I didn’t realize how many speaking posts I’ve written until one of my blog readers sent me a thank you note this weekend.
Thank you, Deborah, these are helpful tips for learning about speaking opportunities, she wrote. I noticed you’ve written several speaking posts this year. Do you have them listed in one post? she asked.
I don’t, I replied. But that sounds like a good idea. Here you go.
First Time Speakers
If you’ve been inspired to speak on a certain topic, but the thought of speaking in front of a group of people makes you sweat, my post on first-time speaking will interest you.
You’ll find out what my favorite sports team was in high school, and what I did to get over my fear of public speaking.
I wrote ten tips for planning your presentation for the speakers at the meetup groups I lead. Though a few of the tips are specific to our groups, you’ll find good information on preparing for your presentation as well as questions to ask the hosts.
Quick tip: if you’re showing a slide presentation, bring a copy of it on a USB drive.
Speaking Opportunities
Finding out about speaking opportunities doesn’t need to be hard. Start with local meetups first and then take a look at conference calls for speakers (which are often announced on social media and in newsletters).
Sometimes speaking opportunities come in unexpected ways.
Like an early morning Twitter conversation about the alphabet of accessibility issues.
Or your Twitter conversation about the light tunnel at Detroit Metro Airport might bring a web standards and open web evangelist to your meetup group.
Accepting Invitations to Speak and Speaking Fees
If you’ve been asked to speak at a conference or local event, how do you decide whether to accept the invitation? My post on speaker pricing tips and managing expectations highlights key points from Jenn Lukas’s helpful post on speaking fees.
Local vs. National Events
I’m still hoping to hear from speakers who can share why they would choose to speak at a national conference rather than a local event. It’s puzzled me for years.
