Speaker - Glenn Brandon Burke

Motivational Speaker

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How To Become A Professional Speaker

Welcome to the exciting and lucrative world of professional speaking! There are many fields where you may earn a great living as a professional speaker. Corporations and associations throughout the world hire speakers. However, before you run out and start selling yourself to those who hire speakers, you must have your speaking business professionally ready. Otherwise, you will never get hired.

When I first decided to enter the professional speaking world, I learned the hard way that there were very specific things I must do in order to get hired, paid, and re-hired. I’ve listed below what must be done to become a professional speaker.

1. Topic:

To begin, you must have a salable topic(s). Your topic must have value and be of benefit to your prospective client(s). You must present your material very effectively. A great way to begin is to practice your presentation(s) for free. Places such as the Rotary & Lions Clubs are always looking for luncheon speakers. There are also local community organizations and schools. Lastly, you may consider joining your local Toastmasters chapter. Toastmasters’ is a great place to improve your public speaking skills, and you may also want to hire a professional speaking coach.

2. Branded identity:

Like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, you need to brand yourself with an identifiable logo. This logo will be on your business card, stationary, one sheet, headshot and promotional tape (VHS or DVD). Most people still use VHS. Place your logo in one spot on any and all material you will be giving to your potential client(s). Also make sure you have your contact information on all material. Imagine sending a promotional kit to the ABC Corporation and they liked everything about you, but somehow everything from your kit but your one sheet ends up missing. If your contact information is listed, they will still be able to contact you.

3. Web site, E-mail and Business address:

With the world now working at the speed of light, it is imperative you have a web site. Your web site should contain everything you would send in your promotional kit to a potential client. My web site, for instance, contains the following:
  1. Home Page (One sheet)
  2. Presentations (Feature & benefits)
  3. Testimonials (Nothing beats a great recommendation – includes video clips)
  4. Media Resources (Downloadable headshots – color and B&W, plus my logo)
  5. Coaching and Consulting
  6. Sponsors (Companies who sponsor me to speak)
  7. Links (Relevant to who I am and what I do)
  8. Thank You (Personal thanks to special people)
  9. Store (Product sales)
  10. Contact (Book) Glenn

Your site should be simple to navigate. No one wants to go to your site and have difficulties finding what they need. Also, though flash sites may look cool, they do take longer to download and it is more difficult to get search engine ranking. I would recommend the simple HTLM.

For professional reasons, you will want to have a personal E-mail address. Though I do have an AOL account for personal E-mail, I also have a professional address. Doing so adds that touch of professionalism. You can setup your personal address through Microsoft Outlook. For instance, mine is Glenn@GlennBrandonBurke.com.

Unless you want everyone who receives your business card to know your personal business address, I would recommend getting a mailing address from a mailbox store.

4. Promotional kit:

A promotional kit (promo kit) is a package that will supply your potential client with all they need to know about who and what you are. The promo kit should contain the following:
  1. One Sheet (basically, a bio of you and your speaking experience - include small headshot in or near upper right corner)
  2. Headshot (8x10 color photo - not needed if on one sheet)
  3. Testimonial letters (copies from past clients)
  4. Press clippings (copies from write-ups about you and your speaking)
  5. Promo tape (5-10 minutes, professionally edited)
  6. Business card (include logo and consider headshot, too)

All of this should be placed neatly and organized in a professional folder. For myself, I have professionally printed ½ page stickers to place over the front cover of my folders.

Once you are ready to take the leap from free (practice) speaking engagements into the world of professional speaker, you need to get yourself booked. Look for my next article on How To Get Paid Speaking Gigs

Glenn Brandon Burke is a Professional Speaker and Coach. Glenn may be contacted via his web site at www.GlennBrandonBurke.com. Article contributions by: Troy Evans (www.TroyEvans.com), Victor Gonzales (www.TheLogicOfSuccess.com) and Rahja McKee-Cray (www.ViragoVisions.com).

 

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Glenn Brandon Burke
Direct: 702.501.0315 • Fax: 702.655.3391

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