Ep 148 Should You Be Paid for Summit Speaking

As virtual summits have become more and more popular, a new conversation has popped up: Should summit speakers get paid for their presentations? This may seem like a simple yes or no question, but everyone has a different answer.

If you’ve been a host, participant, or speaker at a virtual summit, you’ve probably heard some talk about this issue. In this episode, we’re going to see if we can figure out an answer together. We’ll take a look from several different perspectives to decide if, and when, summit speakers should get paid.

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The benefits of virtual summits

If you’ve spent any time around here, you know that I love summits. We’ve talked about them a lot on the podcast, and you can listen to any of the episodes linked above if you want to take a deep dive into this topic.

Summits offer fantastic benefits, especially for people who are just getting started in speaking. They can help you build your email list and get your message out there to your target audience. But once you’ve been a speaker at multiple summits, does that mean you’re ready to get paid for your presentation?

Should summit speakers get paid?

Payment is a big question that affects both speakers and hosts. As a host, should you be paying the speakers at your summit? If you’re a speaker, should you insist on getting paid when you agree to speak?

Everyone has a different opinion on whether or not summit speakers should be paid. But if you ask me, my answer is: It depends.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer that applies to every summit and every speaker. Even though we tend to talk about virtual summits as their own category, they are not all the same. And because each summit is unique, the answer to whether the speakers at that summit should be paid will depend on the details of the event itself and on the perspectives of everyone involved.

Speaking is not one size fits all

Can you get paid to speak at a summit? Sure. Should every host pay the speakers at their summit? Not necessarily. Does that mean that you should only speak at a summit where you will get paid? Probably not.

A nuanced answer is better than a blanket statement. Not all speaking opportunities are the same. So to figure out whether you should get paid to speak at a summit, you need to look at the event itself.

When we are talking about speaking for your business, I like to sort opportunities into three categories:

Tier 1: This type of speaking is designed to fast-track your way to credibility in your industry. These opportunities give you the chance to increase brand awareness and show yourself as the go-to expert on a topic.

Tier 2: In this tier, speaking is focused on conversion. The point of Tier 2 speaking is to get your product or service in front of your target audience and encourage them to buy. Tier 2 also includes speaking to get new leads, clients, or email subscribers.

Tier 3: This category covers motivational speaking. As a Tier 3 speaker, you have perfected your presentation and are getting paid to speak to audiences. Your business model is speaking, and you’re providing something valuable to your audience.

No matter which type of speaker you are, it’s still essential to view every opportunity as unique. Even if your main focus is Tier 2 conversion speaking, you may get the chance at a Tier 1 or Tier 3 opportunity. So you need to determine how that opportunity would impact your business and what you could get out of it.

Not all summits are created equal

We should look at each speaking engagement as a unique opportunity, and the same is true of summits. It’s easy to think that all virtual summits are the same: designed for conversion. But that’s not true, especially now when so many events have moved from in-person to virtual.

Many virtual summits are created to build email lists and grow followers. This type of summit is like a group project. If you and the host and the other speakers are all bringing your audiences and getting the chance to grow your email lists, that in itself is probably all the compensation you’ll be offered. The host doesn’t necessarily need to pay you because you are getting benefits from speaking at the summit.

Other summits are different. For example, there are virtual conferences where participants have to purchase tickets to attend. In that case, what would your role be? Are you giving the keynote address? Are you bringing more than just a list of email subscribers? If you’re an experienced speaker with an awesome presentation, you’re providing something valuable to the host and the participants, so you should be paid for your time.

To be a standout paid speaker, up your game

Unfortunately, just having a lot of summit speaking experience doesn’t necessarily mean you should be paid for every presentation. There are plenty of other business owners who will market the event and bring their followers and show up to speak, all for free. If you can’t show the host why you deserve to be paid, chances are they will go with someone else.

If you want to be a standout speaker, you need to provide something of value. That means perfecting your presentation and your marketing materials. It means proving you’re an in-demand speaker who should be paid for your time.

So should you get paid to speak at a summit? Maybe. It really depends on what you can bring to and get out of the opportunity. Speaking at a conversion-focused event in your industry? You should do that for free because you’re going to get time in front of your target audience. Providing a top-tier presentation to bookend a virtual conference? Show the host that you deserve to get paid for your time.

Bring your best to every speaking opportunity

No matter which tier an event falls into, it’s essential to show up and bring the best you’ve got. You never know who is in the room and who is going to hear your message. Whether it’s a paid presentation or the chance to speak for free at a Tier 2 summit, give it your all.

Not sure whether you’re a Tier 1, 2, or 3 speaker? You can find out in just a few minutes by taking our Speaking Strategy Quiz. Once you know what kind of speaker you are, you can use that knowledge to evaluate every speaking opportunity and decide whether you should get paid.

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