Speaking is one of the best ways to get the word out about your company, especially for service-based businesses. As a public speaker, you share your expertise, gain credibility, and engage with your audience in a direct, relevant way that often leads to growing your business.

But getting speaking engagements can be tough, and many would-be public speakers struggle to find opportunities. Here are five ways to get speaking engagements that market your business.

1. Become a better speaker

It sounds obvious, but by becoming a more engaging, polished speaker, you gain even more opportunities to speak. When you're a really good speaker, you'll be able to ask for testimonials from those who've invited you to speak, and such testimonials go a long way with others who are looking for speakers.

So how do you become a better speaker? The best strategy I know is to record every presentation and watch the video later, taking note of what you want to improve next time. When I was first starting out as a speaker, I even recorded myself doing mock speeches at home, just so I could watch the recording and get better.

Earlier this year, I interviewed bestselling author and professional speaker David Meerman Scott, who told me that he spent years working on improving his speaking. He said he would focus on a different thing each time he spoke—how he stood, where he put his hands, how he modulated his voice—and, over time, he became the extraordinary speaker he is today.

2. Know your material

This point might seem obvious as well, but knowing your material inside and out will make you a better speaker, simply by easing your nerves. First, you should know your speech; you should have practiced it over and over. Knowing your speech really well means that you can be more confident and at ease when you get to the stage and step in front of the crowd. Larry Winget, another well-known speaker and author, once told me that being well prepared is the best way to overcome nerves. Mitch Joel has said the same thing.

But knowing your speech cold isn't enough. You need to actually be an expert in your content area. The more you know, the more confident you'll be taking questions from the audience.

What's most important about your actual presentation itself is that it not be a pitch. Don't try to sell anything. Instead, give your audience takeaways they can use and action steps they can follow. Your goal is to help them.

3. Have a speaking page on your website

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Five Ways to Get Speaking Engagements to Market Your Business

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

image of Susan Baroncini-Moe

Susan Baroncini-Moe is a public speaker and the president of Business in Blue Jeans, a business and marketing consulting firm for service-based businesses and startup entrepreneurs.