Introduction

Public speaking opportunities are an important part of building your profile. However, finding events that are both relevant and beneficial can appear a difficult task, and you will find yourself asking a number of questions: What kind of events should I consider? Do I use a speaking agency, or should I search in other ways?

Whilst there is no strict rulebook on how to go about finding speaking opportunities, there are a number of things that you can do that will help in securing them, from searching the web, to using your network.

As you begin your search for speaking opportunities, this article will tell you how to find them:

1. Look at industry calendars to top events
2. Search Google with relevant search terms
3. Use your network
4. Sign up to public speaking agencies
5. Widen your search of public speaking opportunities
6. Use social media
7. Contact regional institutions
8. Contact universities
9. Host your own event
10. Research award ceremonies
11. Use a PR agency

Once you find the right speaking opportunities for you, your profile will command gravitas and show who you are as an entrepreneur, CEO, or thought-leader.

1. Look at industry calendars to top events

Finding an opportunity is far more likely if you are searching for industry-specific events. By looking solely at the industry you are involved in, you will not only find more events, but increase your chances of being invited to speak – these events are searching for an expert in the field.

For example, if you are a venture capital investor, you should search for the top events in your industry, and scan through to compile a list of the ones you would like to speak at and those that you feel your experiences are most valuable to. Trade publications also serve the same purpose, as events will often be advertised in them. If you select the opportunities that are most suited to you, the chances of securing one are far more likely – they will see the value that you can bring and the experiences that you can speak about.

2. Search Google with relevant search terms

First, you’ll need to go down the most obvious route – Google search. Consider what kind of events you’d like to be speaking at, thinking about the type of industry, whether you want to speak at conferences or smaller engagements, and also where you would like to find an opportunity, whether that be local or further afield. Also, make sure to be specific – search for ‘CEO speaking opportunities’ and ‘leadership speaking opportunities.’ Location can be helpful too, so try making searches like ‘public speaking London’ or ‘speaking opportunities Yorkshire.’

The best place to start would be to search your industry or area of expertise, followed by ‘conferences’ or ‘events’. Through these keywords, you will come across countless events that you can add to your list of opportunities to consider and approach. Don’t just search for the specific industry, also search for ‘entrepreneur conferences’ and similar, as these are equally relevant for you.

3. Use your network

Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, and this is very much the case for public speaking opportunities. Firstly, think about who you know within your industry that might have spoken at an event before, and ask them how they went about doing so or if they know of any opportunities you could get involved with.

Next, consider reaching out to connections when you see them hosting or managing an event. This will lead to an organic conversation about the event, industry, public speaking, and hopefully how you could be a speaker at an upcoming event. It is also worth considering attending these events yourself – by demonstrating your interest to your network, they will become much warmer to the idea of inviting you to speak at one of their events, or an event they know of. Don’t underestimate what an in-person conversation can do.

4. Sign up to public speaking agencies

Now that you have used your network and made use of any relevant connections, you should look to public speaking agencies such as:

• Speakers Corner
• Champions Speakers
• Kruger Cowne
• Inspirational Speakers
• London Speaker Bureau

You will need to get in touch with the agencies and give them your pitch – what experience do you have, which events could you speak at, what sets you apart, and how can you provide value to one of their client’s events.

Signing up to a number of agencies will help you in your search for a speaking opportunity, though they should not be your only port of call. Use them as a means of getting yourself out there to those actively looking for a speaker at their event, but don’t forget that you should be actively seeking opportunities through the other ways discussed. Ensure that you let your speaking agency know where you would like to be speaking and for which industry – this will help them to find the engagements that are best suited to you.

5. Widen your search of public speaking opportunities

Being specific on the kinds of events you would like to speak at can be a great way of finding opportunities, however you might find that there are only so many to go round. In this case, you should begin to widen your search so that it covers more than just your specific industry or occupation. If you are an e-commerce guru, consider speaking about entrepreneurship more generally – discuss the ins and outs of running a business, as opposed to focusing solely on the space that you are an expert in.

More often than not, there are events out there that want someone who can offer an insight that will resonate with a wider audience – not just those that have an interest in your specific industry. Also, instead of only searching for opportunities in London, search for events in other cities and regions. This will hugely increase your chances of finding a speaking opportunity.

6. Use social media

Once you have widened your search, you can use social media to find events of particular interest to you. Start by viewing accounts of other individuals that speak publicly, to see where they are speaking, and what types of events they have secured. They will often tag the company that put on the event, which gives you a direct avenue into securing an opportunity.

Take a look at the social media accounts of your peers that have had successful CEO speaking opportunities and leadership speaking opportunities in the past. By looking at their accounts, you will gain a much better idea of what types of events you should be targeting.

You can use social media platforms – LinkedIn in particular – to find the people running the events, giving you a much better chance. Before contacting the organisers or a potential contact, ensure that your current social media profile is up-to-date and representative of your credentials, as it will show those hosting the event why they should choose you, and what sets you apart.

7. Contact regional institutions

During your search, you will come across opportunities locally, regionally, and perhaps beyond. Regional institutions are a great place to find opportunities, as there are both industry-specific events as well as more business focused groups and organisations that are constantly looking for guest speakers at their monthly meetings, conferences, and one-off events.

Types of regional institutions to contact:

• Regional business networks
• Chambers of commerce
• Local enterprise partnerships
• Local business clubs
• Local meet-up groups

Industry-specific regional institutions are another route that you can take to find public speaking opportunities, and will ensure that you’re in front of a group of people that have a genuine interest in what you have to say.

8. Contact universities

Whilst speaking at conferences and business events is desirable, there are plenty of opportunities if you look slightly further afield. Universities are the perfect opportunity, especially if you are relatively new to public speaking and are looking to gain experience before you speak at larger engagements. Look for ‘public speaking London universities’ or compile a list of universities in the region you would like to speak at – complete with email addresses and points of contact.

There are often university societies and departments that are searching for guest speakers. Those that you will want to look out for are entrepreneurship, business, management, and also your specific expertise. For example, if you are an executive of an agricultural company, you could offer to speak at a university’s agriculture department or student society equivalent. Not only will you have a young and captivated audience, but you will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs and executives.

9. Host your own event

For an additional chance to speak, you could consider hosting your own event. This would be useful for a few reasons: 1) you can practice your public speaking; 2) you can record the speech for publicity; 3) it will show your speaking ability to others.

This will lead to you building yourself as a speaker before you enter the bigger events, and if you invite the right connections from your network, your own event could result in the securing of speaking opportunities in the future. Most importantly, use this occasion to create engaging multimedia content, such as:

• 30 second video clips
• Entire recording of the speech
• Soundbites made into audiograms
• High-impact photos that capture the insights that you provide

10. Research award ceremonies

A final type of event that you should consider in your search for public speaking opportunities are award ceremonies. There is a plethora of these types of events happening all of the time, such as regional business awards and those that are more industry specific. Research these, find the ones that suit you best, and reach out to the organisers.

You can also tell the speaking agencies that you have a profile with that you are interested in these types of engagements, as this will widen your search and provide more opportunities for you to speak. It also gives you a chance to touch base with the speaking agencies and keep the relationship alive.

11. Use a PR agency

Find an agency that specialises in supporting senior leaders to secure speaking opportunities around the world. Many PR agencies offer this as a part of their service, and it is the easiest and most successful way of finding a public speaking opportunity.

Agencies have existing connections that they will be able to use, and have the time and resources to search and secure the right opportunities for you. They will search beyond the industry calendars and top three websites, and invest in finding, categorising, pitching, and securing the speaking opportunity that you have been looking for.

Conclusion

Once you find yourself the public speaking opportunities that you were searching for, make sure that you add value to the event. Do something that sets you apart – such as recording the speech so that it can be looked back on afterwards, or offering the audience a chance to ask you a few questions afterwards.

Also ensure that you are conveying your ideas in an exciting way, invoking a sense of emotion from the audience, as this will increase their information retention by up to 65%-75%. By leaving a lasting impression with the audience, you will gain more speaking opportunities in the future. Consider creating a number of short videos and capturing high quality photography that can be used across your social media, website, and potentially even media publications that are covering the event or industry.

FAQs

How do I find a public speaking place?

Conferences and events that are specific to your industry are a great place to start, but also look to more general events that you could apply your experiences and skills to. Reach out to the organisers of events, use your network, and think beyond big corporate events – consider university societies and departments, as well as award ceremonies.

How do I become a paid speaker?

Demonstrate that you an experienced public speaker and an expert in your field. Make use of social media to build your profile as a speaker, and then initiate contact with the people running the events that you’d like to speak at – using your network where possible.

Is public speaking a job?

Public speaking can definitely become a full-time job. Whilst it might seem like a distant reality, if you become experienced and can offer an interesting and engaging speech, you will be able to have frequent speaking opportunities.

Are public speakers in demand?

There are plenty of opportunities out there, and it is no surprise that public speaking is one of the world’s highest paid professions. Speakers of all levels are in demand, from entrepreneurs, to investors, to CEOs.

Who is the best public speaker?

The most well-known and highly regarded public speaker is Tony Robbins – American entrepreneur and philanthropist. Tony delivers motivational speeches to hundreds of crowds per year, on topics such as leadership and physiology.