How to use Public Speaking to Grow Your Business

Public speaking is when you deliberately speak to a group of people in order to inform, influence, or entertain them.

The key to success as a public speaker is to be able to change the emotions of the listeners. This is why public speaking is often more effective than recorded audio or video or even streaming media.

In a live in-person format the speaker is better able to "read" his audience and adjust to their verbal and nonverbal behavior, thereby being more effective. This is your opportunity to establish yourself as an expert, engage your audience and establish a relationship with them.

From there you will move them to the next stage of the sales process, whether it be buying an item from you immediately or simply signing up for your mailing list or handing you a business card.

Tips:

• Identify a topic on which you are knowledgeable. Create a presentation or speech. Have 2 versions of your speech or 2 topics. One should be short 20-30 minutes (for lunch engagements). The other longer, about 45 minutes (for keynote speaking).
• Find organizations of people who could benefit from your expertise.
• Get on their speaker calendar. Book the engagement.
• Start small and grow the group size.
• Start with a friendly audience, people you may know or are acquainted with.
• Get the list of attendees.
• Offer items for sale in the back of the room.

Places to Speak:

• Chambers of commerce
• Professional networking groups
• Professional Associations
• Industry Conferences
• Industry Trade Shows
• Meetup.com Groups
• Guest speaker at colleges, universities and other schools
• Neighborhood groups, Recreation centers
• Free Universities, Parents groups, PTO/PTA's, Community Center, Continuing Education Programs
• Home-based parties