Expert advice, success stories, and industry insights to help you succeed in the speaking world
Understanding the return on investment for your events is critical for securing future budgets and demonstrating value. Learn practical methods to measure and communicate event success to stakeholders.
Attendee engagement determines event success more than any other factor. Discover innovative strategies for creating interactive, memorable experiences that keep participants engaged from start to finish.
The speaking industry continues to evolve rapidly. Discover the key trends shaping professional speaking in 2025, from hybrid events to AI integration, and learn how to position yourself for success.
Organizations increasingly prioritize sustainability in their events. Learn practical strategies for reducing environmental impact while maintaining excellent attendee experiences and managing costs effectively.
Corporate events represent the highest-paying segment of the speaking industry. Learn how corporate speaking differs from other markets, what organizations look for in speakers, and how to position yourself for these lucrative opportunities.
Speaking fees represent just one component of speaker economics. Discover how successful speakers build sustainable businesses by understanding and maximizing multiple value streams from their expertise.
What happens after your event determines whether it creates lasting impact or becomes a forgotten memory. Strategic follow-up transforms attendees into advocates and drives long-term value.
Even experienced speakers feel nervous before presentations. Learn practical techniques that help speakers manage anxiety, channel nervous energy productively, and deliver confidently despite internal butterflies.
As we move into 2025, the professional speaking industry is evolving rapidly. Here are the key trends every speaker should know.
Building a successful speaking career requires more than great content and delivery skills. Reflecting on the collective wisdom shared throughout these articles, here are the essential truths every speaker should embrace.
Generic presentations fail to connect. Learn how successful speakers research their audiences deeply and customize content to create presentations that feel personally relevant to every person in the room.
Speaking demand correlates with economic conditions, corporate budgets, and broader business trends. Understanding these economic factors helps speakers anticipate market shifts and position strategically.
What you do with your body communicates as powerfully as your words. Learn how to use movement, gestures, posture, and physical presence to enhance your message and command audience attention.
Your signature talk is more than just your best presentation—it's the keynote that captures your unique perspective and becomes synonymous with your name. Learn how to develop a talk that resonates deeply and sets you apart.
Generic praise doesn't book speakers—specific, credible testimonials do. Learn how to systematically collect, organize, and deploy testimonials that overcome buyer skepticism and accelerate booking decisions.
Your content and frameworks represent valuable intellectual property requiring systematic development and legal protection. Learn how speakers create proprietary content that differentiates them while safeguarding against theft and unauthorized use.
Hybrid events combining in-person and virtual participation create unique challenges and opportunities. Learn how successful planners design experiences that serve both audiences without creating second-class experiences.
Your personal brand determines which opportunities come your way and how much you can charge. Learn how to develop a speaker brand that authentically represents your expertise while differentiating you from competitors.
Clear contracts prevent misunderstandings and protect both speakers and clients. Learn what to include in speaking agreements, how to negotiate terms, and what red flags to watch for in contracts.
Not every audience is engaged and receptive. Learn how to handle resistant, distracted, or hostile audiences while maintaining professionalism and delivering value despite challenging circumstances.
Your demo reel is often the deciding factor in booking decisions. Learn how to create speaker videos that showcase your expertise and convert viewers into clients.
Planning a corporate event requires careful coordination, clear objectives, and attention to detail. Follow this guide to ensure your next event is a success.
Effective budget planning determines event success before you book a single vendor. Learn how to create realistic budgets, allocate resources strategically, and maximize impact without overspending.
Verbal agreements and handshakes create misunderstandings and disputes. Learn what every speaker contract should include to protect both parties while maintaining professional relationships.
Technology continuously transforms how speakers market themselves, deliver content, and build careers. Understanding these shifts helps speakers adapt strategically rather than resist inevitable change.
Contracts aren't just legal protection—they're communication tools that ensure everyone understands the engagement. Learn what should be in speaker contracts and how to negotiate terms that work for both speakers and organizations.
Your body speaks as loudly as your words. Master fundamental body language principles that reinforce rather than undermine your presentations.
The most impactful events are holistic experiences, not just good speakers. Learn how to design every element of your event to create lasting memories and genuine transformation for attendees.
Generic presentations rarely excel. Learn how to research and analyze audiences before speaking so you can customize content, choose relevant examples, and address specific challenges your audiences face.
Corporate speaking is evolving rapidly as organizations rethink how they access external expertise. Understand the trends reshaping this market and what they mean for speakers and buyers.
Content alone doesn't captivate—how you occupy space and carry yourself powerfully influences audience engagement. Learn fundamental stage presence techniques that enhance delivery and amplify message impact.
Artificial intelligence is transforming how speakers create content, market themselves, and deliver value. Understand the changes underway and how to thrive in the AI-augmented speaking landscape.
Speaker fees aren't just numbers—they're signals about quality, positioning, and value. Learn how strategic pricing psychology helps speakers command fees that reflect their worth while attracting ideal clients.
Keynote skills don't automatically translate to workshop success. Learn how speakers develop facilitation capabilities that create engaging, transformative workshops where participants do the work and own the outcomes.
Email remains one of the most effective marketing channels for speakers. Learn how to build your list, create compelling content, and convert subscribers into speaking opportunities.
True authority in speaking comes not from self-promotion but from consistently demonstrating expertise and providing genuine value. Learn how to build credibility that opens doors and attracts the right opportunities.
Speaker certifications promise enhanced credibility and skills, but do they actually impact bookings and fees? Learn which certifications provide genuine value versus expensive credential collection.
Challenging questions don't have to derail presentations. Learn how skilled speakers handle tough questions, aggressive questioners, and topics outside their expertise while maintaining credibility and composure.
The Q&A session can make or break your speaking engagement. Learn proven strategies for handling any question with confidence, dealing with difficult situations, and turning Q&A into your strongest moment on stage.
Venue selection impacts everything from attendee experience to budget to speaker effectiveness. Learn how experienced planners evaluate and choose venues that support rather than undermine event goals.
Many speakers focus solely on delivering great presentations while neglecting the business fundamentals that create sustainable careers. Learn how to build a speaking business that thrives for the long term.
One-time keynote fees create income volatility that undermines sustainable careers. Learn how successful speakers build diversified revenue models, recurring income streams, and business structures supporting long-term viability.
Great keynotes inform, inspire, and leave lasting impressions. Learn the structural elements, storytelling techniques, and delivery strategies that transform good presentations into unforgettable experiences.
First and last impressions disproportionately influence how audiences remember presentations. Learn how to craft opening and closing moments that capture attention, create resonance, and inspire action.
Multi-day conferences require different design approaches than single-day events. Learn how to maintain energy, create progression, and deliver value throughout extended experiences.
Most speakers experience nervousness, even veterans with years of experience. Learn practical techniques for managing anxiety, reframing nervousness as excitement, and presenting confidently despite fears.
Networking isn't just collecting business cards—it's building genuine relationships with people who can book you or refer you. Learn strategic approaches that generate speaking opportunities.
Many speakers focus solely on delivering great presentations while neglecting the business fundamentals that create sustainable careers. Learn how to build a speaking business that thrives for the long term.
Your website serves as your primary sales tool, working around the clock to showcase your expertise and convert visitors into clients. Learn what elements every professional speaker website needs to generate bookings.
Whether you're just starting your speaking career or preparing for your first major engagement, these expert tips will help you deliver a memorable presentation that resonates with your audience.