🕴️ The Crowd's Waiting

Some people get paid $20,000 to speak on stage, and don’t realize that they got a bad deal.

The truth is, getting the undivided attention of hundreds (or thousands) of people for an hour should cost you money because it’s one of the most lucrative influence outlets for your platform.

Where else can you share the heartfelt story that inspired you to start down the path you’re on, and ask a crowd to follow you?

Where else can people share their enthusiasm with more than a “like” by clapping and cheering to rally the people around them?

Where else can you look out at a crowd and tell them “I can help you if you’ll let me. . . now please join my email list.” 😅

Should You Ever Speak For Free?

With the right message in front of the right audience, live events can be incredibly lucrative far beyond what the speaking fee provides.

As you dial in your message, you have the opportunity to take your talk beyond the stage at the front of the room.

By inviting people to take the conversation online, and follow your platform, you’re building an audience that is primed for action—much higher quality email subscribers than random people from Facebook.

If you plan it right, your talk can lead directly to sales. Speakers most commonly sell their books at events, but there’s a new wave of speakers using stages to sell high-ticket coaching programs as well.

That doesn’t mean you should always be willing to speak for free, but you should widen your perspective to value stages based on the opportunity to reach your target audience in the room.

That also means not all stages are equal, because if you’re targeting moms of young children you’re probably not reaching them in a room full of financial service executives at an event.

Here’s how to try this yourself:

1. Get crystal clarity on the types of events that your target audience would go to (ask them, or get inside of their head).
2. Go to one of these events with the sole purpose of making notes on how your talk could fit in.
3. Reach out to the event organizer, and ask about their speaker selection process (let them know you’re interested in speaking next year).
4. Get on stage, share your story, and call the audience to action by joining you afterwards!