How to Book More Speaking Opportunities - BlogHeader.png

Speaking topic? Check. Ready to get on stage? Check. But wait. You have to pitch your talk first so that you get booked! How can you pitch your speech confidently if you’ve never done it before?

Whether you’re hoping to book conferences and retreats, guest presentations or podcasts, or even collaborations or brand partnerships, the tips I share in this episode will help you pitch yourself and your talk with confidence. Let’s dive in!

If you loved this episode and it motivated you to work on more polished presentations, I’d love for you to leave a review on iTunes and tell me about your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag me @jessicarasdall.

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What are pitches and why do they matter?

You’re pitching yourself as a speaker so that you can join that amazing podcast as a guest, speak at a special workshop or mastermind, or land a dream spot in that one big event. You want to pitch your brand and business with confidence so you can book those coveted speaking opportunities in your space.

Your immediate goal for pitching yourself is to land that next opportunity, but your larger goal? You want more incoming requests than outgoing pitches. You want event organizers, hosts, and companies sending requests that align with your mission, so you spend less time pitching and more time speaking!

But before you get so many incoming requests you have to start turning them down, you have to do the work and pitch yourself first. Pitches come in many forms, but mostly, they involve sending outgoing emails and filling out speaker applications. Let’s talk about what you need to know and what your pitches should say.

Know these details before pitching

It’s super important that you know everything about the event or company you’re trying to book before you send out your pitch! Make sure you do your research and have your details organized.

Know the answers to these questions first:

What is the event or opportunity?
Who has spoken in the past and on what topics?
Who is the audience?
Do they have a clear process for submitting pitches?

Let’s say I wanted to be a guest host on The Ready Entrepreneur Podcast because I enjoyed chatting with host Case Lane back in Episode 137. That podcast would be the opportunity.

Then I’d look at (and listen to) past episodes, taking note of common topics or themes. I’d realize that we have similar audiences in entrepreneurs who want to build successful online businesses.

And finally, I’d find the instructions for submitting my pitch on the podcast website. If there are instructions on sending an email or filling out a specific form, follow them. They’re there for a reason!Focus on what you can offer the event and audience

Got those basic details about your speaking opportunity down pat? Good.

Now, your pitch should focus on what you’re offering to their audience and why you’re the right person to speak. Be very clear on what results or transformation you’re providing to the audience. That’s what an event organizer, company, potential partner, or podcast host is looking for.

When we’re not clear on our message or the difference we hope to make, we often default to talking about ourselves as a speaker, or business owner, or human. We want to prove we’re worthy of their time. And while you are, of course, that strategy won’t get you booked!

Talk about how your presentation will benefit the audience, and then, take it one step further. Explain why you’re the right person to do this. Why should they book you and not a similar speaker in your industry? What makes you unique and the best person for the job?

I encourage you to be honest about yourself, but avoid bragging. You don’t need to. Again, focus more on the event and the audience. Think of your pitch as a way to build a relationship with another business owner, not just someone you need to convince to hire you. That’ll help you book more opportunities in the long run.

Always follow up

Haven’t heard back about your pitch yet? Does it feel like it’s been ages since you sent your pitch? It’s okay to send a follow up message!

Give your pitch plenty of time to get looked over before you follow up. If you have to decide between following up a bit earlier and a bit later, choose later. You don’t want to seem too pushy or desperate.

Keep your follow up email as short as possible by including these details:

Remind them what you emailed about the first time
Include new information, such as a video link to one of your past talks or an interview you did on a podcast
Sign off (and make sure your name and contact info are included)

That’s really it! You want to check in with the host, company, or event organizer, but also give them more compelling information that encourages them to book you.

And if you still don’t hear back after that followup email? I suggest sending a third and final email letting them know that your offer is still on the table, but that you won’t email them any further. You can’t win ‘em all, and that’s okay.

A bonus tip to save you time

One last bonus tip before I go! Keep a working document for your pitches to create your pitches more efficiently. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you submit a pitch. A document you can refer to and reuse for future pitches can save you a lot of time.

Notice I said “working document” and not “copy-and-paste template.” Avoid copying and pasting and mass emailing! Those are annoying and spammy — and they can be spotted by event organizers and podcast hosts a mile away.

Each of your pitches should be thoughtful and tailored to each opportunity. While it’s fine to reuse some content, like details about your signature speaking topics, you still need to customize each pitch for each event.

Pitching can easily be the most challenging part of your speaking journey at the beginning. With practice, it gets easier and easier. I promise.

Not quite sold on the idea of pitching yourself, or even about speaking for your business? Watch How to Scale Your Business with Speaking and you’ll learn just what speaking can do to move the needle forward in your business!