We talk a lot about how to increase your speaking fees by building your celebrity status. We've discussed a lot on this blog about marketing your speaker services and selling your products with a website. But speaking from the stage and at seminars is critical for anyone selling training or books online. Sometimes having a website is not enough.
I've heard it said that not every public speaker needs to be an author, but every author needs to be a public speaker. The ability to stand up in front of an audience and present your case, train others and be entertaining all for the sake of promoting your products and services is a must for you to be successful. Good public speaking opens up avenues that very few know how to access. As an author, you have to be able to talk about your books in a seminar setting, whether it be a book signing or training event. For most business coaches, public speaking is the main revenue generator, far beyond what most website traffic can do.
That's why it's critical to learn the ropes from a person who's been there. You don't want to learn public speaking from a teacher that doesn't understand the concept of promoting products and services from the stage and selling them at the back of the room. It's a tricky business that's different from just being a paid speaker or a graduate of Toastmasters. You have to connect with the audience in a special way that's unique for every situation.
