The Speaker Lab Podcast

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.

Why is being your authentic self on social media important to your speaking career? The answers are on this episode, and it's an extra special one. We're doing something today we have never done before: Melanie Deziel is your host, not me.Joining her is Michael Barber, a marketing expert and talented speaker who is sharing how speakers can show up as their authentic selves on social media and on stage, plus the 3 different types of content speakers should share online to market themselves and how your day job can compliment your speaking and vice versa.This is a phenomenal and fun interview covering those topics and much more so be sure to listen in to episode 195 of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are you amplifying when you take the stage?What are two ways you can be more you on social media?Why you've got to be okay with sharing the real you.What are the three categories for what to share and what not to share on social media?Why is email still the #1 social media channel?Which is better: short or long-form content?Who should you focus on: your engaged subscribers or unengaged?Why your metrics are yours, and you should forget about anyone else's benchmarks.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMichael Barber's web siteMichael Barber on TwitterMichael Barber on InstagramPrinciples by Ray DalioGet 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.

Knowing how to get attention in today's increasingly digital world is no small feat, and our guest is here to fill us in. If you've listened to the show for awhile you may remember her from episode 124 - Ms. Neen James.She's a rare repeat guest and we make great use of her visit on today's The Speaker Lab. We talk about attention: getting and keeping attention from potential clients and even other speakers, and how to pay attention.We're also talking about the grind of speaking and how to stay positive and not give up. Neen is a long-time speaker who knows the ups and downs of building and maintaining a speaking career, together we talk candidly about our own experiences of the highs and the lows. There's much to learn from Neen so settle in and join us on this episode of The Speaker Lab.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How to go analogue in a digital world.What's the absolute best marketing tool?How peanut butter and jelly landed her a client.What is her approach for using a CRM effectively?How to use simple video to create custom communication.What is her process to follow up without being annoying?Why attention is really about authentic connection.Which should you approach first: associations or contacts in your specific industry?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESNeen James' web siteNeen James on TwitterNeen James on FacebookAttention Pays, by Neen JamesDigital Persuasion, by Erin GarganNever Lose a Customer Again, by Joey Coleman5 Ways to Create Advocates blog postVidyard VideoHubSpot Free CRMBoomerang for GmailGet 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 hate the idea of networking or do you see it as an opportunity to give to others? For some networking has a negative connotation, but our guest is here to set the record straight and tell you how to improve your life through networking.David Burkus is a successful author who considers himself a writer first, and a speaker second. He's written several best-sellers including his latest book called Friend of a Friend., which is specifically about how to enjoy networking.On today's edition of The Speaker Lab, we'll specifically talk about what most of us do wrong when networking, and what we should instead. David will tell us how to actually connect with other speakers, and do it in a way that fosters real connection, and he'll explain how to find out who you already know to help you find gigs. Buckle up and get ready to enjoy this episode of The Speaker Lab with David Burkus.  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What are the biggest mistakes most people make when networking at an event?Why it helps to partner up when you're networking.What two questions should you ask when meeting others?What is the majority illusion and how does it work?How many introductions away from most of the people you want to meet?What is multiplexity?How can you develop a deeper relationship faster with someone you've just met?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESDavid Burkus' web siteDavid Burkus on TwitterFriend of a Friend, by David BurkusFind 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.

Preparing for your speech is an important aspect of giving a great talk and here to give us her trade secrets is Melanie Deziel.If you've been here before you know Melanie is a frequent co-host of the show and she joins us again on The Speaker Lab to give you a breakdown of her personal speaking preparations.We give you a behind-the-scenes look at how we each rehearse and get ready for the stage. We specifically talk about music we listen to, food we eat or don't eat, how much we hydrate, and what else we do in the hours leading up to the talk. Get your head right and body right before you take the stage, hear how on this edition of The Speaker Lab!  THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How far ahead of time should you have your content down pat?How to use voice recording to help you in preparing for your speech.Why not to touch your content the hour before you go on stage.What is the best way to prepare your voice for your speech?Should you work out the day you are speaking?What to do backstage before giving your talk.What else should you schedule for your gig day?How to find out if there's a courtesy clock or countdown clock before you go on stage.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMelanie Deziel's websiteMelanie Deziel on TwitterMelanie Deziel on InstagramMelanie Deziel on LinkedInEpisode 166 with Shawn StevensonFind 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.

On episode 191 of The Speaker Lab, we're talking about the technical aspects of slides when you're speaking: the pros and the cons, and how to deal with the cons.As a recap from last week's episode, our co-host Melanie Deziel is here with us for part two of our talk on slides. She's a fan of slides, and uses them with almost all of her presentations. As she says, she's all about the slides!It's not that I'm not a fan of slides it's just that they can really make or break a presentation. There's a lot that can go wrong when you're using slides, and today we'll help you avoid those mistakes.Join us to hear how to do so and how to address all the technical aspects of using slides properly on today's episode of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Powerpoint or Keynote: is one better than the other?What's the best size to use for your slides?What types of file will most clients want your slides to be created in?How to make friends with the A/V people.When can you include Internet-dependent audio or video?How to spell out what your slides can and cannot be used for in your contract.What extra equipment should you carry just in case?What questions should you be asking your client about slides before creating your talk?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMelanie Deziel's websiteMelanie Deziel on TwitterMelanie Deziel on InstagramMelanie Deziel on LinkedInEpisode 89 of The Speaker LabEpisode 173 of The Speaker LabFind 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.

Should you use slides as a speaker? Some say yes, some say no and some say it depends! To weigh on whether or not you should use slides during your speech we're bringing back our lovely and talented co-host Ms. Melanie Deziel for this edition of The Speaker Lab.We'll be debating about the pros and cons of using slides as well as customizing slides, and using text, video and images in your slides. Melanie uses slides in almost all of her speeches, and I rarely use them so you'll hear both sides!On next week's episode, the second half of this interview, we'll get into the technical side of slides from dimensions to formats to using your own equipment or not. Be sure to visit us again to hear the details, and tune in to episode 190 of The Speaker Lab this week. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How to be sure your slides are enhancing your speech.Can you provide two different versions of your slides? If so, how?Are there certain fonts and font sizes you should use?Why you should sit at the back of the room before your speech.What's the proper way to use images in your slides?How can you use slides to add humor to your speech?What's the best way to customize your slides for your audience?What contact info should you put on your slides and where should it go?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMelanie Deziel's websiteMelanie Deziel on TwitterMelanie Deziel on InstagramMelanie Deziel on LinkedInFind 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.

Our guest is an expert at many things, especially how to put yourself out there! Nicole Walters is our entertaining, energetic and sassy guest on this episode of The Speaker Lab.Nicole is an income strategist, and globe-trotting speaker. In her business, she helps everyday entrepreneurs apply corporate income strategies to get more profitability, more popularity all the while creating a life they love.On today's show we talk about her practical tips on how she pitches for gigs, her follow up formula after her initial pitch and how she balances speaking, travel and a family. She also breaks down her different revenue streams for us, why she has a specific season for speaking and her love of making jam! Join us for those insights plus a lot of fun on the 189th episode of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  How does speaking feed her other businesses?By what metric does she measure how well she spoke at an event?Why does she do meet and greets rather than sell from the stage?Why does she arrive the day before an event?What sets her apart in the marketplace from other speakers, and can you do the same?What percentage of her business time does she spend pitching herself?How many months of pitching did it take for her to speak at a Dave Ramsey conference?What are the two things between you and the biggest stage you are looking for?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESNicole Walters' web site$1K in 1 Day AcademyGet Fierce Clarity courseNicole Walters on FacebookNicole Walters on TwittterFind Speaking EngagementsGet 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 do you need to know about insurance? Do you even need to know about insurance? Yes! I get questions about this all the time so I'm bringing you the man with the answer: Matt Ham. Matt is our guest today on The Speaker Lab.For the last 10 years Matt has focused on helping families properly insure their homes, their businesses and their lives. But not long ago he also felt a calling to step into something new, and he wrote a book called Redefine Rich. From there he began speaking which has morphed into his organization called YouPrint which is a faith development organization.Today we talk in great detail about what you need to know about insurance, both personally and professionally. Wherever you are in your evolution as a speaker this is a topic that matters so join us on episode 188 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Do you need life insurance if your employer already provides a policy for you?What questions do you need to ask to choose the insurance that's right for you?How to determine how much should your life insurance policy should be worth.What other types of insurance do you need for your speaking business?What is an own occupation disability policy and why do you need one?What is the difference between short-term and long-term disability, and which do you need?How important is disability insurance for speakers?What is E&O insurance and is it different than liability insurance?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMatt Ham's personal web siteRedefine Rich: A New Perspective on The Good Life, by Matt HamYouPrint organizationMatt Ham on Facebook Matt Ham on TwitterLiberty MedishareMediShare Christian Healthcare MinistriesGet 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.

There's something the most successful speakers do that you might not know: they know how to create systems for success. Without systems, businesses either never really get going or they fall apart. The same is true for speakers and their businesses. Join Melanie Deziel and I as we talk about that very topic on today's episode of The Speaker Lab.Melanie is back with us again for the third week in a row and we're going to help you figure out the ins and outs of systems for your expenses, your outreach, your travel, your calendar, your taxes, etc. These are all things you need to track and systemize, and to pay attention to this in advance! If you really want to have longevity in your industry you need to know how to create systems for success. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is the most important aspect of having a system?What are the different ways to handle outreach, and which are best?What is a CRM and why do you want one?Is it okay to use a simple spreadsheet as your system?What app can turn a picture on your phone into a PDF?Why how much you take matters more than how much you make.What's the best way to save for your taxes?Why discipline is critical when you are self-employed.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMelanie Deziel's websiteEpisode 6 of The Speaker LabEpisode 21 of The Speaker LabEpisode 33 of The Speaker LabEpisode 72 of The Speaker LabEpisode 119 of The Speaker LabEpisode 171 of The Speaker LabGrant on Mike Michalowicz's podcast HubSpot CRMHighriseFollowup.ccBoomerang Todoist Tiny Scanner app Hello Sign Docusign Freshbooks XeroProfit First, by Mike MichalowiczTripitAwardWalletMixmax AcuityScheduleOnceMelanie Deziel on TwitterMelanie Deziel on InstagramMelanie Deziel on LinkedInFind 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.

Want to know how to pull off the riskiest move as a speaker? Then you'll want to know how to interact with your speaking audience! And here to help us break this topic down is our returning co-host Melanie Deziel.Today on The Speaker Lab, we are talking about audience interaction: how to engage and interact with your audience, the pros and the cons plus the different ways to go about connecting and when to use which approach.We'll also cover how to manage your audience interactions so you don't lose control of the room. It's important to connect with your audience, but it can go sideways quickly so join us to hear how to handle it on episode 186 of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  When does it make sense to engage with your audience, and when does it not?What are the downsides of doing this?What are pattern interrupts, and why do you want to use them?Where should you try out your interactions first?How to "feel the room" and adjust accordingly.Do you have to call on someone if they raise their hand while you're speaking?What should you do if someone "goes off the rails"?Your interaction with your audience should be in proportion to what?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMelanie Deziel's websiteEpisode 91 of The Speaker LabMelanie Deziel on TwitterMelanie Deziel on InstagramMelanie Deziel on LinkedInFind 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.

Part of living the speaker life is travel, so today you'll find out how to be a true road warrior! Joining us to give her expert insights and wisdom is our co-host, Melanie Diezel. If you've been listening to The Speaker Lab for awhile you'll remember Melanie from some recent episodes: she is an outstanding speaker, coach and consultant on her own - and she also does a phenomenal job of coaching our Speaker Lab students.And we had such terrific feedback from her recent appearances we decided to bring her back to the show. She's joining us for the next 3 episodes and we'll be talking about a few different topics.Today we're covering how to be a road warrior, booking travel, packing essentials, travel perks and rewards. It's all things travel today as a speaker and road warrior! Join us for that and more on today's The Speaker Lab.   THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Should you book your hotel or ask the client to do it for you?How far out should you book your travel?What is a tech tackle box?Why you should travel in clothes you could speak in.What is a travel one sheet and should you have your own?Why and how to choose one particular airline and its rewards program.Should you pay for TSA Pre-check and how can you get reimbursed for it?And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESMelanie Deziel's websiteEpisode 73 of The Speaker LabEpisode 74 of The Speaker LabAwardWallet appEpisode 83 of The Speaker LabTripItFlightAwareGateGuruMelanie Deziel on TwitterMelanie Deziel on InstagramMelanie Deziel on LinkedInFind 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.

Do you know how to provide value offstage for more success? It's true - what you provide offstage can do just as much (if not more) to help grow your onstage business. Our guest today is proof positive and he's here to tell us all about it!If you recognize his name from a previous episode of the show you would be right - Brian Fanzo was here for episode 116. And he's back for today's edition of The Speaker Lab to share the simple ways he promotes his events to his audiences and how he connects with event planners before he speaks.Also on today's show he breaks down strategic tactics that help him stand out among the competition, especially his offstage tactics. Join us to hear all of that and more on today's episode of The Speaker Lab! THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  What is a fly-in, fly-out speaker and do you want to be one?Why does he promise six hours of his time on every contract?Can you offer this type of speaking package if you are an introvert?How do you "prime the pump" before you speak?Why audience members often care more about off-stage connections than onstage performance.Who are the three groups of people he focuses on when he does an event?How does he use video to promote the events he is speaking at?Why you should think of yourself as being in partnership with the events that hire you.And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCESBrian Fanzo's web siteBrian Fanzo's Fomo podcast7 Ways I Increase My Speaker Value for Event Organizers, Brian's blog postBrian Fanzo on TwitterBrian Fanzo on YouTube7 Proven Steps to Finding And Booking Paid Speaking EngagementsEpisode 116 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.

When you think of speakers do you normally think of extroverted people? Does that have you wondering if you can be an introvert and a great speaker?That's a question I answer today with Jonathan Fields. Jonathan is a best-selling author, entrepreneur and international speaker who is known for his brand, Good Life Project.On this episode of The Speaker Lab, we take an introspective look at being speaker. Jonathan shares how he handles being an introvert during his speaking engagements, and how to be comfortable in your own skin while you're on stage. Join us to hear all about it and more on the 183rd edition of The Speaker Lab. THE FINER DETAILS OF THIS SHOW:  Is being an introvert an advantage as a speaker?What are the two ways he helps maintain his energy levels during longer speaking engagements?How does being on stage pull out a different aspect of his personality?How do you learn to be comfortable with silence when you're speaking?Why he's pushed himself to tell more personal stories on stage.Does it always lot of time and work before you know if you are great speaker?How do you share enough to create a connection but not so much to create discomfort in your audience?And so much more! EPISODE RESOURCESJonathan Fields' personal web siteGood Life Project web siteGood Life Project podcastJonathan Fields' booksCamp GLPJonathan Fields on TwitterFind 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.