Q: Why would someone accept an unpaid speaking engagement?
A: Speaking is marketing.
Speakers are credible experts. Speakers who are educational, informative and entertaining insure that audience members feel they’ve gained something.
That makes them choose to do business with — or ask for information from — the guest speaker.
Expert speakers “monetize” their time in tactful and graceful ways. From the stage they naturally suggest to listeners:
- visit my blog
- give me your business card
- join my mailing list
- ask for an appointment
They also use “Back of the Room” (aka the book table) techniques to sell physical or information products:
- book
- audio CDs with advanced information
- videos of previous speeches
- audio courses
- memberships
- consultation appointments
Speaking for free enhances one’s credibility as the expert and fills the income-generating pipeline!