Getting hired as a professional speaker requires hard work. After all, public speaking is a business. And as with any business, a career in public speaking requires networking for success. After deciding that you have what it takes to become a professional speaker, you must build great relationships to make money from public speaking. Here are our top 15 networking tips to help you succeed in your search for public speaking jobs.

Get started networking with local public speaking events.

1. Contact friends, family and colleagues and convey your interest in public speaking. A cousin or aunt may have just the opportunity to help you get started. Managers and associates could have or develop a presentation they’d love to involve you in. Even if no immediate opportunity exists, they may remember you when one arises.
2. Find your area of expertise. That may be business, finance or technology. Attend industry events, seminars and conferences related to your field at every opportunity. It’s a great way to learn from like-minded professionals while also allowing you to embrace the value of networking. These tactics could lead to speaking gigs among planners and potential clients or employers you meet.
3. Whatever your profession, see if your company has opportunities to network at trade shows or expos. Find out your company schedule through human resources, the marketing department or even online. Then, express your willingness to attend and even to contribute to these events. A strong performance at a company booth can benefit both you and the company.
4. Volunteer to speak at local events. Chambers of commerce, charitable fundraisers and community organizations such as Rotary International may provide opportunities for speaking engagements. You’ll find multiple benefits as a new or even seasoned speaker. Volunteer work provides the opportunity to develop your speaking brand and style and gain exposure while networking among peers.
5. Offer to speak at colleges, universities and trade schools. Educational institutions provide excellent opportunities for speakers. At first glance, you may think of events such as commencements. But you may find even greater networking opportunities with individual colleges or departments. An alumni dinner for a business college, entrepreneurial institute or innovation program may provide great networking opportunities for business speakers.

Use digital tools to network and promote your speaking availability.

1. Utilize the networking power of social media. With the rise of influencer culture, platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok provide opportunities to network with spokespeople and trendsetters. Just as importantly, use the opportunity to keep up with trending speaking topics. Follow talent agencies such as the SUCCESS Speakers Bureau on LinkedIn and Facebook to stay up to date.
2. Consider joining professional speaking organizations. Entities such as Toastmasters International, the National Speakers Association and The Global Speakers Federation provide learning and networking opportunities. Yet many speakers simply join public speaking groups on LinkedIn. There, you will find public speaking groups across myriad industries, many with hundreds or thousands of members.
3. Start your own professional blog or website. Doing so provides an excellent opportunity to showcase yourself as a motivator, thought-leader or industry expert. Study some of the best professional speaker websites for inspiration. Note that most promote themselves as leaders by offering thoughtful content for free. And don’t be intimidated by the intricacies of web-building. You can begin building your personal brand as a speaker with a simple WordPress blog and expand it into a full website later.
4. Research trendsetters, business leaders and even other speakers in your field of expertise. As part of your networking goal, reach out to them. Offer to write a guest article or blog post for their website. Briefly outline a topic you could explore that both aligns with their existing content while providing a unique take. Sometimes, leaders will be happy to showcase you while providing your contact information or link to your blog.
5. Start a podcast. This might sound intimidating at first. Maybe all you’ve seen are somewhat professional studio productions. But many of those top podcasters, YouTubers, Rumblers and others started simply with a phone. Top health and mindset speaker Trent Shelton began with short, inspirational clips in this way. The most important thing is to be yourself and remain authentic as a speaker.

Collaborate generously while you develop as a professional speaker.

1. Conduct free workshops or webinars. This doesn’t mean “going it alone.” But if you work within a corporation, educational institution or nonprofit, your organization may have internal or external training events. Whether acting as an in-person or virtual speaker, carefully consider the event and what expertise you may add for greater success. Then, reach out to the organizer or relevant manager with your proposal.
2. Similarly, your organization may attend a conference or host its own event. Even if there are no public speaking slots available, you may still have a public speaking opportunity. Consider providing your talents as a panelist or as a moderator with carefully prepared questions. This form of collaboration helps you gain visibility and showcase your speaking skills to a larger audience.
3. Collaborate with other speakers at every opportunity. By now, you’ve likely begun meeting other professional speakers. Some may even be friends. Never neglect an opportunity to collaborate with them. Even if you simply offer to introduce them at an event or assist them in writing or editing their public addresses, you show yourself as a useful team player. More opportunities will come.
4. Get to know event organizers. Reach out to event organizers directly and offer your expertise as a speaker. Even when it doesn’t work out, you may find other opportunities. Offering your services by registering guests or helping set up the event shows that you are a team player who believes in the cause.
5. Connect with a trusted speaking talent agency. As you get more public speaking jobs, your time will get stretched thin. A trusted talent agency such as the SUCCESS Speakers Bureau lifts much of the burden by building vital relationships, assisting with your brand and handling logistics for you. Then, you can focus on what you do best: being the best public speaker possible. Visit our “Be a SUCCESS Speaker” page to learn more.

Booking a keynote speaker knowledgeable in trending topics provides valuable insights and perspectives on the most important issues facing your industry. Professional guest and keynote speakers deliver engaging presentations on a range of topics, from emerging technologies and environmental sustainability to workplace diversity and mental health.

By booking a speaker with knowledge of current trends, companies inspire and motivate their employees while driving innovation to stay ahead of the competition. Here are our top 12 speaking topics for 2023.

Sustainability and corporate responsibility

Companies face mounting pressures in 2023 from consumers, investors and other stakeholders to embrace environmental sustainability. But transitioning to a business model of environmental, social and governance (ESG) can prove challenging without adequate buy-in. Not all staff may be aware that ESG opens investor opportunities and elevates brand affinity. A professional speaker with expertise in the issue can educate your teams while motivating them to assist in your efforts.

Creativity and innovation

Corporations must continually adapt to a rapidly changing world. Innovation allows businesses to gain an edge in existing markets and to create new ones with a Blue Ocean Strategy. Creativity thought leaders such as Christopher Chapman and Michael Gelb bring expertise and science to the realm of creative thought. Such public speakers and executive consultants help you unlock your company’s single greatest asset: the creativity of your leadership and teams.

Enhanced customer experience

We usually think of customer service as the person we visit or call to change an order or register a problem. Increasingly, companies seek to enhance the broader customer experience. That is, what the client or potential client experiences at every point of contact with the company. A positive customer experience builds loyalty, and speakers such as Jeffrey Gitomer provide the insights you need to stay ahead of the curve.

Employee engagement and retention

Even with a potential recession looming, finding and keeping employees has proven challenging. Retention usually provides the best cost-benefit, making engagement and retention a trending keynote topic in 2023. Employee engagement experts such as Daren Martin have thrived along with fellow thought-leader Cy Wakeman, a specialist in corporate culture who helps you remove drama from the workplace.

Employee health and well-being

Part of employee retention includes keeping your workplace healthy and happy. Building greater well-being doesn’t mean they’ll live stress-free lives. Rather, it means assisting them in understanding the tools needed to build resilience and remain productive. This year, corporations continue to follow the trend in promoting greater well-being for their employees. Resilience expert Anne Grady and health experts like Shawn Stevenson assist companies in building better mindsets to stay on top.

Personal finance

Financial literacy is a considerable asset for employee well-being. Lack of financial responsibility and understanding among associates directly impacts the company bottom line. Employees and leadership facing financial problems may become distracted, seek new or secondary employment and have poor work attendance. Often, basic financial wellness programs can pull your executive staff or team members back from the edge so that they regain focus, clarity and creative productivity at work. Top financial speakers such as Sharon Lechter and Anthony O’Neal continue to trend in 2023 for their ability to engage audiences with sound financial practices.

Entrepreneurship and startups

Data collected by the U.S. Small Business Administration shows that there were 33.2 million small businesses in the United States in 2022. Top business coaches and speakers like Billy Goldberg specialize in helping entrepreneurs and creative talent use heart-centered leadership for a long-lasting impact. For established companies, they also assist in guiding your teams to take a more entrepreneurial approach of personal responsibility and better relationship-building.

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Many top brands are taking the lead in raising awareness of and combating systemic bias externally while promoting a more inclusive work culture internally. A trending topic for 2023, companies have many reasons to book a diversity, equity and inclusion speaker. These influencers provide education, promote a more positive work culture and even promote innovation through inclusivity. Celebrity keynote speakers such as Mally Roncal provide lasting benefits in a fun, engaging way to help your company thrive today and in the future.

The future of work: AI integration

Artificial intelligence technologies such as ChatGPT, Palantir’s Foundry and other platforms assist with everything from improving supply chains to writing and graphic design. But these technologies also raise concerns. A 2022 Pew Research Center study found that, of respondents who are “more concerned than excited” about an increase in the use of AI, 19% worry about the “loss of human jobs.” Keynote tech speakers help your teams better understand the role of AI as a partner while providing insights to best leverage this digital transformation.

Emotional intelligence and self-awareness

While emotional intelligence (EQ) has been recognized as important for decades, AI technologies may have, in part, moved the ball further down the field in its favor. After all, machines can crunch numbers and provide optimal decisions. But only self-aware humans can motivate, inspire, build teams and understand the broader impact and ethics of decisions made. The shift toward EQ is fully embraced by speakers such as top self-awareness coach, organizational psychologist and author Tasha Eurich.

Leadership in the new normal

For many, we’ve moved to the post-pandemic age. But COVID-19 didn’t disappear. We’ve simply adapted to its existence. Many of the changes we made in the crisis such as remote or hybrid work schedule adoption have become the new normal. Still, challenges remain for many employees and their leadership. Business and training speakers such as Jairek Robbins deliver virtual keynote addresses to keep your teams working cohesively regardless of their respective locations. 

Change management

One commonality among trending speaking topics for 2023 has been “change.” And while change has occurred throughout history, it seems that it’s coming faster than ever. Top keynote and business speakers specializing in change management can help guide you through turbulent waters with clarity and assurance. Dan Thurmon and others provide valuable insights into how to manage change effectively to maximize outcomes while minimizing disruption.

Guest and keynote speakers need to deliver addresses that are warm, engaging and authoritative. Authenticity makes all the difference between a forgettable speech and one that leaves a lasting impact. And as with any performer, you as the talent are inseparable from the message itself. After deciding that you have what it takes to be a professional speaker, learning how to come across as genuine is paramount. Here, we will explore seven steps required to become the authentic speaker your audience will never forget.

Begin with your authentic passions and lived experience.

Authenticity begins with focusing on topics you know. You need speaking topics where your lived experience has led to deep familiarity. Just as importantly, you need to be passionate about your subject. Audiences will pick up on any lack of enthusiasm. 

First, develop topics where your personal and professional life provide interesting insights, amusing anecdotes and transformational outcomes. But make sure to avoid embellishment of your knowledge and experience. In the digital age, your true history will be discovered. You can likely think of several examples of politicians being caught in misrepresentations. Plus, question-and-answer periods will certainly test your credibility.

Define how your speaking topics benefit your audience.

Yes, you are the person at the center stage. But ultimately, public addresses are not about you. The best public speakers have just as much passion for improving the lives of their audiences as they have for their speaking topics. The best motivational speakers truly want to empower people and transform lives.

To get started, define who your audience is and how your keynote address will benefit them. Know exactly the key elements you want your audience to remember. Likewise, provide clear calls to action so that people know how to get started. Without taking these steps, you can come across as inauthentic in your desire to advocate for change.

Don’t try to be someone else in your speaking address.

This is the most challenging step in some ways. Yes, it’s important to learn from the great public speakers such as Kindra Hall, Jay Shetty and Simon T. Bailey. You want to watch videos and learn from the top TED speakers of today. But learning from the best public speakers does not mean impersonating them.

In developing your stage presence, be sure to make it an extension of your personality, not an alter-ego. Be yourself as much as possible without putting on an act to establish your credibility and gain your audience’s trust.

Redirecting your nervousness.

There’s nothing wrong with being nervous—it’s a normal and common reaction to public speaking. With time, you will learn how to channel your inner confidence and let it shine through. 

So what do you do with all that anxiety and nervous energy? The answer is to redirect it. Psychology Today recommends a distracting exercise—singing the first song that comes to mind, and following that with “a song lyric that contains the last word sung from the previous song.” Keep going until you cheer up or start to feel ridiculous, then take stock of how you feel. 

Additionally, Inc. magazine compiled a list of three ways to “harness your nervous energy,” including meditating and labeling your emotions

Rehearse your speech delivery.

It may sound counterintuitive, but speaking with authenticity requires rehearsal. Lack of proper familiarity with the beats of your public address will only add to the unnatural pauses and “ums” that result from a lack of preparation. Even if you know your subject inside and out, unpreparedness can make you appear inauthentic.

To prepare, record your delivery both in rehearsal and at events. Test your speech with family, friends or associates. You may consider starting a YouTube channel or podcast. Local events, fraternal organizations, graduation ceremonies and churches each provide opportunities to hone your message. Then, you are better prepared for the next step for becoming an authentic speaker: focusing on your audience.

Focus on and engage your audience to build a personal connection.

Many public speakers quickly establish a personal connection with their audiences. That is why so many speakers begin with a joke or amusing personal anecdote. In doing so, they immediately move from action to interaction.

But that level of engagement should not end after the first few seconds or minutes. To maintain rapport and attention, speakers must continually reestablish and build upon the connection they created. Sprinkle your delivery with moments of levity even if your topic is serious or somber. Establish eye contact across various segments of your audience. Ask questions and invite feedback such as polling by applause. Remind your audience continually that you are listening to them as much as you want them to listen to you.

Mindfulness means a willingness to improvise.

Improvisation, in this case, does not mean going off on tangents. But it does mean being situationally aware and mindful of your audience and your surroundings. As an authentic speaker, you should have both the familiarity with your topic and rehearsal time that allows you to respond to situations as they occur.

Unforeseen questions, audience reactions, technical difficulties or a commotion such as crashing plates in an adjacent dining area should not throw you off. Rather, they provide an opportunity for you to let your charisma shine through. Don’t appear robotic by ignoring the situation or—worse—becoming flustered. Embrace the opportunity to share the moment with the audience with wit and grace.

Are you considering a career as a public speaker?

Are you an author, business leader, social media influencer or simply someone with a great and motivational story to tell? Public speaking allows you to inspire others both in-person and virtually while following your dreams. You can make great money, too!

Though top booking agencies such as the SUCCESS Speakers Bureau have stringent requirements for talent representation, there’s no harm in investigating. Often, those with the most to offer hold themselves back unnecessarily. Take a look at our Future Speakers page to see if becoming a SUCCESS speaker is right for you.