In the old days, having a great assistant and professionally produced speaker demo video was all you need to make it as a keynote professional speaker. This is not so any longer. The speaking industry is much more competitive today and professional speakers often sacrifice their principles just to get a gig which tarnishes the image of the industry as a whole.
Running a professional speaking business today requires several tools in order to ”make it” on the speaking circuit. Successful keynote professional speakers keep this tool kit available to them at all times. The tool kit is not easy when the aspiring speaker begins their journey but with the right attitude and perseverance the professional speaker tool kit will come together.
The first tool in the kit is a powerful message. Professional speaker and client of Primeau Productions Connie Podesta always had a powerful message and constantly uses that message in her branding and Internet marketing. Today her message is ”Stand Out from the Crowd,” which is also the title of her latest book, which was a Gold Medal winner in the 2011 Independent Publisher Book Awards!
The second tool in the tool kit to help you make it as a keynote professional speaker is charisma, which means compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others; a divinely conferred power or talent! Some professional speakers make it in the business without charisma because their message is powerful. The professional speakers that make it into the top 20 best speakers on the circuit have charisma.
The third tool in the professional speaker tool kit is an excellent marketing campaign. This campaign consists of several ingredients:
- A professional produced speaker demo video
- Professional looking and easy to navigate website
- Word of mouth referrals
- Social media strategy using all social media accounts
- A content rich blog
- A fair speaking fee and travel expenses
- Good relationship with speaker bureaus
The fourth tool in the kit is appearance. In order to command the type of fee a great keynote professional speaker earns, you have to look great on the platform. If you do not have the ability to choose clothing that compliments your appearance then find someone than can help. The rest of your appearance almost goes without saying. Your smile, demeanor, hair, nails and casual conversation off the platform all contribute to your appearance. Your appearance is your perceived value. This appearance must also come across in your professional speaker demo video.
The fifth tool is a pleasant personality. I have worked with some professional speakers that have a speech that is so much different than their casual conversation, it’s scary! All of the great professional speakers can carry on a great dinner conversation. They have the ability to carry on a engaging conversation with a pleasant personality before and after their presentation. This personality always shows even in difficult situations.
One of the greatest professional speakers of all time, Floyd Wickman, has an amazing ability to use words to his advantage in any situation. Not only is Floyd amazing on the platform, he is fun and captivating to talk to before and after the presentation.
I would like to hear your comments on what you believe are tools that professional speakers should use in their professional speaker tool kit. You can post a comment below, email us at Primeau@PrimeauProductions.com or call 800-647-4281. This business of speaking professionally has been through a major reinvention and there are many tools available for you to make it to the top.