I want to be a speaker: where do I start?

I work for many years in a given segment that is hospitality. And it’s time to share with people everything I’ve learned in my profession and career.

One of these learnings is about the speaker career. It is possible that you also have this dream, but you do not always know where to start and especially how much to charge for the lectures. Has that ever crossed your head?

How much are you worth?

First, ask yourself: how much my life is dedicated to studies, preparation, readings, travel, the courses and training i attended, etc.

Anyway, all the investment I applied during a lifetime to prepare for my career and now transmit my knowledge to other lectures worth how much?

How much do I like? How much is my lecture? How much should I charge for this investment? Begin this reflection of a lifetime of dedication and effort that will be diluted in your lectures.

Be prepared: your knowledge will be put to the test

There are numerous professionals who study very seriously and become experts in their area of activity and, after long years of preparation and dedication, begin to be invited to transmit their knowledge through lectures to some companies.

When this happens, do you know how to tell immediately how much the investment costs for the company for you to go to them and deliver their best?

In addition, you will have to be prepared, as it will be put to the test, you will have to know how to express yourself clearly, transparently and with great property, know how to debate controversial topics, get out of them elegantly and, above all, know how to share your whole story professional and personal.

I remember it’s the 21st century and we live in the age of technology. So there are a lot of good people scattered around that you can keep up with through the internet, see how they behave and learn.

My experience

I have been invited to hold lectures in various situations, whether in technical schools, colleges, universities or even companies and corporate events. And whenever I’m invited, I wonder how much I should charge for my lecture.

Sometimes we have to be very careful not to pass an image of arrogance or arrogance, because we do not know how the other is willing to make this investment.

Common sense

We live in an era where everything has to be thought of with the eye on the box. Therefore, saving is the watchword. If the speaker charges the amount that exceeds the bugdet intended for this purpose, it is possible that you miss an opportunity. Have common sense, study each case and be open to negotiations according to each company’s cash.

But how much do I charge? If you, speaker, know any formula, how about contributing to this market?

I, for example, am part of a database of a platform that provides speakers to companies that need a professional to hold lectures, and there the values are quite variable.

However, if we look at this market, it follows the same line of thought. Maybe, depending on the situation, would I initially charge 500 reais? Or 5,000.00 reais up to 40,000 reais? What do you think?

What to take into account in drawing up the budget

It is noteworthy that each speaker has its characteristic and has distinct and specific needs. In such cases, what should we take into account? Here are some tips from the Bernal:

• Event size
• Audience – how many people will be attending the event, your lecture ?
• Is this event, convention or festivity closed or open to the public?
• Will a fee be charged at the time of registration or is an event closed only in the company?
• Audience profile: are students, college students, executives or entrepreneurs?
• Does this company recognize and value your life and professional history?
• Is the company or institution really willing to pay you to convey your knowledge?
• Does this company really want to value this investment for its employees?

What I can contribute a little to you is that alone everything gets harder. If you really want to enter this market, unfortunately it’s hard to talk, but alone you won’t be able to always hit it.

• You need support
• You need responsible people to help you
• You need visibility, marketing: who advertises your work? Only you? As? It is little and does not have the qualified look of the professional.
• You need to organize yourself financially, part bureaucratic,
• You need planning to facilitate your travels, logistical issues obviously
• Otherwise, something will go wrong. Believe me, unforeseen events happen 24 hours a day and anytime.

All this costs how much in your vision: How to include these situations in your price?

Don’t just think of yourself, but think about everything, especially your team. Always consider that. And we can’t help but include all possible expenses like transportation, food, hotels, because your talk will get professionals to open their heads to seek profitability, better delivery and efficiency, right? Do you believe you can help this company? are your lecture worth what you will be charging.

Thinking this way, it’s already possible to stipulate the price, right? Everything is negotiable, after all you are selling your knowledge, your image, your time, your work and need with this to establish your standard of work and ensure that your lecture will be quality and especially that will have relevant content.

Start by volunteering lectures

But Bernal, I’m looking to get into this market, I’m starting out, I don’t even know where to start. How do I do it?

Do as I often have done – for free. Or do it as a swap. In fact, there’s something I really like that is to lecture in exchange for social actions. Example: no matter what they’re going to pay you and if they pay you but if they pay you, revert it to some charity. I think that’s key.

So you keep valuing yourself and creating your image in this market. Make the company like your work and invite you more often. Who knows the next few times the company doesn’t offer you a better investment?

Bernal, how can I create visibility in this market? How are companies going to see me? How do I stand out?

Invest in marketing and your professional image

 

You’ve learned a little bit about how much you can charge or not, now I’ll give you some guidance that can contribute to your professional image.

Some examples:

• Have your website, blog and build subjects that refer to lectures. You need to talk about your work and present to those of interest what you would like to work, show, to present. Out of sight, out of mind. The phrase is classic, but of great importance.
• You will have to present your real intentions of lectures on social networks. That helps a lot. Tell me about yourself, write articles about your area of interest.
• Make posts about where you’re talking about in the companies, the places you’re talking about, speaking.
• Show the audience who you really are.
• Social networks help a lot and will give you greater visibility. Write articles on Linkedin Pulse if you don’t have site yet, but put your ideas and niche acting there.
• Always use the terms lectures, giving lectures, speaking, another successfully completed lecture to reinforce your name.
• When you start to gain consistency in this market, disseminating, creating visibility and doing a job with a lot of responsibility and seriousness, companies will find you easy.
• Maybe it’s harder for some here, but there’s nowhere to run. Have a YouTube channel. Give lectures on social media. The best are on YouTube and it’s a fantastic tool for speakers. This important channel you can bring to the world your image by placing, presenting your work, studies, publications, in short, everything you find relevant to evolve with your professional image in this lecture market.
• Be provocative and always create content, intend to generate debates within your area, in my CASE HOSPITALITY. It’s a great hook for you to have public demand interested in listening to you and getting to know better about your work.

Find your niche

What do you have interesting that the public will want to know about you, from your work?

• Liking people and audiences is important
• Are you creative? Do you have impact images? Do you know how to tell stories?
• How do you like to dress during your performances?
• Which segment likes to talk? Controversial issues, with high relevance, motivational index, classes, research.
• The cat jump here is: what’s your feature, what can you add to more than your speaker contestant?
• Study and study hard, read books, watch videos, trips. If you don’t seek knowledge, you’ll be obsolete, boring and unprepared enough to embarrass your lectures.
• Know everything and everything, update yourself, knowledge is power.
• Invest in technology, know the technology, master the technology.
• Prepared? Stay tuned, companies will start calling you…

Relationship is everything and networking guys will make all the difference. Always show attention and interest in everything and everyone. He has lectured at a particular company, maintain relationships with them. That makes all the difference. You know word-of-mouth marketing? So it’s mega-powerful.

I believe that with these insights you already have a simple notion of where you can start working on this brilliant segment of lectures.

Be the best in what you chose to do, don’t be more or less, don’t be mediocre. Believe in you and deliver your best.

With that, the next time you go up on some stage of life, give a show aside. You can, you can do it.