Get Paid to Speak: 3 Keys to Getting Started
Many of our blog posts are for people who speak for a living. However, what if you are just getting started? Here are a few key ideas for those of you who have a desire to become a professional speaker and need to know the first steps to get started. For you seasoned speakers, these ideas can […]
When Celebrity Trumps Style: Can High Profile Speakers Do No Wrong?
(Note: the use of the word “trump” in the title is in no way pertaining to any political candidate!) Sometimes you will find a speaker who is loved by audiences simply because of his or her bio, accomplishments or celebrity status. These celebrity speakers obviously have something great going for them, but I think even they […]
[Podcast] Leverage Your Strengths for a Profitable Speaking Career with Delatorro McNeal
This episode is a conversation with performance expert, speaker, author and television host, Delatorro McNeal. We discuss the career flash-points that have catapulted him to fans, fame and fortune. We also discuss the importance of authentic expertise and over-delivering on the stage. [Tweet “”Your past is not your destination, it is only preparation.” Delatorro McNeal”] […]
13 Steps to a Killer Presentation
We talk a lot about the importance of having a killer presentation. It’s the basis of my book, the Epic Keynote, which talks about ensuring that you get your message across in a clear, concise, yet entertaining, manner. I’ve always said, “There’s no better form of marketing than a great speech.” I recently […]
The Power of “The Ask”
We’ve all heard it and inherently know it: The first rule of sales is to… (drum roll please)… ask for the business! For many speakers, the “Ask” comes into play when we are on the phone with a prospective client in the form of “Would my topic “XYZ” be a good fit for your audience?” […]
[Podcast] Building Business Models & Monetizing Events with Michelle Villalobos
In this episode, learn all about building business models & monetizing events with Michelle Villalobos. Michelle didn’t just think about it, she used live events to scale her business beyond speaking. Michelle is a speaker, coach and, personal branding expert who has hosted many successful live events. Listen as Michelle walks the listeners through how […]
It’s Time to Tell Your Story: Using Storytelling to Spark Your Speaking Career
The ability to tell your story is a skill that every speaker should develop. It involves examining your past to understand how it has led you to the present; picking through the minor details to find the truly transformative events that have led you to where you are today. There are many marketing benefits that […]
Why Knowing Your Numbers is Crucial to the Bottom Line
Years ago I saw speaker’s agent Holli Catchpole (one of my idols!) give a talk at an NSA conference. She was talking about how she and her then boss, Tony Alessandra, kept a close eye on the accountant’s reports. They were constantly studying the Profit and Loss sheet to see where they could trim expenses […]
Speaking is a Numbers Game: 4 Tips to Boost Your Business and Get More Gigs
It’s true. Speaking is a numbers game. Think of it as a farmers field, you plant seeds, throw on some fertilizer (build the relationship) and after a period of time and enough seeds planted… Voila! You have a harvest. My client, Kindra Hall, understood this right out of the gate when she entered the speaking […]
Media
Thank you for your interest! Jane Atkinson has been helping speakers catapult their careers for over 20 years. She started as an agent representing speakers and when several of them quickly went from 0 to 80 engagements per year, she became known as an influencer in the speaking industry. “No amount of marketing […]
Picking the High Hanging, High Value Fruit
We always hear about picking the low hanging fruit. That is the business that is right in front of us. It might be a stack of business cards that you have not followed up on or leveraging your inner circle. Some of us can do a better job of picking that fruit and nurturing our […]
Diving Deeper Into the Ready, Aim, Fire Strategy
Have you ever tried to explain your offering to a client and you weren’t totally clear? Or you’ve attempted to write out the copy for your website, and it didn’t come easily? It might be that you were Firing, before getting Ready and taking Aim. Been there done that!! You are not alone. The […]