Public speaking opportunities = visibility + value

Let PR show you how to increase your speaking engagements

Some say that gaining knowledge is the first step toward wisdom and sharing it is the first step toward humanity. Your experiences and the lessons you have learned from your time in business are valuable, and one of the best ways to share them is through public speaking.

In addition to providing a benefit to your audience, you can also use public speaking to reap rewards for your company. With help from PR, you can discover the importance of public speaking and how to book numerous engagements throughout the year.

Public speaking is vital for your business because it can help you:

Boost awareness of your company, product and people.

The more visible you are, the more you stay in the minds of consumers and other key stakeholders. This is very important in the decision-making stage of the buyer’s journey. When it comes time to make a purchase, your name will be at the top of the list simply because consumers see it often and believe they know a lot about you.

Position yourself as a thought-leader in your industry.

To increase sales, you must show your target audiences that you understand their needs and can provide the solution. Public speaking engagements give you the platform to demonstrate your ability to do just that. By sharing your knowledge, you confirm that you know your industry and can provide value.

Provide yourself opportunities for positive media coverage.

When people see your company’s name in the news for positive reasons (not disparaging or crisis stories), they are more likely to form a positive opinion of you. Ensuring a good impression of your company is a big step in moving a prospect from the attraction to the conversion stage of the sales funnel.

Ways you can increase your public speaking opportunities

Create your own events. PR can help you design and implement programs that let you showcase your knowledge and highlight your company. These can be as big as a multi-day conference to which you also invite other speakers or as small as a monthly webinar. Other possibilities include an open house, how-to demonstrations and educational retreats.

Offer your services for free. Many colleges and community groups are always looking for high-quality speakers but lack the resources to pay expensive appearance fees. These opportunities can be quite valuable for your company because you never know how your next customer or top-quality job candidate will find you. It can also be a great way to build your public speaking credentials.

Show that you are a problem-solver. Social media platforms now make this even easier. When you come across someone with a problem, help her. Even if your company or product is not the answer, you can use your vast network of contacts to connect her with the right resources. You can also create how-to videos and online workshops. These tactics will help you attract the attention of those looking for speakers so that they will seek you out.

Don’t be afraid to promote yourself. Once you have found your niche, it is vital to let others know that you are available to speak on related topics. Get your name on directories designed to help meeting planners find speakers. You can also highlight testimonials and positive reviews from previous speeches on your website. Make sure interested journalists are informed about your speaking engagements. There are numerous ways to communicate your skills and availability.

Hire the right PR agency to help you. Let Axia Public Relations help you get in front of your most important audiences by finding the best speaking opportunities to maximize your exposure. Contact us today or register for our 60-Second Impact to learn about this and other techniques to grow your business.

Lisa Goldsberry is a blogger for Axia Public Relations with more than 15 years of public relations experience. She specializes in business and technology PR. Lisa has worked for Axia since December 2013. Learn more about Lisa Goldsberry. Connect with Axia on Twitter @axiapr or tell us what you think in the comments below.