Verdict: The Truth About Paid Speaker Features in Magazines
Are These "Prestigious" Magazine Offers Worth Your Money? The Truth About Paid Placement Ads for Speakers
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A curated list of the most interesting thoughts, stories and ideas
55 featured posts
Speaker Spotlight for Sale: Are Paid Magazine Features Legit?
When a magazine offers you a spot in their "Most Influential Speakers" issue—for a fee—should you take it? Let’s investigate.
The Speaker Lifestyle Paradox: The Raw Truth About Life on the Road
Living the Dream or Surviving the Hustle? The Truth About the Speaker Lifestyle
Donut Holes: A Deliciously Simple Way to Customize Your Speech and Drive Revenue
Customize your speed without sacrificing the reliable delivery you need to wow your audience.
Stop Customizing Every Speech… Seriously!
Customizing every speech can actually cause more harm than good.
8 Habits to Break for More Referrals
REthink, REconsider, and REduce these 8 actions to increase your referral gigs.
Time to Rethink Your Speaker Sizzle Reel?
Your sizzle reel showcases your style, expertise, and stage presence… but is it worth it?
Why Demand Plummets When You Transition from a Corporate Speaker Role
What happens when a corporate speaker tries to get gigs without the backing of a big brand?
Cracking The Case of the Mystery Speaker Who Won Your Gig
Detective work to help you build strong relationships with speakers who can help you grow your business.
Ditch the One-Sheets: Use These 4 Methods Instead
Here are four modern alternatives that provide much more customization and pizzazz than a speaker one-sheet!
The Needy Fee Matrix: Your Guide to Gigs Worth Your Wit
The Needy Fee Matrix: Your Guide to Gigs Worth Your Wit Spotting the Gigs That Make You Go, "Hmm..." Before You Say, "Oh, no!"
Travel Buyouts: The Pros & Cons
We're diving into the nuances of travel buyouts and all-inclusive fees for professional speakers.
Are Humble Brags Hurting Your Referability?
The moment you realize that a huge dose of humility buys you a long list of leads, the more effective you'll be - onstage and off.
Is Your Q&A Ending a Dud? (Hint: The Answer is Yes)
Event organizers place a huge amount of value on the Q&A, but do it the right way.
The 3 Golden Rules for Building Your Tech Stack
Finding the right tech to power your speaking business can be really overwhelming.
Why You Should Follow Up… Without Being Pesky or Salesy
It would be great to get a nice chipper reply from every query… but that’s not how it works.
Most Speakers Don’t Track These 10 Things… But YOU Should!
Take the time to track this essential data and give yourself the power to grow your business.
Why You Should Keep Track… of EVERYTHING!
Once you’re speaking regularly, you’ll need a MUCH more organized system to track your data.
How to Generate Excitement (and Get Booked!) During a Client Theme Call
Use a client theme call to create the perfect pitch for your speech… and generate excitement!
Why Pitching Your Speech On a Client Theme Call is So Important
Discover how to use your client theme call to pitch your speech even when your own personal relevance is low. Learn four reasons why pitching the speech - not the speaker - is the key to landing gigs.
The Grapevine Says You’re a “Rude Speaker”… Now What?
Your efforts to ‘prequalify’ prospects might be coming back to bite you in the butt!
Unpacking the Magic in Your Email Signature
Used correctly, it can strengthen relationships, provoke conversations, and even inspire action!
Why You Need an Epic Email Signature…
Learn some ways to use one of the most valuable marketing tools at your disposal!
Greatest hits for the 4th of July!
I want to invite you to check out some of the newsletter’s greatest hits from the past few months. Check out an article you missed, or maybe re-read one that really resonated.
Increase Your Revenue with a Professional Website? Here’s How…
Here are 10 website characteristics that can actually INCREASE your revenue.
Unlocking Fee Integrity: Mastering the Art of Negotiation for Professional Speakers
Take a dive into the art of negotiation and how you can maintain your fee integrity.
Here’s My Entire Sales Process – Ready for You to Swipe!
My sales process has been refined so it's efficient, scalable… and ready to be stolen!
Say Goodbye to Glasses Glare in Your Virtual Studio
Eliminate glasses glare in virtual studios! Watch our video for game-changing tips to perfect your virtual presentations.
Are You Missing Out On the Power of Speaker-to-Speaker Referrals?
Referring other speakers strengthens your relationships… and makes you more money!
From Awkward to Awesome: Smart Ways to Sell Your Book at Speaking Events (Part 1)
Unlock the secrets to lucrative book sales with our innovative 'Happy Meal' pricing strategy!
Revamp Your Virtual Events with Multiple Camera Set-Ups
Make your virtual events more engaging and interactive by incorporating multiple cameras into a virtual event set-up.
Feeling Like a Hot Mess? When to Hire an Assistant (Part 1)
Don’t hire a speaking assistant until you’ve experienced each of these five scenarios.
The Depot Virtual Studio Desk Kit (Video)
The simple rolling studio I built after a quick trip to Home Depot!
Should You Really Fill Out Call For Speakers Forms?
Filling out a call for speaker form feels quick and easy… but is it worth your time?
Be Kind… Rewind Your Attitude Around Free Gigs
To speak for free or not? The controversy rages on among speakers. Find out why some consider it a savvy move, while others find it offensive.
A Wireless Hack For Your Virtual Events (Video)
You'll never believe the simple hack I engineered to create a wireless virtual experience.
Stop Customizing Your Speech! (Do This Instead…) (1 of 2)
Why You Shouldn’t Customize Your Speech, But Should Customize Your Session Description
The No Tele-Prompter Prompter Method for Shooting on Location (Video)
Shooting video with a teleprompter when you're on the road isn't very practical. This is.
The 2 Best Prompter Apps (Video) & Why I Use Each One
Today… we're talking teleprompter apps… Yep… Apps - plural - I use a couple of different prompter apps depending on exactly what I'm shooting - and WHERE I'm shooting…
Exactly What to Cover in Your Speaker Agreement (with a Template!)
Here is exactly what to include in each section of your Speaker Agreement.
Crafting a Great Speaker Agreement
Ugly 1-page legal docs? Yuck! Here’s a better way to craft Speaker Agreements.
The Best Prompter for Virtual Events? (Video)
So, what's the best teleprompter for virtual events? Here's the answer... and the one I use.
Client Theme Calls… The Secret to Signing on the Dotted Line! (1 of 2)
Get to know your audience and nail down more gigs with a well-executed Client Theme Call.
The One Thing I Bring on Stage for Every Single Gig (Video)
What's on the notecard, and why do I bring it on stage for every single gig?
The Perfect Speaker Timer & How I Use it on Stage
Ensuring you're off stage when the event organizer expects you to be - each and every time.
Why You Need a Rehearsal "Habit" to Break Through to the Next Level (1 of 2)
Speakers who earn the highest fees put in the daily effort to improve their delivery, refine their stories, and strengthen their message. For them, rehearsal isn't just a task for a checklist. It's a HABIT with a permanent spot on the calendar.
9 Reasons Why You Should Include ALL Travel Expenses in Your Quotable Fee (It's a Happy Meal Strategy!)
Here's why including your travel costs in your quotable fee helps you AND your client.
3 Things You Should Do When Your Speaking Calendar is Sparse (1 of 2)
Every speaker deals with periods of extreme slowness… it's what you do during these times that counts the most!
When and Why You Should Negotiate Speaking Fees (1 of 2)
Here are four scenarios where it makes sense to accept a lower speaking fee.
When To Raise Your Fee: 5 Triggers (1 of 2)
Here are the five triggers that indicate it's time to increase your fee… so you can maximize your revenue.
How Speaker Fees Actually Work (1 of 2)
Your Quotable Fee is the number that is sitting patiently on the tip of your tongue, ready to be blurted out when someone asks how much you charge.
3 Reasons THIS is the World's Best Presentation Clicker for Professional Speakers (Video)
Ten years ago, I invested considerable money into a new presentation clicker for my keynotes. I've never looked back. There are three reasons I love this presentation remote.
Why Referring OTHER Speakers Can Help YOU Earn More (Part 1 of 2)
Chances are slim you'll speak at an event two years in a row. So, I want you to start referring other speakers for every gig you win. Not only is it the best way to earn more gigs. But, it's also a brilliant way to start generating the holy grail of all revenue… passive income!
The Most Effective Way to Get More First Gigs (with Outreach Templates too!) Part 2 of 2
So, in order to gain more first gigs for this speech, I might reach out to other speakers with a similar audience to mine. They might be more successful than me with more inquiries than they can handle.
Why $17.70 a month?
The Coffee Cup that inspired a $17.70 monthly subscription to content that can transform your professional speaking career.