Jump Start Your Career As a Professional Speaker

Jump Start Your Career As a Professional Speaker

Professional speaking is an excellent career choice for those who want the flexibility of a freelance lifestyle along with the lucrative returns from a high-paying career. Are there any keys or secrets to "jump starting" a professional speaking career?

Whether you are using professional speaking as a strategy to boost an already successful career, or whether you are seeking to build a speaking business in its own right, you will want to keep in mind these three keys for jump starting your professional speaking career.

Your speaking career will really "take off" if you focus on knowing your audience, mastering your presentation skills, and marketing your speaking services effectively.

1. Know Your Audience

In speaking to any group of people, your goal is to inform, persuade or entertain them. To do this effectively you need to carefully consider who the audience is before you present to them. What is their background and level of experience? What are their interests, their likes and dislikes?

Learn as much about the audience as possible as this will directly influence what you decide to say and how you say it.

2. Master Your Presentation Skills

In order to become an "in demand" professional speaker, you must learn to truly master presentation skills. You can improve your presentation skills from personal coaching, or even from books and videos, and from being part of a speaking organization such as Toastmasters.

Don't forget that good preparation is always essential for professional speakers. Practice, practice, practice. Then practice some more. You should know your material by heart in order to ensure a good delivery, every time.

3. Marketing Your Speaking Services

If you want to grow your speaking business then you must arrange your marketing package like a professional. Hire a photographer to take a good photograph, preferably a headshot. Now use that photograph on your business cards, on a web site, and with your information sheet. Put together an attractive marketing package including some client testimonials and one or two video clips.

Also, don't turn down speaking engagements just because they are non-paying. When you are starting out - and even later on - speaking for free for charities or non-profit organizations will prove to be valuable in the end. It helps the organization and it also adds to your experience and gives you more client testimonials. These events are also an excellent opportunity for networking. And you might even make a little something from 'back of the room' sales of your books, tapes, workbooks and other materials.

If you really want to jump start your career as a professional speaker then remember these three essential components. They will truly make a strong impact on your audience.

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