Laurie suggests that you start asking some “Why” questions. A “Why” answer might be you’ve got to get back to basics. Maybe you’ve been speaking for 10 years, and you were successful in years three through seven, but suddenly things have gotten stale.
Some “Why” questions might be: Is your material no longer relatable? Is it no longer relevant, do you need a booster shot of something different, have you completely exhausted your book of business, is it time to pivot and go grab something new? Is it that you’ve gotten off track? Maybe you’ve gotten booked enough that you started to take it for granted. You’re not going back to the basics of focusing on effective follow-up, doing a better job in the sales vetting process, and so on.
A lot of seasoned speakers in that zone have gotten a little complacent and need to answer those “Why” questions.
In this episode we also discuss:
- How to know when to pivot your speaking topics when at least one of three things happens.
- How to know when your topic has grown stale and needs to change.
- How to stay relevant as a speaker.
- Why you need to listen to what your key audience is saying about you.
- The most important thing you can do to pave the way to your next paid speaking gig.
…and other golden nuggets of advice!
You can get my book here: “Idea Climbing: How to Create a Support System for Your Next Big Idea”
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About My Guest
Laurie Guest, CSP, CPAE, isn’t just an entrepreneur and keynote speaker, she’s a powerhouse in customer service excellence. With a vibrant career spanning over three decades, Laurie has become the go-to expert for companies nationwide eager to revamp their customer service and staff engagement strategies.
Her dynamic presentations are packed with relevant insights and actionable tips that resonate with audiences. Laurie doesn’t just speak; she engages and inspires with stories that stick and strategies that work. She’s penned three books, laying out her most effective tactics for attracting and keeping top-tier staff and customers, all while ensuring guest interaction is nothing short of exceptional, every – single – time.
Click here to connect with Laurie on LinkedIn!
Click here to visit Laurie’s site!
Click here to learn more about the National Speakers Association of Illinois!
