1. Find your niche and audience…

…once you do dig deeper and really narrow in on a very specific group of people, a group that you are meant to serve, one that desperately needs your solution to their very specific problem. Find the problem. Offer the solution.

2. Create a brand for your speaking business.

What do you want to be known for? Research your competitors and see how they’re positioning themselves… set yourself apart from them and be different, don’t be afraid to be the purple cow in the field. Be clear with your brand; do not confuse your audience. It really needs to be focused, targeted and clear. Be consistent with your brand as it will follow you everywhere and on everything from your marketing material to the way you answer your calls.

3. Create an online presence:

A website that is designed to meet the needs of your target audience and one that includes all the necessary ingredients for online success as a speaker (this is vital because about 95% + planners and media professionals are going online to find their experts and you need to make sure you’re easily found with a very clear message)

4. Create essential marketing material

5. Set up marketing strategies…

…to be applied in your speaking business and start building your platform. Let your platform be clear and targeted.

6. Create products, products, products.

You have so much knowledge and talent built up inside and you need to get it out in different learning formats for your audience. This will build your credibility and create a stream of income for you.

7. Learn the importance of building relationships.

I can’t stress this enough… it’s all in the relationships.

8. Follow up!

Follow up is essential especially in the speaking business. Don’t worry your not being a nuisance but showing you are very interested and are the perfect speaker for their event. Now, don’t overdo the follow up to where you have exhausted them but just a few simple follow up calls or emails to let them know you are the perfect one to provide solutions for their audience.

If you want to secure your first speaking engagement and create a full schedule then it’s vital to take steps in building your speaking business. Don’t hop from point A to C because you will end up back tracking and in the end only feel frustrated by the endless wasted hours and the dent you put in your pocket book. So take your time in starting your speaking business and if done right you can have a successful and lucrative business!

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Wendi McNeill development & marketing coach for beginning speakers has been opening doors of opportunity and coaching speakers since 2002. She is the founder of Charli Jane Speaker Services providing solutions through programs, coaching and speaker services to help beginning speakers start and grow their business and create multiple streams of income. Wendi is the wife to an amazing husband, mother of 4 daughters (no boys), author, workshop leader, and raising teen girls parenting coach. Visit Wendi online to see if she has a solution to your challenge in starting & growing your speaking business. http://www.CharliJane.com

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Remember that your “Speaker’s Bio” may be the ONLY information people will use to decide whether they want to hear what you have to say – or not. Most presenters make the deadly mistake of thinking that their Speaker’s Bio is a C.V. (curriculum vitae)

While establishing credibility in your bio is important, keep in mind that people are far more interested in their own problems and desires than they are in where you went to school, your certifications or degrees. Therefore your bio needs to be client focused, rather than self-focused. Yes, you need to establish your credibility but only AFTER you have triggered desire from your reader to know more about you.

In other words, a compelling bio is one that IDENTIFIES with your audience and explains how they will benefit from listening to you — what problems you can solve and which desires you can help them fulfill.

It should describe who you are, what you do, whom you serve and how you serve them, in a way that uniquely positions you as a “go-to” person for a specific issue because THIS document may decide the “position” you occupy in your client’s (or prospect’s) mind, and how the prospect
THINKS about you – for good! And if it is well –written, it will generate more referrals from your clients, advocates and PEOPLE YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW!!

How to do it:

1. Identifying and REALLY knowing your target market — their unique challenges, desires, problems — is probably the most critical aspect to any aspect of marketing and your bio is no exception.

2. As you write down your thoughts and ideas think of a client or person you know that represents your ideal target market.

3. Be specific! The more specific you are, the easier it will be for you to find your prospects and the easier it will be for your prospects to find you!

4. Brainstorm key words and key phrases FIRST!! Do not begin to write paragraphs until you have “slept on” your key words and key phrases. This will save you a lot of re-writing time.

5. Include your “Unique Abilities” that you identified from the “Information Gathering” process.

6. Use 7th grade English to make your document readable and user-friendly

7. Let your ideas incubate!

Brainstorm words and phrases that answer…

1. What do you do? Create an easy-to-say, easy-to-repeat identifying statement that targets your market and gets the right people interested to know more.

2. How do you do it?

3. What are the specific needs of your target audience that you fulfill? How does that relate to their time, money or reputation?

4. What tangible, measurable benefits can you provide or problems can you solve?

5. What are the intangible benefits of #4 and #5 above? These are the real things people care about but they won’t believe you can help provide them unless you justify it with the tangible items first.

6. Credibility: Why you? What are unique abilities. In addition to your formal education, think about your past experience, and how it uniquely qualifies you. Include anything you can add to build credibility such as being quotes in the newspaper, published articles, workshop titles, whitepapers, audio programs etc.

Highlight the words and phrases you like most. Make sure you have something to address all six areas and compile a statement.

Ask someone with a critical eye and good grammar to review and edit. (Do not ask an English professor to make corrections, unless they completely understand the necessity of using 7th grade English in your marketing piece.)

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mandy_Bass

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