The Speaker Lab Podcast

What event planners look for in a speaker may seem like a mystery, but today's guest is going to reveal all the secrets!Josh McGhee is an event planner who books professional speakers with fees ranging from a few thousand dollars up to $40,000.Today he'll tell us how he and his team choose those speakers, including the one thing they all must have or he won't book them, and what you can do to be a better partner with your clients and grow your referrals.Join us for those great insights from the other side of the table on the 245th episode of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How many speakers does his organization hire annually?What are the three tiers of speaker fees in their non-profit?How can you be pro-active without being irritating?What specific details in your videos are important to event planners?Why does he talk with the potential speaker before hiring them?What role does post-event communication play in your referability?How does his organization determine if a speaker provided their value?How partnerships and sponsorships can work to cover your speaking fees.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESJosh McGhee on LinkedInGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How to leverage YouTube for more speaking gigs may be a question you've asked yourself. If so your answer is on today's episode of The Speaker Lab, and you'll definitely want to hear!Joining us to talk about leveraging YouTube to build and grow your speaking business is Amy Landino. Amy has a YouTube following over 300k subscribers, and she's leveraged her success there to become an author and grow her speaking business.Today we talk all things YouTube, but we also dig into the broad topics she speaks on, the details of her recent speaking agency experience: why she signed exclusively with Vayner Speakers and the pros and cons of signing with any agency.You'll hear all of that and more during our conversation with Amy Landino on episode 244 of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is good content marketing at its core?How do you know you've hit your stride?Why you should not use your YouTube content in your demo video.What is the biggest mistake she sees people making in their speaker trailers?What should be included in your speaker trailer?How often should you upload your videos to YouTube?What's the biggest benefit of creating videos?How asking this one question can massively help your career.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESAmy Landino on YouTubeAmy Landino on TwitterVayner SpeakersGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you know how to make a good first impression? Have you thought about it? You will after you listen to this episode!On The Speaker Lab today, Sylvie di Giusto talks with us about how to make a good first impression, something she speaks about in the corporate world. Specifically, she tells us the four people to consider when choosing what to wear, the 3 S's to picking out your onstage outfit and the ABCDs of your personal brand.There's a lot of great content she brings to the show so join us and hear it all on episode 243 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is confirmation bias and how does it work?How did she land on the topic of first impressions?Why your speaking topic evolves over time.Why accents can be an asset and not a hindrance.What are the first steps to making a good impression?How do you find your signature style?How does branding impact our everyday life?What is your reputation based on?And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESSylvie de Giusto's web siteSylvie de Giusto on LinkedInSylvie de Giusto on TwitterHow You Impress, Sylvie's digital courseBooked and Paid to Speak Elite programGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What's the current state of the speaking market like right now? Our guest, Brandon Edmonson, has the answers and he is telling all on episode 242 of The Speaker Lab!Brandon is the Vice-President of Premiere Speakers Bureau and today he'll share what they are seeing in the marketplace right now. We'll get into details like how far out clients are booking, what the fee range is and the different topics clients are booking.That's just a small slice of what we cover so join us and listen in to episode 242 of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What do all speakers need to have in their speaking video right now?Brandon's rule of thumb for how much should you spend on your video.How important is SEO for speakers today?Where are their primary lead sources coming from?Why being local is a value add for event planners and booking agents.How far out are most events booking right now?What's the financial outlook for the speaking industry?How to manage the mental game of the speaking cycle.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESPremiere Speakers BureauVinh Giang's videosBrandon Edmonson on TwitterBrandon Edmonson on LinkedInEpisode 163 of TSLThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How much does branding matter to a speaker's career? Quite a bit, and here to talk about creating your speaking brand is industry expert, Rick Clemons.Rick is a former student now coach with our Booked and Paid to Speak program who worked in branding for several decades. He shares his personal as well as professional experiences on the topic today.We also talk about branding: what elements go into making a brand, what it means to have your own personal speaking brand and what questions to ask if you are creating your brand. You'll hear us weigh in on those topics and more on today's The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why branding is more than just your logo and your color scheme.How is a brand like a person?What do you need to think through when creating your brand?How much of branding is you defining the brand versus the market defining it for you?What is the umbrella of your brand?Do you need a company name?How do values fit into your branding?Why simplicity makes the sale.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESRick Clemons' web siteRick Clemons on Twitter40 Plus: Real Men. Real Talk podcastEpisode 208 of TSLNeen James' web siteTamsen Webster's web siteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on Spotify See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If becoming a speaker in the international market is something you dream about then you'll love this episode of The Speaker Lab!Our guest today has delivered 90+ plus events every year for the last 11 years, and has spoken in 57 different countries and has been paid to speak over 2500 times.His name is Phil Jones and he spends the bulk of his time helping people sell with more confidence and more credibility while getting better results.You'll hear how he does that along with what the markets are like in South America, Europe, Asia and Australia when you join us on the 240th edition of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Are there budgetary variations in Europe vs. South America vs. Asia?Why you must allow yourself to go through periods of reinvention.What two businesses should every speaker have?If you are outside of the US, what are practical ways to break into that market?The importance of getting clear on why you want to speak internationally.Why should every speaker do simultaneous translation at least once?What little things can and should you do when speaking to an international audience?Why giving yourself permission to try, play and fail can create some of your best experiences.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESPhil Jones' websitePhil's Audible bookPhil's other booksPhil Jones on TwitterEpisode 158 of TSLGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wondering how to transition into speaking full-time? The Speaker Lab guest today, Erick Rheam, has made the leap, and he'll talk about what it's like to turn pro and make your speaking career a reality.Erick is one of our original Booked and Paid to Speak students, and today he's a highly successful speaker. But he only recently left his corporate job to pursue his speaking career on a full-time basis.You'll hear what gave him the confidence to finally leave and so much more on episode 239 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When did he know he had to choose between speaking and his job?What were the two reasons speaking was a good fit for him?What you should do if your boss isn't supportive of your speaking side hustle.What are the two keys to being successful at something?Should your target market and topic evolve throughout your speaking career?What was the tipping point that showed him it was time to leave his job?Why you need mentors in your life.What are the biggest regrets most people have in their lives?And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESErick Rheam's web siteErick Rheam on Episode 225 of TSLErick Rheam on Episode 150 of TSLErick Rheam on Episode 126 of TSLErick Rheam on TwitterErick Rheam on LinkedInMichael Hyatt's web siteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on Spotify Read the show transcripts hereSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are back with the history of The Speaker Lab part II! If you missed part one you can hear it here.On episode 238, I am again interviewed by a former Booked and Paid to Speak alum and current coach in the program, Eric Rheam.Today we talk about how this show has evolved over time, where we are going in the next few years and my advice for anyone starting their speaking journey. Join us to hear that and more!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When did I know it was time to retire my first podcast?What failures did I have and what did I learn from them?Why you have to love the process that gets you the gigs.How has my team evolved from 2014 through today.Why not making myself the focus of The Speaker Lab has led to our success.What are common characteristics among the most successful Speaker Lab alums?What's the difference between being interested and being committed?Why you have to be ready for the grind in order to be successful.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeEpisode 237 of The Speaker LabGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on Spotify See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 237 of The Speaker Lab is a unique show: we are diving into the history of The Speaker Lab!And we are doing it by flipping the tables: I am going to be interviewed by Eric Rheam. You may recognize him from previous shows, he's a former alum of Booked and Paid to Speak and a current coach with the program.This is the first of a two-part series in which we detail how I got into speaking, what my early years were like as a speaker, and then how and why I created The Speaker Lab. Join us for those goodies and more on today's edition of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What's a great exercise I recommend to other speakers today?How many gigs did I do in my busiest year?How long did it take to go from my first gig to my first $1k gig?Do I still experience insecurities and doubts today?What is the purpose of The Speaker Lab?Why speaking is a high-paying manual labor gig.What are the two primary ways to make more money as a speaker?What does it mean to "sell the sawdust"?And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeEpisode 001 of The Speaker Lab48 Days to The Work You Love, by Dan MillerThe Cure For The Common Life, by Max LucadoRework, by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier HanssonGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode of The Speaker Lab I have a fireside chat with Jane Atkinson, founder and creator of The Speaker Launcher. The journey to creating this business began with a desire to work for an inspirational speaker. The seed was firmly planted when she saw a Les Brown TV special not long after, and it soon sprouted her first marketing gig.Hear how that gig led her to later work with Peter Legge and Vince Vicente, before she ultimately formed The Speaker Launcher. You'll hear her stories and advice, as well as some of my own experiences when you join us for episode 236 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is one of the most difficult finds in this industry?What it means if you aren't getting referrals.Why being difficult doesn't just mean being a diva.What to do when fear creeps in.Why referring business to other speakers is critical to your own success.What's the difference between speakers who make it and speakers who don't?How becoming known for one thing can be beneficial.Why you should triple down on what is working.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCES The Speaker Launcher web siteThe Wealthy Speaker 2.0, by Jane AtkinsonThe Wealthy Speaker podcastJane Atkinson on TwitterJane Atkinson on FacebookHow to get booked and paid to speakGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We are back with another YouTube speech breakdown; this time we are giving you the ins and outs of what works and what doesn't from the venerable Mel Robbins.On today's The Speaker Lab, we are breaking down Mel's very popular Ted Talk called How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over. Mel is a well-known keynote speaker and presenter so you will learn a lot from her speech.Be sure to hear it all by tuning in to episode 235 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What pieces of your speech should be the most tightly scripted?Is there a way to create humor without using words?What types of callbacks should you use in your speech?What lighting is best for you on stage?What is one way to emphasize a powerful moment?Why should you leave the stage and walk among the audience?What works best for slides?How to use call and response in your presentation. EPISODE RESOURCES The Speaker Lab on YouTubeMel Robbins' web siteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Has a company ever asked to license your material? Whether or not you've ever been approached, it's important to understand the topic of intellectual property for speakers.Here to tell us about IP for speakers is Pamela Slim. Pamela is a successful coach, author, speaker and all-around amazing woman.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Pam explains when and how to license your material, how to protect your IP (intellectual property), as well as how to market it, price it, and leverage it to your greatest advantage.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What qualifies as intellectual property?How can licensing help you leverage your knowledge and tools to reach new markets?When do you know licensing is your best option?Do you need to be famous to license your material?What is essential to intellectual property and brand recognition?What are the best ways to market your licensed material and IP?Why do you need to track how many people use your materials?Why money shouldn't be your sole focus when licensing your IP.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESPamela Slim's web sitePamela's blog post on licensingPamela Slim on TwitterEscape From Cubicle Nation, by Pamela SlimBody of Work, by Pamela SlimQuiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan CainThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We're doing something different this week on The Speaker Lab: coming straight from our YouTube channel is our play by play breakdown of speeches and popular Ted Talks. We'll talk about what works, what doesn't work and some ideas on areas to improve.Today our speech breakdown is of 2018 Toastmasters Champion Ramona J. Smith.Personally, I have mixed feelings about Toastmasters which I will share on today's episode. So tune in to hear my thoughts on Toastmasters and our speech breakdown of Toastmasters champion Ramona Smith on episode 233 of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is one of the ways you get better as a speaker?How does Toastmasters help you improve?Can you ever be too polished as a speaker?What are the drawbacks to Toastmasters?How to use cadence in your speeches for the greatest effect.When does physicality work in your favor and when does it not?How can you create visual representations on stage?How to use strategic pauses to emphasize your points.And so much more... EPISODE RESOURCESThe Speaker Lab on YouTube2018 Toastmasters Champion Ramona J. Smith's videoGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are you overlooking some simple ways to book more gigs? You'll find out when you listen to today's show!Kris Reece is a professional faith-based speaker who also coaches and writes books for women about reaching their fullest God-given potential.On this episode we talk about some issues she is facing in her speaking business. Specifically, we help Kris find new gigs, leverage connections from previous gigs and evaluate whether it makes sense to pay to speak.Join us to hear insights on those topics and more on the 232nd edition of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are the reasons you should consider speaking for free?Why you send an invoice even if you speak for free.The two things you can do during a speaking gig to generate future gigs.What's the best way you can approach previous clients for referrals?How do you evaluate whether you should buy a sponsorship and pay to speak?What is one of the quickest ways to build a relationship?How do you find the key person who books speakers at big events?Why you should never stop marketing your speaking services.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESKris Reece's web siteKris Reece on TwitterThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Follow up is what separates part-time speakers from full-time professionals.But how do you follow through on your follow up in the most effective way? That's what we are talking about today on The Speaker Lab with Jim Kukral.Jim is an online marketer and serial entrepreneur who wants to grow the speaking aspect of his business. This episode is a one on one coaching call with Jim about what he's been doing for follow up and what he can start doing right now to improve that aspect of his business. You'll hear that topic and more on episode 231 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What does it mean to be "unskippable"?How do you get better as a speaker?Why speaking fees are more than just a check.How often should you follow up?When should you call people you've contacted about potential gigs?How to ensure you have accountability.What do you do when you have a hot lead?Why you need to always be knocking on doors for leads.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESJim Kukral's web siteBe Unskippable web siteJim Kukral on TwitterJim's TEDx TalkThe E-Myth, by Michael GerberEpisode 162 with Ty BennettGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ever feel like your topic should be heard by everyone? If you said yes today's show is perfect for you. Our guest is facing the same dilemma many speakers have faced: how to narrow your speaking audience.To address this common challenge on today's The Speaker we are joined by Rocco Cozza. Rocco is a successful businessman who wants to do more speaking and today we're going to help him accomplish that goal by narrowing his audience.Join us to hear exactly how to do this and so much more on this edition of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why is kindness the most important thing in business?Why a message for everyone is a message for no one.When you pick a lane does that choice have to be permanent?How to determine if there is a market for your topic.How you can trojan horse your topic into existing speaking needs.What should you do if you have doubts about your speaking fees?How do you determine if a free speaking gig is valuable to you?What is one of your best marketing tools?And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESRocco Cozza's web siteRocco Cozza on TwitterThe A.L.P.H.A. Way, by Rocco CozzaEpisode 158 with Phil JonesThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hugh is one of our rare 3-peat guests and he's back to tell us how to use blogging to book speaking gigs.On today's edition of The Speaker Lab, Hugh specifically explains why you should blog to grow your speaking business including how often you should blog, what you should blog about, how long your blog posts should be, and where you should promote your blog.In addition to being a keynote speaker and best-selling author, Hugh runs a business called BlogWorks. BlogWorks is a company devoted to helping speakers book more speaking gigs through the art of blogging.Hugh shares his wealth of knowledge and more so join us to hear it all on episode 229 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How often should you post to ensure you're relevant?Why more is not necessarily better.The three steps to take after you write every blog post.Should you write your blog for your audience or people who hire speakers?What are the two ways to know if your blog post resonates with your audience?What should you do if you have run out of topic ideas?Is there a standard format you can use for your blog posts?What four statistics should you focus on?And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESHugh Culver's web siteBlogWorks web siteHugh Culver on TwitterHugh Culver on episode 10 of TSLHugh Culver on episode 120 of TSLFree Speaker WorkshopThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you know how to network and get more keynote speeches as a result? Our guest is here to find out, and you'll hear too when you listen to today's episode of The Speaker Lab.Lea Pica is part of our elite coaching program and she is looking for ways to turn her existing speaking opportunities into additional paid keynote engagements. Lea is a data storytelling evangelist who teaches digital analysts and internet marketers how to look at the data from their programs, tie it to the success of their organizations or clients and then tell that story.During episode 228, Lea tells us how speaking fits into her current business model, what she is doing right now to garner more gigs and what type of follow has worked and hasn't worked for her. We dive into all of that and more on this edition of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What options is she considering to boost her keynote opportunities?Do you have to be outgoing and extroverted to be a good networker?Why direct conversations translate to the hottest leads.What are the two ways to promote yourself while you're speaking?Why do you want to be the one to follow up, not vice versa?Why it's easier to get more gigs the more you speak.Why should you do your keynote before your workshop when you're doing both at a conference?How to use video to follow up with stagnant leads.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESLea Pica's web siteLea Pica's speaking pageLea Pica on TwitterLoomBonjoroBombBombScreencastifyThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is getting paid to speak on creativity really a viable option? Is that a topic to build your business around? Here to explore those questions is one of our Elite coaching students, Beth Inglish.Beth is an artist who speaks to other artists and leaders in the community to help them rediscover their creativity. Of late, she's been speaking to leaders in corporate America about how to be more creative and how to lead with a creative mindset.On today’s The Speaker Lab, we talk about what changed for Beth that made her want to pursue speaking as a business, how to go from doing free gigs to paid gigs and how to know if you can make a living speaking to a particular audience. Join us for those topics and more on today’s edition of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are questions to ask if you are struggling to find your target audience?How do you know if your potential audience is viable?Why you need to keep your big picture goals in mind.Does everyone have creativity inside of them?How can you narrow down who you speak to?Why it's important to spread the word that you are a speaker.How can you find subgroups and other events/opportunities within the same company?Why having someone vouch for you can be a win-win for you and your client.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESBeth Inglish's web siteBeth Inglish on FacebookBeth Inglish on InstagramThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Everyone loves an underdog, right? If you're just starting out as a speaker you definitely fall in the underdog category. So why not take full advantage and create your own underdog Rocky story? Clint Pulver did and success has followed suit.Today he's going to tell us how he tapped into the power of his own Rocky story to make powerful relationships with speakers he admires and respects, and how he created his own board of directors as a result.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, he'll also tell us how he incorporates professional drumming experience into his speaking gigs. Join us for the details on all of these topics with my friend and yours Clint Pulver.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How did he get his first speaking gig while still in high school?When did he quit his full-time job in the medical field?The 3 things that make up a dream job: what are they?What one thing did he do that directly led to booking 7 gigs?What questions did he ask of his prospective audience?How much of a financial buffer did he have saved for himself?What one piece of content generated 85% of his bookings in his first year?What three business investments paid the biggest dividends?And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESClint Pulver's web site Clint Pulver's demo video Clint Pulver on Instagram National Speakers Association NSA's Influence 2019The Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on Spotify See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you track any of your speaking metrics? Our guest today, Erick Rheam, says there are 5 key metrics to growing your speaking business.Erick has been on the show before so you can revisit his story on episode 126 and episode 150. I brought him on to today's episode of The Speaker Lab to talk about the exponential growth he has had using certain key metrics. Specifically there are 5 key metrics he focuses on, and those metrics have taken his business from $15,000 to nearly $200k in under 4 years.Even if you're already successful in your speaking career you'll learn plenty from hearing about Erick's metrics and how he uses them to gauge the health of his business. Tune in for those insights and more with Erick Rheam on episode 225 of The Speaker Lab!THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are lagging indicators versus leading indicators?How has he determined his $5,000 speaking fee and when does he raise it?What are the 5 steps in his prospective gig pipeline?How soon should you contact a prospect who shows interest in hiring you?When does he stop everything and focus on generating leads?What does it mean to him if no one books him from an event where he's speaking?How many gigs does he aim to book from each of his speaking events?Why you've got to be serious about the numbers if you want to be serious about speakingAnd so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESErick Rheam's web siteErick Rheam on Episode 150 of TSLErick Rheam on Episode 126 of TSLErick Rheam on TwitterErick Rheam on LinkedInPipedriveGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Todd Henry is a successful speaker, consultant and best-selling author who is here to give us speaking tips from the accidental creative point of view.Todd has written four books, including The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Louder than Words and his latest work called Herding Tigers. Herding Tigers is about how leaders can create environments in which creative teams can thrive.On today's The Speaker Lab, we talk about his evolution, why you need to have a great speaker video and the importance of lovingly punching your audience in the gut! Hear what that means and more on episode 224 of The Speaker Lab with Todd Henry. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Is it always necessary to replace your full-time income before you leave to go out on your own?Who are your stakeholders and why must you all be in alignment?How many years did it take for him to make the leap to entrepreneurship?What is the goal of taking risks?How many times did he almost quit while he was building his business?How does he cope with the struggles and the low moments he experiences today?Why you shouldn't be afraid to stand up and have a point of view.Why a good speaker "lovingly punches you in the gut".And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESTodd Henry's web siteThe Accidental Creative web siteThe Accidental Creative podcastThe Daily Creative podcastThe Accidental Creative, by Todd HenryDie Empty, by Todd HenryLouder Than Words, by Todd HenryHerding Tigers, by Todd HenryTodd Henry on TwitterThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Does the idea of cold calling strike fear into your heart? It won't after today's edition of The Speaker Lab!Joe is an up and coming speaker who has quickly added a lot of gigs to his calendar by using the four rules of cold calling for speakers. On this episode, Joe tells us what those four rules are as well as how to remove the fear of cold calling and how to make it easy for your prospects to say yes to you.This is another terrific guest you won't want to miss so be sure to join us on episode 223 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How did he first uncover the power of cold calling?How can you get your foot in the door of an industry in which you are not known?Do you have to go in hot to a cold call?How do you know if you are a good fit for a potential opportunity?Why uncommon commonalities are important in your cold calling process.What's the best way to reach out: phone, email, or social media?How expecting nothing and appreciating everything will explode your business.The type of follow up you can do to show your gratitude for the people who help you.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESJoe Hirsch's web siteJoe Hirsch on LinkedIn Joe Hirsch on YouTube Joe Hirsch on TwitterThe Feedback Fix, by Joe HirschJoe's TEDx Talk Joe's Inc. ColumnDigital Summit The Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Mike Kim is one very smart man who knows marketing and branding, and he is here to share his 7 step process for creating your speaking brand. This is the same process he has used with his clients, including well-known thought leaders like John Maxwell, Donald Miller and Suzanne Evans.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, he walks us through those 7 steps and what they entail. We also talk about why positioning determines so much of everything else you do in your business, how to price yourself as a premium speaker while still being able to negotiate and take lower-priced gigs.Whether you are new to speaking or are a long-time veteran, this is a great episode chockfull of helpful recommendations and frameworks to help you. Without further adieu take a listen to Mike Kim and I on today's The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is the most unique selling proposition that any of us have?Who should your marketing materials be speaking to?Which platform is best for you?Why you should position yourself towards the high end of the market.How do you know what kind of product you are offering?What is the best way to pitch and sell yourself?What are the three sub-identities to every brand?Can you sell lower-tiered products while being positioned as a high-end brand?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMike Kim's web site Mike Kim on TwitterMike Kim on Instagram Mike Kim's free recap and resourcesThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some people do it all and our guest today is one of those people! Alli Worthington joins The Speaker Lab to tell us all how to write, speak and host conferences.Alli is a speaker, author, business coach and conference host who fell into speaking the same time she hosted her first event, an interesting story she shares with us today.We also talk about how having a book has impacted her speaking career, what you should do if you want to speak to female entrepreneurs, and how she chooses which speakers to hire when she is hosting her conference, Blissdom.You'll hear all of those topics and more - there is a LOT to learn from Alli Worthington on this episode of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why she hosted her first event before she had ever been to a conference!What did Scott Stratten say that shifted her mindset about being nervous?Does she consider herself an author or speaker first?When is it worth speaking for free?What is the perceived value in having someone else handle your calendar?Is there a connection between the quality of your writing and the quality of your speaking?What advice does she have for women about fees?When should you say no to an opportunity?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESAlli Worthington's web site Alli Worthington's books The Alli Worthington Show Blissdom ConferenceAlli Worthington on Twitter Find and Book Paid Speaking GigsThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on Spotify See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you are just starting out your main concern might about how to get started as a speaker. Our guest on this episode of The Speaker Lab is here to tell us how he did it.Today Jason Hewlett is a professional speaker and entertainer, but like many people he had no idea where to start. He had the dream and the desire, but he needed a plan.On today's episode we talk about how he got a plan in place and took action. We also discuss how he went from performance-based speaking with impressions and impersonations to more serious keynote speeches. You'll hear his tips and ideas on those topics and more on this edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why does he prefer the keynote closing session?How did following up after gigs help build his business from scratch?Why event planners are in the risk-mitigation business, and how you can help.How did he keep integrity with his fees?What advice does he give to people moving from one niche to another?Why speaking is a humbling business.Why he always takes a selfie with a client, and what he does from there.What's the value of having relationships with other speakers?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESJason Hewlett's web siteJason Hewlett on TwitterJason Hewlett on YouTube Jason’s training courseThe Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Justin is a unique guest who is unlike any other guest we've had before on this show: he's here to explain what magic can teach us about speaking.As a magician, Justin is an amazing entertainer who speaks and performs from stage. On episode 219, Justin tell us when he knew he wanted to pursue a career in magic, how he strategized which markets to focus on and what his business look like today.We dig into those topics and more so join us on today's edition of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How to deal with a topic that needs to be explained to your potential clients.How did he get on The Ellen DeGeneres Show?What would he do if he were starting over today?Why there is no silver bullet to content marketing.How did doing one event for free lead to a book deal with Wal-Mart and an international ad campaign for Coca-Cola?Does he customize his magic presentations for each client?Where does he get his ideas for new material?When does he know a bit is ready for stage and how does he test it?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESJustin Flom's web site Justin Flom on FacebookJustin Flom on YouTubeWorld's Best show on CBSGood One podcast The Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As we kick off the new year resolutions are in the air! Is writing a book one of yours? If writing a book is your way of running down a dream then there's no one better to help you on your path than our guest today, Tiim Grahl.Tim is a book marketing expert who has been in the industry for 10+ years. He has worked with everyone from Dan Pink to Barbara Corcoran of Shark Tank, and many other names you'd recognize.Today on episode 218 of The Speaker Lab, he tells us what it takes to make a book successful. He also talks with us about his latest book, Running Down A Dream, how you can overcome doubts, fear and insecurities about running down your own dream and how to find time to build your speaking business no matter how busy you are.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why shouldn't you focus on social media?Why just having a book out on the market can build your platform.How many years should you continue to promote your book?The one exercise to find the truth about how much time you actually have.Where did the idea for Running Down A Dream come from?Why don't most people run down their dreams?How to know when to course correct your path.What is the difference between coasting and settling?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESTim Grahl's web site Tim Grahl on TwitterRunning Down A Dream, by Tim GrahlTim's other booksStory Grid Podcast The Speaker Lab on YouTubeGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on Spotify See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is there something unique about you, perhaps something you haven't fully shared with the world? Our guest joins us to share how being different is awesome and how what makes him different has opened doors in his speaking career.Ryan Haack is a student in our Booked and Paid to Speak training program, and has had success speaking to elementary schools. Specifically, he talks to elementary school assemblies about a physical difference he has had since birth and why being different is positive.Also on today's show we talk about the pros and cons of speaking to elementary schools, including fees and other logistics, plus how he juggles speaking with a full-time job. Join us for those topics and more on episode 217 of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What two questions to ask yourself to determine your audience.How does he balance speaking to multiple audiences while not being too broad?What came first: his book or speaking?How do you know you're doing the right thing?What model works best for speaking to elementary schools?How does he adjust his speeches according to the age groups in his audience?Who is typically the decision-maker he goes through?What next steps does he recommend if you are getting started?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESRyan Haack's web site Ryan Haack on Twitter Different is Awesome, by Ryan HaackHow to Find and Book Paid Speaking Gigs Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What is a speaker showcase and how do you master the art of showcasing to colleges? Justin Laipply will explain on this episode of The Speaker Lab.Justin has been on the show before on episode 107. On that show, we dig into his background in the college/education space as well as his current market: the corporate world.But today on The Speaker Lab, we talk about what showcases are exactly, who is in the audience and how to leverage these appearances into paying gigs and long-term relationships. Join us for all the details on episode 216 of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is the #1 marketing tool of a speaker?What's the difference between a showcase audience versus any other audience?Who hosts showcases in the corporate space?What is block booking and how does it work?What speaking market has the singlest easiest barrier to entry?How can you get your foot in the door at APCA or NACA?What is a contract request?Is it better to start at a regional or go straight to a national?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESJudson Laipply's web siteJudson Laipply on TwitterThe Evolution of Dance videoNACA web siteAPCA web siteNODA web siteEpisode 107 with Judson LaipplyFind Paid Speaking Gigs Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

People who excel at speaking and any other profession have one thing in common: they invest in themselves. A great example of this is our guest for today's show, Kate Garnes. Kate is a member of our elite coaching program and her results reflect why investing in yourself matters so much.On this episode, we will talk about the moment she knew she wanted to be a motivational speaker, why she signed up for the elite coaching program, and how she went from zero gigs a year ago to having 13 upcoming paid keynotes across the country! Join us to hear Kate and I dig into those topics and more on episode 215 of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What was her first step after deciding to become a speaker?How did she hone in on her niche of teen leadership?Why your topic and your target market will always be changing.How can you avoid rookie mistakes?Why having a rock solid talk will book gigs.How much did she invest in her speaking career?What systems does she have and what is her process for following up?Why it's okay to doubt yourself, and what to do in those moments.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESKate Garnes' web site Kate Garnes on Instagram Kate Garnes on Facebook Harriet Turk’s web site HubSpot Find Paid Speaking Gigs Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever thought of YouTube as more than a place to host your videos? What if you could find out how to use YouTube to grow your speaking business? The man to tell us how is none other than my friend Thomas Frank. Thomas went through our Booked and Paid to Speak trainings a few years ago. I met him when he was in college; I spoke at his school. We stayed in touch and he's become extremely successful, especially with his YouTube channel. On today's show, we talk about his origins, how you can use YouTube to build your audience and find and book potential speaking gigs, and best practices for YouTube videos to generate more interest and views. Join us for Thomas' insights on those subjects and much more on this episode of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is his strategy when he goes to a conference?How does he use his platform to build relationships?What other income streams has he built aside from speaking?How Fizzle and Pat Flynn influenced his platforms and business growth.What is the second biggest search engine after Google?Is it best to position yourself as a topic expert or a speaker?What are the 3 factors to succeeding on YouTube?What can flags teach us about using YouTube effectively?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESCollege Info Geek web siteThomas Frank on Twitter Thomas Frank on YouTube College Info Geek on YouTube College Info Geek on TwitterFind Paid Speaking Gigs Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At a certain point, most of us think about how to ensure we are living a life of significance. One person who has definitely done this is our guest today, Pete Smith. Pete has devoted his career to this very topic and he's here to share with us how he's successfully done so as a keynote speaker.Today he has between 40 and 50 engagements a year, most of which are opening or closing keynotes on the topic of bringing significance into our lives. But how he choose that topic and how he's grown his speaking career from free local association gigs to international keynotes is a fascinating story.On this edition of the show, he'll tell us how he got his start, the funny story of what happened the first time he was asked what he charges to speak and how he picked his domain name since his name is so common. Tune in to hear that and more on episode 213 of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are the 3 biggest takeaways he wants his attendees to get from his talks?How did having a stroke impact his speaking career?Why is he the poster child for how NOT to go out on your own?How local associations helped him get his start.How many free events vs paid events did he do in his first year?What type of person is cut out for this business?What is working for him right now to find and book gigs?If you have a message to deliver what is the question to ask yourself?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESPete Smith's web site Pete Smith on Twitter Free resource to find and book paid speaking gigs Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the fundamental keys to succeeding as a speaker is providing an exceptional customer experience for your client. This includes all aspects of your client's event: before, during and even after.A man who knows this truth like the back of his own hand is Joey Coleman. You may remember Joey from epsiode 197 of the show, and you may remember we finished that show with a tease to bring him back. Well he's back and in full force for part II!Today Joey walks us through an 8 step process of what to do before, during and after an event to provide an exceptional customer experience. He also explains why this all matters so much and gives us his top pro tip on what to never, ever, ever do! Jump on in and join us for this in-depth look at providing an exceptional customer experience on episode 212 of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How can you keynote the same event year after year?When do clients have buyer's remorse and what can you do about it?Why you don't have to be an exceptional speaker to be successful.Why does he send letters of agreement and not contracts?What are questions he always asks during planning calls?What is the biggest fear most event planners have?You have a minimum of three audiences for all of your gigs: what are they?How to get your client to become your biggest advocate.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESJoey Coleman's web siteNever Lose a Customer Again, with Joey ColemanNever Lose a Customer Again on AudibleJoey Coleman on TwitterEpisode 197 with Joey ColemanGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can you change your audience once you’ve started speaking? You can, and here to share how to pivot in your speaking career is Kendra Dahlstrom.On today’s episode of The Speaker Lab, Kendra shares how and why she changed her speaking niche, how she gained traction early on in her speaking career, and what it was like to make the jump from alast full-time job to a full-time speaking career.Join us for all of that and so much more on today's 211th edition of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When did she know she wanted to work full-time as a speaker?Why did she resist nailing down her niche?How did she stay positive through multiple transitions?What did she do early on to get gigs?How did she know how much to charge initially?Why does creating time blocks help prioritize?How did she decide when to add coaching, consulting and courses?What advice does she have if you want to leave your full-time job?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESKendra Dahlstrom's web site Kendra Dahlstrom on Twitter Shaken: Discovering Your True Identity in the Midst of Life’s Storms, by A. J. Gregory and Tim TebowGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you need a speaking management company? What's the difference between a speaking management company and a speakers bureau?Here to answer those questions and more is Karen Harris of CMI Speaker Management, a management agency for speakers. Karen's agency is designed to represent the speaker's interests and take care of their needs, while also growing their business.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, we talk about the differences between speaker agents and bureaus before discussing what clients want to see from potential speakers and what distinguishes those speakers who make it from those who don't succeed. Join us for that and more on episode 210 of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What does Karen look for in potential clients for her agency?Are videos better shown in small chunks or one longer clip?What can we learn about marketing from the latest Mission Impossible movie?Why should you have multiple YouTube channels and what should each of them be?What are the top two topics event planners are booking for right now?What works well to book gigs when you are a new or emerging speaker?Do you always have to do "exposure opportunities"?Why you must take a video down if it's more than a year old.And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESCMI Speaker Management web site CMI Speaker Management on Twitter Database of speaking opportunitiesGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever considered how to develop your voice through speaking and writing? Whether you are a speaker who wants to write or a writer who has a book to promote writing and speaking go hand in hand. Here to tell us more about this is Ann Handley.Ann is the Chief Content Officer of MarketingProfs, she's also a best-selling author and a speaker. Today on The Speaker Lab she and Melanie are talking about writing and speaking are intertwined, how to find and refine your unique voice and the importance of showing up authentically on stage and in your content.Episode 209 is also a different kind of episode: Melanie Diezel is back as our interviewer. We've done this once before and you all loved it so much we decided to do it again. Let us know if you want another Melanie-run interview and a repeat visit from Ann after you listen to this latest edition of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is the essence of public speaking?What is the dirty truth of being an author?Can we develop a strong sense of our own voice, even if we aren't writers?What makes the best writing?Is writing something only a few special people have been gifted with?How does content play into building your speaking business?What gave her the feedback to know she needed to write her second book?What is a baby step you can take right now to experiment with writing?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESAnn Handley’s web site Ann's newsletter MarketingProfs web site Everybody Writes by Ann HandleyContent Rules by Ann Handley and C.C. ChapmanAnn Handley on TwitterAaron Draplin on Instagram Content Marketing World Episode 195 of The Speaker LabGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some of the advice you'll hear most on this show is about how to narrow your audience. Yes your topic may appeal to a wide range of audiences, but how are you going to find the people perfect for you? By staying focused and going narrow.Someone who epitomizes this is Rick Clemons, our guest for this episode. Rick has gone through The Speaker Lab elite coaching program and has made fantastic strides in the process!Today we are talking about how he's worked to narrow down who his audience is (even though his topic could appeal to many different groups), why systems and structure have helped him to book more gigs and simple strategies to increase engagement when contacting potential clients. Join us for that and more on episode 208 of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When did he realize he's a storyteller who happens to speak?How did he pivot so he could narrow his focus?How to adapt your language to connect with potential clients.What is a common mistake most speakers make?How and why to get clear on the results you want.Why he focuses on the six to eight states nearest him.What is his email follow up system?How does he utilize video to personally connect with potential clients?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESRick Clemons' web siteRick Clemons on TwitterThe Life Uncloseted podcastLoom video and screen recording softwareGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you think if you get listed with a speakers bureau the gigs will just come pouring in? It's not quite that simple.Marcus Sheridan joins us to share why speakers bureaus alone won't make you successful (and what will) on episode 207 of The Speaker Lab.Marcus is a successful speaker who has built his business in an unconventional way. Today we break down and bust through myths he held, how his perception of speaking bureaus has evolved and changed, how he thinks about speaking fees and quantifying the value you offer.And we finish with Marcus giving an answer he is certain I disagree with! Tune in to hear what that answer is and if I actually do disagree on this episode of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Is a bureau pivotal to booking higher quality gigs?Why bureaus should supplement your business, but not be the sole source.Was it hard for him to ask for money for his own services?Why success takes more than just getting on stage and speaking.At what point did he start bringing in a team to help him?Why does he think speakers have difficulty asking for higher fees?Why people aren't paying you for your time, and what they are paying for instead.How to take full advantage of the seeds of trust you have already developed.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMarcus Sheridan's websiteEmail MarcusThey Ask You Answer, Marcus' latest bookMarcus Sheridan on TwitterGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on Spotify See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do you know what SEO stands for or how SEO can grow your speaking business? You're in luck because today's guest will answer those questions, and more. Brian Dean of Backlinko joins us for episode 206 of The Speaker Lab.Brian's company is Backlinko, an SEO training company that teaches people how to rank in Google and YouTube. Most people know Backlinko as a blog, it gets 3 million visitors every year and is one of the top SEO blogs in the world.If you're wondering what SEO is the term stands for search engine optimization, which means getting your site to rank higher on Google. The purpose of SEO is driving more traffic to your site from search engines, like Google and YouTube.On this episode, we'll talk about why SEO (including blogging and YouTube) should be a part of your marketing strategy. Brian will also share techniques you can use, including where to begin, and much more on today's edition of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What does EAT stand for and why does it matter in your Google rankings?What is the barbell strategy?How do you know which keywords you should use?How many keywords should you be targeting to be most effective?What are the two ways Google reviews your site to rank it?Why has he put so much effort into YouTube?What is the 2nd biggest search engine in the world?How long should your videos be on YouTube?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESBacklinko web siteBacklinko blogBacklinko on TwitterSeed Keywords EngineDatabase of speaking events Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know it takes time, effort and energy to build and grow your speaking career; succeeding as a speaker means you also must know how to compete every day. Someone who embodies this is Jake Thompson. Jake's brand, Compete Every Day, is an apparel lifestyle brand based on the idea that life is worth competing for.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, Jake will go into more detail on the evolution of his brand as well as how he's uncovered who his audience is, how he battles discouragement in this business, and how he hustles to expand his business without getting overwhelmed or spreading himself too thin.We also get into some coaching before wrapping up with Jake's advice for hanging in there through the ups and downs of your journey. Join us for all of that on today's edition of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When did he feel called to the stage, and why?What is the goal behind his brand?How has he gotten traction over the last six months?What role has content played in helping people to find him?Why it's easier to pivot from the wrong niche than it is to speak to a broad target market.What can we learn from Kobe Bryant's basic drill exercises?How is batching a variety content helping him grow his business?Why you can do it all, just not at once.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESCompete Every Day web siteJake Thompson's web site Compete Every Day on Twitter Database of speaking events Get Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on Spotify See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Can publishing a book help your speaking career? It can and here to explain how to get a book deal is my friend Chad Allen. Chad has 20 years of publishing experience under his belt, including being the head of the Baker Books division of The Baker Publishing Group.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, we're going to talk about how to create your book proposal, why and how to follow authors in your space, how to contact potential publishers, and much more.Chad has been extremely instrumental behind the scenes of my own book deal and publishing process so I wanted to share his advice with you. Join us on to hear what we've been up to along with his advice for you on how to get a book deal on episode 204 of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why you need a business plan for your book.What are the six major elements of a book proposal?Do you always need a book agent?How do publishers decide which books to publish?What are the key metrics a publisher uses when evaluating your platform?What is the #1 reason publishers turn down a proposal?How many email subscribers do you need at a minimum?What are the three forms of credibility and how does a book give you all of them?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESChad Allen's web siteChad Allen on Twitter5 Insider Secrets to Landing a Book Deal webinarEpisode 199 of The Speaker LabFree Speaker WorkshopGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

One of the most common topics people ask me about is how to create a demo video. To dive into this topic our co-host, Ms. Melanie Diezel, is returning for episode 203.This is an important part of building your speaking business and your brand so we're dedicating an entire show to it.Today, Melanie and I will walk you through the best practices to keep in mind for your demo video, how to actually create your demo video with or without footage, and our best technical tips and software suggestions even if you aren't technically-oriented.There's a lot to get to so tune in to hear it all on episode 203 of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why your audience is key when you are creating your demo video.How and why to use B roll and voiceover in moderation.How can you layer in photos to show diverse experience?What is one of the easiest ways to punch up your demo video?What do you do if you need footage?What are some ways to hold people's attention throughout your video?Can you shoot your entire video using just an iPhone?Why your title and description of your video are also important.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMelanie Deziel's websiteEnvato Market web sitePond 5 web siteEpisode 56 of The Speaker LabFree Speaker WorkshopGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Are you a part-time speaker, or are you someone who speaks on occasion? Or maybe you're doing a lot of speaking on the side while still working your full-time job, and you're wondering how to transition into full-time speaking. If any of those scenarios sound like you then you're in luck!Today's episode is completely dedicated to this very topic - how to transition into speaking full-time. Melanie and I will share our own stories of how we went from part-time speakers to having full-time speaking careers.We'll also tell you when it makes the most sense to make the transition, how to juggle everything before, during and after the transition and how best to prepare yourself so you can make the transition as smooth as possible. Join us for those topics and more on episode 202 of The Speaker Lab.THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why are so many people intimidated by making the leap from their jobs to speaking?How long does it take most speakers to build their business into full-time speaking gigs?Why there is never the perfect time to do anything.What are the two types of regret?How can you promote yourself without ruffling the feathers of your full-time job?What are other streams of revenue you can use while you build your speaking skills?How to determine a realistic budget and a financial safety net.Will there be some seasons that are busier than others even when you're an established speaker?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMelanie Deziel's websiteMelanie Deziel on TwitterMelanie Deziel on InstagramMelanie Deziel on LinkedInEpisode 33: How to Pay Taxes on Your Speaking FeesEpisode 51: What It's Really Like to Start a Speaking CareerEpisode 113: How to Become a Full-Time SpeakerEpisode 150: How to Work Full-Time and Build Momentum as a SpeakerFind and contact potential gigsGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is my favorite guest we've ever had and ever will have: my wife! We are talking with Sheila Baldwin, my other half.Sheila was previously here with us on episode 60, and we're bringing her back for part two today. We'll talk about how to be married to a speaker: what Sheila's role has been in my business, what it's really like for her when I travel, how we divide up chores and what we like to do for fun.You'll hear Sheila give her thoughts on those topics and more today. Please enjoy this conversation with me and my wife on this episode of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOWWhat was it like to make the transition from full-time work into self-employment as a speaker?Will there ever be the perfect time?How did we stay connected while I traveled for speaking gigs?How can you stay fully present when you are at home?When Sheila has been kept separate from my business, and why.What challenges has she witnessed as the business has evolved over the years?Did she ever want me to give up speaking?Why does she have me do my own laundry?And much more!EPISODE RESOURCESEpisode 60 of The Speaker LabGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to The Speaker Lab for a very special milestone: episode 200! Whether it's your first time here or you've been with us for all 200 shows, thank you for listening.On today's episode we are doing something different - we've reached out to our speaker friends and other people in the speaking industry and asked them to share their best speaking tip. It could be related to connecting to the audience, building your business or the craft itself.About 20 some speakers chimed in with their #1 tip and you're going to hear it when you listen in to episode 200 of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why should you throw away half of your best presentation?What is a contextual model and why should you have one?Why you should stop seeing others as competition and start learning from them instead.Three ways to take full advantage of the ecosystem around your speaking engagement.How do you get your audience to share your talk?What three things do you need to have a sustained, successful speaking career?Why you want to niche down as far as possible.What is the one question you can ask to create more sales?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESDr. Susan Ettinger's web siteRick Clemons' web siteConvince and Convert web siteThe Pivot Method toolkitUnmarketing web sitePamela Slim's web siteFront Row Factor web siteShawn Hanks of Premiere Speakers BureauTamsen Webster's web siteChris Ducker's web siteMitch Joel's web siteGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

By now you know publishing is a great way to solidify your reputation in your niche. But did you know you can also grow your speaking revenue through publishing? You can and our friend Jeff Goins is here to share exactly how.Today is a different type of episode, it's actually an interview taken from our upcoming course Beyond The Stage. Our conversation focuses on all things publishing: self-publishing, traditional publishing or a hybrid of the two we are covering it.There's a lot of great stuff on this show so please join me and Jeff Goins for a preview of Beyond The Stage right here on episode 199 of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why getting a traditional book deal isn't necessarily going to make your career.Did Mark Twain self-publish his books?How are book advances determined?When does it make sense to get a traditional book deal, and when not?How do you know if your platform qualifies as a "big" platform?What is hybrid publishing and how does it work?When does a hybrid deal make sense and when does self-publishing make sense?What are your "subrights" and why should you keep your audio rights?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESJeff Goins' web siteJeff Goins on TwitterTribe Writers courseYou Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One), by Jeff GoinsWrecked: When a Broken World Slams Into Your Comfortable Life, by Jeff GoinsThe Art of Work, by Jeff GoinsReal Artists Don’t Starve, by Jeff GoinsThe Coaching Habit, by Michael Bungay StanierCreateSpaceGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

You know a speaker only makes money when they speak - unless they build their business beyond the stage. And today we are exploring one of the ways to do just that with the one and only Mr. Pat Flynn.Pat is an entrepreneur and renowned public speaker who runs a site called Smart Passive Income. Even though he and I could geek out on speaking all day long we have a different focus for this show: affiliate marketing.Pat has built a significant business going this route so I brought him on to share what he's learned along the way. If you're interested in building your speaking business beyond the stage you'll want to check out this episode along with our free live training here. Be sure to join us for the training and for episode 198 of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Are there any types of products or services that lend themselves better to affiliate marketing?The one question to ask yourself to determine which affiliate products to offer to your audience.Why do you have an advantage in affiliate sales in your role as a public speaker?What is the purpose of demo videos and how do you use them?Can you ever get a higher commission rate?What can you do if a product you like doesn't have an affiliate program?Why would a company ever offer 100% commission rates?What rules should you be aware of when offering affiliate sales?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESSmart Passive Income web sitePat Flynn’s affiliate marketing coursePat Flynn on TwitterGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wouldn't it be great if you knew how to never lose a customer again? Absolutely! To give us insights is the man who literally wrote the book on this subject: Joey Coleman.Joey is a full-time speaker who talks to companies about what they can do to keep their customers, especially in the first 100 days of a new customer's journey and how to keep that customer coming back for more.We dive into those topics as well as his one tip for providing an exceptional experience for your speaking clients. Hear what that tip is and much more on episode 197 of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What percentage of customers stop doing business with a company before their 100 day anniversary?How did he double his speaking fee with one gig?How did he rack up over 4,000 hours of speaking before he gave he became a full-time speaker?While speaking why does he give examples of both big clients and small clients?Do you need to tell your audience you are a professional speaker?Did he actually close his agency in under a week to become a speaker?Why you should prep one hour for every minute you are speaking.How much of a keynote should be customized so your audience feels your speech has been written for them?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESJoey Coleman's web siteNever Lose a Customer Again, with Joey ColemanJoey Coleman on TwitterGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Have you ever listened to a speaker and felt like they knew you and your fellow audience members personally? That feeling makes all the difference as a listener, but it also makes a difference for the speaker.Here to tell us how customizing improves you as a speaker is our Chris Hogan, our guest on today's episode of The Speaker Lab.Chris is part of Ramsey's Solutions, Dave Ramsey's company and has been for the last 13 years. Over time, Chris has evolved from coaching pro athletes, entertainers and musicians to traveling the globe giving customized speeches to Fortune 100 companies.On this episode of The Speaker Lab we also talk about how he balances his family with giving close to 100 talks a year, plus what it means to be a good leader. Join us for all of that and more with Chris Hogan on episode 196 of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Why was his first gig a "hot mess" and what can it teach you about being a better speaker?What does his process look like today when giving a new talk?What allows him to grow his craft?How does he track potential stories and anecdotes to include in his talks?Why are first person stories so powerful?What is the magic that connects you with an audience?What advice does he have if you are just starting out?Why we can never be 100% balanced.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESChris Hogan's web siteThe Chris Hogan ShowChris’ speaking eventsRetire Inspired, by Chris HoganChris Hogan on TwitterGet Free Speaker ResourcesBook a Call with The Speaker LabCalculate Your Speaking FeeJoin The Speaker Lab Community on FacebookSubscribe on Apple PodcastsSubscribe on SpotifySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.