You've got a strong marketing mix—but does it include public speaking? "Whether used to promote a company report or in-house expertise, or simply to engender brand awareness, public speaking is a powerful—and often economical and organic—way to get your message to key influencers and decision-makers," writes Heather Rast at MarketingProfs.

It's not for everyone, though.

To succeed, says Rast, you must possess the following qualities: 

• A demonstrated expertise in a topic or category
• A pleasant speaking voice and consistently good grammar
• A personable presence and a sense of humor
• A commitment to polished, professional presentations
• An ability to read a crowd's interest and make adjustments mid-speech

So how do you get started and maintain momentum? Rast has this advice:

• Publicize your availability. Add a media-rich speaking page to your website, and include relevant contact details in social media profiles. "Surprisingly, many people who are receptive to the idea of speaking don't convey that in the two primary venues where events people prowl for talent," she notes.
• Request feedback and recommendations. Use critical comments to improve future presentations. And ask event coordinators if they'll endorse you at LinkedIn or SpeakerMix.
• Share your content. Unless your speaker agreement prohibits repurposed material, use slides from your deck in other venues—at your blog, for instance.

The Po!nt: Public speaking raises your company's profile, lends you personal credibility, and might just generate new business.

Source: MarketingProfs.

If you're not already a MarketingProfs PRO Member, Upgrade Your Membership and gain instant access to hundreds of exclusive, cutting-edge articles, case studies, templates, tools, online seminars, research, and how-to guides to make your marketing smarter and more effective.

→ end article preview
Read the Full Article