Home »
Connect Me!
Public Speaking?
(Posted by: Sabirul Islam)
Is there a possible way i can do public speaking to promote my company, share my entrepreneurial experience and advertise my book to schools, businesses etc and get paid for it.
I need to get the word across to everyone and i believe poublic speaking is the way forward. Would i need an agent for this?
If you think you can help answer this question, why not Register or Log-in and post a comment.
Responses to this question (6)
Sophie Chalmers
21/02/2008, 12:27 PM
Public speaking is one of great under-tapped secrets of successful business and it works no matter how small your firm. It allows you to find new customers and raise your credibility in one go.
Try business clubs, Chambers of Commerce and even your local bank. These people run regular seminars and workshops and need speakers. Don’t forget industry confernences. You need to approach them this year for next year.
Show them how you are relevant and they will invite you to speak. You want to find a topic that you can convey interestingly and impressively in a short time. Then your audience won’t say, “Good presenter”. They’ll say, “Great expert”!
Meanwhile, remember to network - many formal networking organisations have speaker slots for members.
Andy Lopata
11/01/2008, 07:00 PM
Hi Sabirul
If you want to look at public speaking on a paid basis and find out how to develop it as a business, you could look at the Professional Speakers Association (http://www.professionalspeakers.org). There are Chapter meetings around the UK on a regular basis and there is a National Meeting in London next week.
If you want more information about the PSA, please feel free to contact me.
Adam Desmond
09/01/2008, 09:50 PM
Hi Sabirula,
I was in a similar position to you not so long ago as I wanted to get into schools and talk about my business and I found that the best way in is through an organisation like young enterprise, business dynamics or blue skies as mentioned before, I am sure there is more as well.
The other thing that I did was to contact all the enterprise and business schools in my area (West Midlands) telling them of the services that I could offer them and how much I would charge, you need to think about what the school want though, for me it was talking about business plans and internet businesses to business students, so for yourself you may want to try English teachers and writing or getting published etc
Doing this put me in touch with a lot of schools and youth organisations and it is great fun as well.
My tips would be don’t do it just to make money and sell your book, do it because you want to inspire young people and if you can do that they will automatically want to buy your book and you don’t have to shamelessly sell it in an assembly.
Hope this helps
Adam Desmond
Coventry Connector
www.instrol.co.uk
David McQueen
09/01/2008, 07:06 PM
Hey Sabirula,
if you are looking to just promote your company or sell books then schools is not the place to be. I have worked in hundreds of schools and what they are looking for is an opportunity to benefit their students not to sell a product, and whilst you may charge a fee most schools can get a raft of entrepreneurs with experience for free, so you have to think about what makes you different.
Again for businesses you have to be able to prove what your selling point is. Most business look either for celebrity or millionaire entrepreneurs to speak for them so again it is about what is it that makes you so different that they can’t call Tim Campbell or Peter Jones or Rachel Elnaugh.
I feel your passion here, but you are already in a crowded market especially in regards to enterprise and maybe your way forward is to do some public seminars in a uni, community hall, charge a fee and then sell product at the back or team up with an agency like blue skies, or an education business partnership and make yourself known first.
Hope this helps
The Mu Show
09/01/2008, 05:08 PM
Hi Sabirul. I taught in Universities for 10 years. Many courses have a ‘professional practice’ module and they’re always happy to have real-world people talk about their experiences of starting out in business. Also Uni career services like to have people close to their students’ age group come in and talk about their experiences.
Most business networking groups expect people to introduce themselves and their business to the group on a regular basis - another good way to develop confidence and clarity.
Also there’s ‘toastmasters’ - (google it) - a public-speaking group that I’ve heard is highly recommended.
Hope that helps!
Sally Broom
09/01/2008, 02:44 PM
No agent required! There are heaps of societies and courses at universities that welcome speakers with open arms - they don’t pay much but they can lead to other opportunities. Schools are the same, not least for sixth forms and sometimes invite speakers for larger events that are paid.
Also, contact local enterprise agencies who may hold courses or seminars and need speakers. MYM often has great opportunities.
Hope this helps - good luck!
