How to Find Paying Speaking Jobs

I want to help you start your motivational speaking business and train you to make more and more money in your motivational speaking career. One question I get all the time is, "James, how do I get paid public speaking jobs?" These jobs are out there but you need to know where to look in order to find them. Here are just a few ideas.

1) Look for organizations that serve the niche you're in. For example in the niche I'm in, I'd take a look at DECA marketing organizations, FCCLA. If you're in the real estate industry, take a look at investor associations, the national board of realtors or even local community associations.

2) Research public speaking opportunities in related associations within your area of expertise. Get the contact information of the conference coordinator even if you weren't hired as their keynote speaker, don't be afraid.

3) Creating a database of potential clients who may be searching for conference speakers in the future can help increase your professional speaking success. You can do this by contacting universities, colleges and professors. Be sure to also try and contact your local speakers bureaus, non-profit organizations, corporations and even libraries.

4) You may want to check out the speaker forums for jobs when starting a professional speaking business. Many jobs aren't paid ones, you'll find, but they may be useful in helping you create credibility in your niche. It is key that you remember eventually go after higher and higher paying jobs instead of working for free.

5) As you start getting the hang of getting books for public speaking, you'll begin to develop a system to keep track of all the places you'll market yourself to. A helpful tool in providing contact information for organizations and conferences that are hiring motivational speakers is the internet. Search for "speakers wanted" or "calls for speakers" and you'll have a hefty listing to work through.

6) There are directories that are published that list all the paying markets within a niche. No directory is ever complete, but it will provide you enough contact to keep your business going. There are three main directories that can be helpful with research: The National Trade and Professional Associations Directory, The Directory of Association Meeting Planners and the Directory of Corporate Meeting Planners. These directories do cost a bit to acquire, but they'll make researching your niche easier than ever!

7) The last key source of potential paid professional speaking jobs comes in the form of the referrals. Referrals will help bring your name to the forefront when event planners are looking to hire. You'll gain referrals as you build up a network of peers and clients in your niche market. One thing is for sure: the person who markets to event planner first is the one they will hire when they are getting ready for a job. You need to be the first one there!

One last thing I've got to share with you. Be sure to remember that you can always find the people who have the money you need to pay to hear you speak. With these resources you can get started on researching your particular area of expertise. And once you done a number of gigs, get out there and go after the big money!

Tags: public speaking advice, public speaking careers, public speaking classes, public speaking workshops, high impact public speaking strategies, public speaking exercises