How to Use Speaking Engagements for Business Growth

🎤 As President of BlackSpeakersNetwork , I'm watching a fascinating transformation in the speaking industry. With 46.3% of event organizers citing rising costs as their biggest challenge, many conferences have shifted from traditional speaker fees to sponsorship models. Here's the reality: The landscape has evolved, but opportunity hasn't vanished. While keynote fees once ranged from $5,000-$10,000 for experienced experts, today's successful speakers are adapting to a new value equation. 3 Strategic Ways to Monetize Speaking Opportunities in Today's Market: 1. Master the "Solution Suite" Approach The stage is your showcase, not your payday. Structure your presentation to naturally demonstrate different levels of solutions—from downloadable resources to workshops to full consulting engagements. Virtual speaking fees run 50-70% lower than in-person rates, but our network's most successful speakers regularly turn 20-minute talks into 6-figure consulting relationships by understanding this principle: Every presentation is a demonstration of your problem-solving capability. 2. Build Your "Influence Infrastructure" Before you even step on stage, set up a frictionless path to deeper engagement. Create a dedicated landing page with a compelling free resource that extends your talk's value. The key? Make it specifically valuable to decision-makers in your audience. Even in this shifting landscape, our top performers consistently capture 30-40% of their audience into their ecosystems using this approach. 3. Deploy the "Value-First Follow-up" System Instead of traditional business card exchanges, invite attendees to join an exclusive professional community where you regularly share industry insights and case studies. This positions you as an ongoing resource, not just a one-time speaker. With events increasingly looking for industry experts who can deliver both content and connections, speakers who maintain these communities see 5X more inbound opportunities than those who don't. 🔑 Key Insight: While the traditional speaking circuit has transformed, the opportunity hasn't diminished—it's evolved. Today's successful speakers aren't just waiting for the check after their talk; they're building relationships that lead to bigger opportunities. SPEAKERS: How are you adapting your speaking strategy to this new landscape? EVENT HOSTS / PLANNERS: What is your organization's model as it relates to speaker engagement & compensation. Would love to capture both sides of this discussion Share your experiences below! 👇🏾

Not all speaking gigs are created equal. And if you want yours to lead to clients (not just compliments), you need to know the difference. A few weeks ago, I was on a call with a consultant who had booked a handful of association gigs. Good talks. Great reception. But he couldn’t crack into corporate events. The reason: Misalignment. If you’re using speaking as a growth strategy (smart move!), then here’s a quick breakdown of how different types of events require different types of talks: 🔹 Association Events Your audience is there as individuals, so your content needs to feel personally relevant. Tactical, actionable, and focused on what *they* can do (versus what organizations can do). 🔹 Conferences Mixed audiences. Mixed expectations. Some are solo practitioners. Some are corporate decision-makers. Some are there for personal development. Your content needs to thread the needle between personal insight and broader trends. 🔹 Corporate Engagements This is where the ROI gets real. When you're speaking to an internal team or leadership group, your message needs to address moves that the organization can take. How does your talk drive revenue, reduce costs, improve retention, or optimize team performance? (Spoiler: If your speech pitch doesn’t answer those questions, you won't get booked.) The shift isn’t just in what you say. It’s in how you FRAME it. 👉 So I’m curious...what kind of event are you targeting this year? Associations, conferences, or corporate? Let me know below. I'm happy to share tips for tailoring your talk to your ideal stage. --- Hi, I'm Sharí Alexander. Follow me if you're interested in leveraging speaking opportunities to attract clients. Speaking can be a powerful growth strategy, if you know how to land the right gigs and convert audiences into leads. I’ve helped consultants, founders, and execs turn one great talk into months of leads. I’d love to help you do the same. #B2BMarketing #BusinessEvents #SalesCoaching

The Power of Aftercare: Taking Your Speaking Business to the Next Level Aftercare is typically defined as "subsequent care or maintenance." When I had surgery years ago, part of my recovery included aftercare services—a visiting nurse would come every couple of days to check in and perform any necessary procedures. This got me thinking: Why don’t more speakers offer something similar? In the speaking world, I define Aftercare as a follow-up service designed to help clients achieve more than can be accomplished in a single speech or presentation. By offering structured follow-ups within 48 hours of the event, speakers can engage clients in a next step—enhancing the value of a presentation and providing long-term impact. Here’s a personal example: When I conducted sales programs, I made it a point to follow up, and something remarkable happened. Often, I earned more from aftercare services than from the actual speech itself! In fact, the speaking engagement became more like a paid showcase for ongoing work. Consider this approach: After delivering a sales program, I would call the decision-maker and ask, “Do you think it would make sense (my phrase that pays!) for me to work with your sales managers to make sure they’re applying the tactics, strategies, and ideas discussed in the program?” It’s tough for them to say no to that! Imagine investing thousands in a program only to let new ideas fall flat because they weren’t properly implemented—no one wants that. And the beauty of aftercare? It applies to any speaking topic. If you’re presenting on leadership, your follow-up could focus on working with management teams. If you’re discussing innovation, your aftercare might involve supporting teams in launching new projects. The possibilities are endless. For my sales presentations, I typically offered three aftercare options: 30, 60, or 90 days of ongoing support. This included weekly sales meetings, individual coaching sessions, prompt email responsiveness, and more. Aftercare isn't just an additional service—it's a powerful tool to increase your bottom line. Perhaps the best part? It elevates your role from being "just a speaker" to becoming a trusted resource for your client. So, ask yourself: What aftercare services could you offer to add more value to your speaking engagements? Your next opportunity to make a lasting impact might be waiting in that follow-up call. Note: read more about Aftercare in Lois’s new book, “Book More Business: Make MORE Money Speaking” just released and available on Amazon!