23 truths every professional speaker needs to know

1. Speakers deal with meeting planners, experts deal with CEO’s. Which one are you?

2. Audience members want to hear FROM success, not ABOUT it.

3. The more you focus your speeches, the more the buyers say, “That’s for me!” and then the more you can charge.

4. If all you’re doing is speaking then you don’t have a business.

5. If you don't want to make this a career, don't bother.

6. It’s not what you talk about, but what can you bring that nobody else can.

7. ASK YOURSELF: What industry do you want to dominate?

8. Refuse to go away. Persistence is attractive. But don’t be annoying. Or desperate. It’s tough to sell with your tongue hanging out.

9. Why would you re-do or re-create your marketing materials if nobody asks for them?

10. Too polished of a speaker = unapproachable and not real.

11. Speaking at a tradeshow = credibility.

12. Is everything you know written down somewhere?

13. It doesn’t matter what you write. Just write. It's amazing how many speakers don’t write every day.

14. You need to build a following.

15. Eliminate the “one” source of income.

16. You are selling your insights.

17. If you’re the only one who does what you do, there IS no competition.

18. If you want to dominate you need to do your own stuff.

19. Tradeshow speaking = broad based intro to industry & keeps you current.

20. THEY ARE not buying your book, they’re buying your voice.

21. We are in the name accumulation business.

22. SERIOUSLY ASK YOURSELF: Why are you speaking?

23. “You participate in your online image but you don’t control it.” CEO, Monster.com. He also said, “The internet is forever.” Careful what you post.

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...this educational post brought to you by your friends at National Speakers Association.

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