How to Become
a Motivational Speaker
1 - 2 - 3

10 Steps to Becoming a Motivational Speaker If you have ever made a class presentation, spoken up at a meeting, or given a toast at a wedding reception, you have spoken in public. Since public speaking is many people’s greatest fear, if you enjoyed the experience, you might have what it takes to become a motivational speaker. From the storyteller around the campfire to great spiritual and political leaders, speakers have motivated people throughout history. Today’s motivational speakers inspire students to stay in school, say no to drugs and gangs, and prepare for life after graduation. Adults are motivated by speakers to follow their dreams and achieve greater success in business and in life. Here are 10 steps to breaking into Motivational Speaking, based on the Fab Job Guide to Become a Motivational Speaker: 1. Do an inventory of your life experience The first place to look for what to speak about is your own life. Make a list of the goals you have achieved, such as: graduating from college, landing your first job, finding someone to love, overcoming a bad habit, starting a business, raising children, or achieving a lifelong dream. Of course, it’s even better if you have achieved something extraordinary, such as winning an Olympic medal, publishing a bestselling book, or giving birth to septuplets! But even accomplishments that seem “ordinary” can provide material for speeches. People find it inspiring to hear about how others have overcome obstacles to achieve their dreams. If you have ever had to deal with fear, rejection, financial hardship, or loss along the way to achieving your goals, chances are you have the basic material to give a motivational speech. 2. Identify what you have to offer Unfortunately, unless you’re already famous, audiences won’t pay just to hear about your life. (Many people are happy to talk about themselves for free!) To be successful, you should identify how your speeches can help people solve their problems, achieve their goals, or otherwise improve their lives. 3. Choose a “niche” People are unlikely to take you seriously if you promise that your speeches will solve all their problems and help them: get rich, lose weight, find the love of their life, become great leaders, get healthy, make more sales, be happy, etc., etc. Instead, pick one specialty or “niche” such as leadership. It’s important to have a niche because people like to hire experts. After all, if you needed surgery, wouldn’t you want your doctor to be “an expert”? 4. Know your target audience It can be tempting to say “I want everyone to hear what I have to say!” The reality is that if you develop a speech bank executives love, chances are it won’t go over as well at the local elementary school. Depending on your niche, you could define your audience by characteristics such as: age, gender, geographic location, industry, interests, or any other traits that distinguish one group from another. Once you have identified your audience, you can target your efforts directly to that group. 5. Write your speech If this is the part of becoming a speaker you fear most, the good news is there are people who can write a speech for you. You could check the Yellow Pages and hire a speechwriter, public relations firm, or speech coach. Prices can vary widely, so ask for a flat fee quote. If you want to write it yourself you can find numerous online resources to help you. There are numerous excellent speechwriting websites including sites offered by communication departments of several universities. 6. Polish your speaking skills It’s fine to feel nervous when you first start speaking. But as a professional speaker, it’s your job not to let it show. Among the traits that can help you succeed as a speaker are confidence, credibility (a combination of likeability and expertise), and enthusiasm. Most colleges and universities offer evening classes in public speaking to help you develop these traits. Another idea is to join Toastmasters, an international non-profit organization that helps people to practice speaking skills at weekly meetings. 7. Prepare promotional materials  Once you have written your speech and are confident in your speaking skills, you’re ready to start marketing yourself to the people who can hire you. Your promotional materials include a “demo” tape and an information package. While professional speakers spend thousands of dollars on a demo tape, as a beginner, your demo tape can be as simple as a video recording of one of your speeches. (Set the camera up on a tripod at the back of the room.) Your information package can be a two pocket folder available from any stationery store. It includes such items as: a letter of introduction, a business card, your resume, a color photograph, a page summarizing your experience and the benefits of your speech, and testimonial (reference) letters from people who have heard you speak. To make my package stand out, I also like to include a small gift related to my speech, such as a postcard with an inspiring message. 8. Approach potential employers Potential employers of speakers include: seminar companies, conventions, conferences, trade shows, corporations, non-profit associations, government agencies, continuing education departments, schools, colleges, and cruise ships. One of the best ways to approach potential employers is by phoning, faxing, or emailing them an invitation to see you speak. If they can’t come to see you in person, the next best thing is to send them your materials so they can see you on tape. 9. Get employers to approach you Imagine if employers approached you, instead of the other way around. You can make it happen by becoming well known in your community. The most effective ways to become well known as a speaker include: get interviewed on radio and TV, write articles for publication in local newspapers and magazines, put up a website, attend networking events, give free speeches to community groups, and present your own seminars. 10. Get represented by speakers’ bureaus Speakers bureaus are companies that can find work for you. Once you have some experience as a speaker, you can start approaching bureaus in your community to represent you. About the Author Tag Goulet is the author of the FabJob Guide to Become a Motivational Speaker. The complete guide offers detailed information about how you can break into this career and get hired as a motivational speaker. Visit www.FabJob.com for information How to Become a Motivational Speaker 100% Guaranteed Why do we recommend this resource? See what you get >> 5 Techniques for coming up with great topics Audiences that will pay you to speak Speechwriting - including how to get speeches written for you if you don't want to write them Speaking skills - that make beginners look like pros How to produce demo tapes and speech products Sample forms and materials Click here >> Start Your Motivational Speaking Business Now T I P : Explode Sales with Internet Video Discover how to easily add Internet video to your website. Build buyer trust and confidence. Free report. Helpful Resources for Motivational Speakers: Goal Setting Software Business Licenses Small Business Financing Business Bank Accounts Low Cost Accounting Software Home Business Tax Deductions 800 Phone Numbers Free Business Cards Dictation Software Website Builder Merchant Account Accept Credit Cards Individual Health Insurance Advertising: 7 Simple Secrets to Successful Workshops Nervous about your first motivational seminar or presentation? You don't have to be. Get solutions from workshop experts for attention-getting introductions, easy icebreakers, powerful visual demonstrations, effective delivery and preparation strategies so your workshops are virtually hassle-free. These insider tips can help you love your job even more! Click here >> 7 Simple Secrets to Successful Workshops Business Cards Make Advertising Easy Give them to people in your neighborhood, network with people you know, leave them with stores, offices and other places that busy professionals tend to hang out. With over 300 professional business card designs and easy-to-use templates, creation is a snap, and printing is done for you. Click here >> Free Business Cards for Motivational Speakers Free Newsletter: Best Marketing Practices Don't make the same marketing mistakes that everybody else does! Finding new clients doesn't have to be hard - you just need to know how to find them. This newsletter can really help grow your motivational speaking business - and it's free! Click here for your free report >> Best Marketing Practices Promote Your Coaching or Speaking Business Through eBooks Click here >> Online eBooks Business Start Up Kit In these uncertain times when we all would like to feel safe, when we don't really want to travel so much for our business, we need to look to the Online Marketing Machine of ePublishing. Your audience today is Internet savvy. They love the Web, surf it regularly and are looking for specific information that. You have that expertise already and can easily put it into an eBook. Business audiences want concise, easy-to-read short books on subjects from personal growth to how-to books. They are willing to print short eBooks, often only the chapters they plan to read immediately. Hardly any business person wants to read a long book any more. If you are like me, you probably don’t want to either. Ebooks are the wave of the future, and anyone, even those who think they can't write, can create a quality eBook in less than a month. With a little help from a book coach, you can learn the three or four best ways to use your eBook with other Online Promotion-and watch your client base grow. If you are a speaker, you already have several talks you can give. One of those talks can be your first short eBook. Print books and traditional publishing don't support the author. They take way too long, and only give the author a pittance for a lot of hard work. E books are easy work. In fact, with the articles you have in your files, plus the talks you already have written, you have the beginnings of your first eBook. Instead of 200 pages, think 10-30 pages. Instead of 15 chapters, think of 3-5 sections. Instead of long stories, think of tips. Why an eBook? Today, professionals need a Web site to market their services. In that Web site they need a home page with marketing pizzazz that uses benefit-driven headlines to drive the visitor to their coaching pages as well as to their product pages. On these pages you have your "sales letter" crafted to entice your reader to buy. EBooks help your coaching business because you can give the very short ones away when people subscribe to your eNewsletter. Your ezine helps promote both your eBooks and your services. Even if you don't have your own Web site, you can sell eBooks on other sites. Many pay up to 70% royalties-a much better deal than Amazon. The "Big Three" Marketing Machine Write or use short articles already in your files. Subscribe and submit them to Opt-in Ezines. Expand several articles to become an eSpecial Report, or eBook as some call them. You can give these away also, and you can also charge $4.95-$7.95 for them. Write your short eBook including a short introduction (sales letter), table of contents, a simple cover, and apply the essential "hot selling points" like the 30-60 "Tell and Sell." In each of these include all of your promotion information, your list of other products, your announcement about your coaching services, your one-page for speaking, and an order page with instructions that make it easy to "buy." Why Write an eBook? Using this trio, you will attract many more people to your Web site, to your talks, seminars and teleclasses. You will attract new clients as well as new subscribers to your ezine. In the long run, you will create a business easy and fun to operate. You'll create even more client loyalty and trust while building your reputation. And you create an ongoing, lifelong income-enough to keep you sound and secure in any economic situation. Judy Cullins, 20-year book and Internet Marketing Coach, Author of 10 eBooks including "Write your eBook Fast," and "How to Market your Business on the Internet," she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, The Book Coach Says...and Business Tip of the Month at http://www.bookcoaching.com/opt-in.shtml and over 140 free articles. Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com