Getting Started As A Speaker

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Author
Cynthia Brian

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Help! I Want To Be A Speaker
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"I dream my painting and then I paint my dream."
-- Vincent Van Gogh
Are you interested in selling more books and gaining more clients for your writing services? Become a speaker and lecturer. You don’t have to be a professionally paid or trained speaker to be in demand as a popular and skilled public speaker. By doing public speaking in your community, you will attract more business.

What are the benefits of public speaking?

Establish your writing expertise by lecturing.
Design seminars based on your writing skills for potential clients.
Generate referrals for future work.
Sell your books and products at the back of the room.

Getting Started
Speaking in front of a group is considered the number one fear in the world by the majority of people.. Writers have a reputation for possessing the intrinsic ability to paint a picture with words. Their art is perfected on the printed page. Orators are not born, they are created through preparation, practice, and a passion to share wisdom via spoken expression. Writers who harness their anxiety despite shyness and lack of experience are the savvy professionals who sell the most products and services. It’s easy to join this elite corps of moneymakers.

Design a suitable speech by brainstorming ideas with a trusted friend or colleague. Choose topics on which you are an expert providing timely pertinent information that will inspire, educate, and entertain your audience Your presentations should also subtly showcase the services you sell. Most presentations are 40 minutes in length with a 15-20 minute question and answer session. A one-hour speech requires approximately 30 hours to create yet can be used multiple times for a variety of venues with minimal tweaking. PowerPoint presentations are excellent tools for boardrooms, classrooms, and conference rooms, however they can be distracting and inappropriate for small groups. Refer to notes on cards when necessary, but never read anything word for word unless it’s a passage from your book.

Improve Your Skills
The following tips and techniques will help improve your speaking skills.

Be energetic. If you act like you are having fun, the attendees will share your enthusiasm.
Mingle with the crowd before you speak so you can include members of your audience in your presentation
Create a goal to educate and inform your audience. They’ll respond with admiration.
Prepare, prepare, prepare.
Write an outline, memorize the beginning and the ending, supply the middle with stories .
Use a conversational tone.
Put a smile on your face and focus on the audience with your eyes.
Do your homework so that all statistics are well researched.
Always have more material than necessary. It’s easier to edit than speak on the fly.
Practice, practice, practice
Make fun of yourself while speaking. Be a graphic storyteller.
Help the audience to participate through exercises, questions, or demonstrations.
Give a great speech no matter how many people-one to one thousand is all the same.
Visualize expected questions and be ready with answers and prices for your services.
At the end of your talk, thank your guests for listening and let them know that you are available for other venues.
Express a call to action. Get the audience motivated to buy from you by offering a special discount for products or services when they purchase from you today.
This is show business. Provide a great show!
Have a blast !

Explore Local Venues
When you first start out as a speaker or lecturer, you will have to go to the jobs; they won't come to you. To get started, check out these local venues:

Service Groups such as Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Rotary Clubs
Parent-Teacher Associations
Church Groups
Garden Clubs
Book Clubs
Business Organizations
Non Profits
School Meetings
Homeowner Associations
Women or Men’s Clubs
Youth Group meetings such as Boy and Girl Scouts and 4-H
City Council Meetings
Shop Owner Associations

Once you get your speaking stride at the local level, you may want to venture into the professional area of speaking at conferences, conventions, spas, universities, on cruises, and national meetings. Ironically, you’ll find that the more you speak, the more you’ll be paid to write. You will become the talented and sought-after professional you’ve always dreamed of being.

You are the star of your own performance. Turn your passions into profits. Paint your dreams with words and be the star you are!

About The Author
Cynthia Brian is a popular speaker, dynamic writer, and savvy media personality. She is the author of Be the Star You Are!, The Business of Show Business, and Miracle Moments®. Visit Cynthia at Star-Style, call 925-377-STAR, or email cynthia@star-style.com.

Reprint Rights
This article may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author. For reprint rights or comments/questions about this article, please contact the author.