I got a great question from someone in my workshop recently: “I’ve spoken at three virtual events. What’s the best way to showcase them?” While we’d all love a perfectly produced, Insta-worthy speaker Reel to show off our skills, the reality is, most of us aren’t there yet.

When it comes to marketing yourself as a speaker, I want you to market what you have. And a handy tool for doing this is to create a speaker website.

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Start marketing yourself with what you have

Think of speaker marketing materials as a toolbox that you’ll use on your speaker journey. You’ll use it now, whatever speaking phase you’re in, and you’ll use it in the future when you’re the big-name expert speaker you want to be.

It would be nice to have all the top-of-the-line fancy tools in your toolbox right now, but that’s not feasible. Just as you would collect new tools or upgrade your current ones for your home or DIY projects, you’ll get more, and better, marketing materials as you move forward on your speaking path.

If you’re not the DIY type, think of it this way: When you moved into a place of your own for the first time, I bet you got secondhand appliances and mismatched plates and cups. You worked with what you had. Over time, maybe you bought new pots and pans because you liked cooking, or you wanted a nice matching set of dinnerware that felt more like you.

You’ll do the same as you learn to showcase yourself as a speaker. Use the tools you already have in your toolbox, or the utensils you already have in your kitchen. In time, you’ll have more to work with.

Create a speaker website

Now that we’ve covered the whole “use what you have” thing, where do you put all those marketing materials? How do you showcase yourself as a speaker (other than using social media)?

You need a speaker website, my friend.

Use a speaker website to collect and display those marketing assets. All of them. Paid or unpaid, virtual or in-person — they should all be showcased on your website. Why? Because they’re proof of the worth you can deliver to an audience, event, or organization.

What type of speaker marketing assets should you collect and show off on your site? Include:

Photos of you speaking (If you don’t have one yet, use a headshot!)
Videos of you speaking
Testimonials from hosts
Testimonials from audience members
Screenshots of chats for virtual events
Behind-the-scenes content of you preparing for the event
Logos from events or places you’ve spoken

Feeling embarrassed about your videos or photos? I get it! Being vulnerable is scary. But I promise, it gets easier. Getting started is the toughest part.

The cool thing is, once those marketing assets are up on your website, you can upgrade them as you continue to speak on different stages for different crowds. Pretty soon, your speaker website will feel more and more right for you.

Embrace (and showcase) the speaker you are now

One last thing about showcasing yourself using a speaker website. I want you to be honest. It sounds like a no-brainer, but let me explain what I mean.

Your goal for your speaker website — and really, as a speaker in general — is to offer a consistent, branded experience, wherever you show up. On stage, in person, on social media, online. It should all feel the same, and authentic.

If your speaker page presents you as a polished pro, but you show up at an event unprepared and stumbling through your talk, it’ll feel like a bait-and-switch for your audience.

Avoid the “fake it ‘til you make it approach.” Instead, embrace the season you’re in now. Be genuine. Grow with every new speaking opportunity, and make sure your brand experience reflects that growth.

Upgrade your website as you grow

In order to showcase yourself successfully as a speaker on your speaker website, you need to do two things:

Get started. Seriously. No more saying, “I’ll do that soon” or “I’ll add it to my list.” Let’s make it happen.
Leverage every speaking opportunity to collect new marketing assets. You can’t tweak and improve your speaker website if you don’t get new assets!

If you’re short on time or panicking at the thought of creating an amazing speaker website, I have something that’ll help. Build your speaker page with ease with Speaker Websites: The Ultimate Guide!

When you buy Speaker Websites, you’ll get access to a workbook, a video training, and a mockup template that will help you build a polished, professional speaker website. Get your guide today!