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How To Get Booked To Speak At Conferences

This article is more than 5 years old.

Getting booked to speak at a conference is a proven way to enhance your brand and attract the attention of high-paying clients. Being chosen to deliver a keynote speech, a breakout session, or participate in a panel is a process. Most often you need to respond to a request for proposals for speakers.

Securing speaking engagements, however, is not as easy as throwing your name into a hat. You have to prove yourself and your credentials. That means a strong business track record, a unique message worth hearing, and compelling speaking skills.

If you want to increase your odds of having your speech proposal accepted, it pays to personalize.

Since 2001, SpeakerMatch, a leading online speakers bureau, has been helping speakers get connected with meeting planners and others who hire speakers. The service is free for those looking for speakers, and speakers pay a fee to be listed on the website.

Recently I asked Paul Ellul, vice president of operations for SpeakerMatch, for some inside data to help business leaders and consultants land more conference speech bookings.

“In his groundbreaking book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie advised readers: ‘Remember that a person's name is, to that person, the sweetest and most important sound in any language,’” said Ellul.

According to Ellul, over 50% of speaking proposals that are accepted incorporate the event organizer’s name in the first sentence. And, the percentages increase closer to 60% when looking at bookings for $2,500 and up.

SpeakerMatch data says the 10 most common topics or speaker traits requested are: Motivational, Inspirational, Leadership, Success, Business, Humor, Communication, Teambuilding, Empowerment, and Attitude.

Here’s more from the proprietary research from SpeakerMatch: Event organizers initially do a cursory search when hiring a speaker, but as they refine what they are looking for they start digging deeper by looking at various social media sources to learn what a particular speaker is about.

“If your LinkedIn profile says one thing and your Facebook profile says another, you are not as effective at establishing yourself as the subject matter expert,” says Ellul. “Be consistent with your messaging.”

SpeakerMatch advises speakers to reach out to local chapters of larger organizations that would want to hear your message. From there, you can contact regional chapters and eventually set your sights to speak on the national or international stage for that organization.