Free speaking engagements can be a powerful way to build a name for yourself but, like everything we do in business, they come at the cost of our time, energy, focus or money.
So, if you want your speaking gig to be worthwhile you need to make sure you’re getting a return on your investment.
And if you want to make sure you get a return on your investment, you’ll need to be proactive and intentional about leveraging the exposure to generate real opportunities.
When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I took countless free speaking gigs thinking they would help me grow but I quickly realised that wasn’t enough on its own. Since then, I’ve developed strategies to turn these free gigs into gold mines, and today, I want to share them with you!
- Strategic Engagement: Before you even step onto that stage, get clear on who you need to connect with. Identify key decision-makers, influencers, or potential clients and make sure you introduce yourself to them. But be careful, this isn’t about hard selling – it’s about forming meaningful relationships, that follow naturally into future opportunities.
- Follow Up: Within 24 to 48 hours, reach out with a thank you email, LinkedIn message, or a follow-up call. Offer something valuable, like a free resource or consultation, prompting people to take the next step with you.
- Capture Valuable Content: While speaking for free, you have a golden opportunity to capture photos, videos, and testimonials. Even without a budget, you can make friends with event photographers or ask the event organisers to help.
- Leverage that Social Proof: Whether professional or improvised, these testimonials, photos, and engagement moments will boost your online presence long after the event.
- Creating Continued Value: Don’t let your offering end on stage. Always provide an actionable next step – like a free consultation, a special offer, or exclusive content that listeners can access. This makes it way more likely that your audience will engage with your work beyond the event.
- Reflect and Share: After the event, create a piece of content reflecting on the experience. Whether it’s a blog, a vlog, or a podcast you can keep the conversation going by sharing your insights and behind-the-scenes moments. This continued engagement is crucial if you want to become a leader in your field.
- Craft a Lead Magnet: Design a lead magnet off the back of your talk – a guide, checklist, or minicourse that the audience can access. This draws in potential clients and transforms the buzz around your talk into long-term engagement.
I’d love to hear how these tips work for you and what new opportunities arise from your free speaking gigs. So, reach out to me and let’s keep this conversation going.
Until next time, keep unleashing your brilliance!
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Book: It’s Who You Know
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