One of the best lead generation systems for direct sales professionals is to offer yourself as a free public speaker.
There are literally hundreds of clubs, churches, schools and non-profit organizations near you that would love to have you come and speak to their group.
There is nothing better than a system that generates an unlimited supply of sales leads that are FREE!
I’m Afraid to Be a Public Speaker!
Don’t say that! You CAN be a public speaker.
Getting started in public speaking is more of a mindset than a skill set!
You can be a public speaker, so stop staying you can’t.
Offering yourself as a speaker will bring new business into your client base that is totally unrelated to your existing client base.
You wouldn’t pass up on FREE or PAID For Leads would you? (Sometimes speakers get paid. You can’t beat that – getting paid to generate leads for your direct sales business! Wow!)
Say it: I am a public speaker!
Getting Started in Public Speaking
People often ask how to get started in public speaking and say “What would I talk about?”
Here is a simple way to decide what you will offer the organizations when you begin to make your calls. Think about these questions:
- Who are you?
- What is your life purpose?
- What is your business purpose, your brand?
- Which part of you will have value to groups?
Make a List
Keeping those questions in mind, write four lists each with about 10 entries on each.
List your passions, your skills, your hobbies, and your business skills, products or motivations.
It might go something like this:
Passions
Children’s eating habits
Environmental issues
Chemical-free living
Whole foods
Skills
Organization
Teaching
Marketing
Web design
Hobbies
Body building
Cooking
Gardening
Bonsai
Direct Sales Business Motivation Or Expertise
Chef
Recipe creator
Human resources management
Business training
Increase metabolism
It doesn’t really matter what you have in each category.
The topics do not have to relate to your business for you to get leads.
If you snowmobile for a hobby then write it down. If you are a good swimmer as a skill then that is good too. The point here is to dig deep and find at least 10 for each category. You should have no less than 40 topics to pick from.
Public Speaking Means Providing Value
Which have the most value to the audience?
No matter what direct sales business you are in, your mission is to provide value for others. When you are able to do that for your audiences you will be a good public speaker too.
After the lists are done, go back to the original questions.
- Which ones of these topics are you most comfortable with?
- Which of the topics are best presented to groups?
Pick out three of the 40 on the list and determine the benefits to your audience.
Taking the three that you selected, get a new paper and list the benefits or value of each topic.
Again, think of as many values as you can come up with for each topic.
Using my list above, I have selected one of my topics as increasing metabolism.
The Value Of Increased Metabolism
Not tired
Feel better
Keep up with the kids
Get more done
Stronger immune system
Fewer colds
You can eat more
More energy
Etc.
Title Your Public Speaking Events
Now that you have three topics or possible events and you know all the benefits or value of them for the participants it is time to write a SNAPPY title and an equally snappy subtitle.
The title gets their attention and the subtitle tells them what it is all about.
For example continuing with the increase metabolism topic:
Title: The Jack Rabbit Energy Workshop
Subtitle: I teach you how to have the energy and spring of 12 jack rabbits on a trampoline.
Pretty SNAPPY, Huh?!
How about this one?
Title: Be A Red Beet, Not A Deadbeat!
Subtitle: Become a superhuman growing superfoods for exercise and nutrition.
The point of the subtitle is to give the listener a brief one-line description with some emotional value. The subtitle needs to be short, to the point, and leaving them wanting more. It should have an impact to the emotions.
I mean like really…. who wouldn’t want to have the energy and spring of 12 jack rabbits anyway?!
It Takes Time to Be SNAPPY
The process of creating speaking topics takes a few days. Allow your subconscious mind do some of the work by not forcing the issue.
Be willing to step out of your comfort zone a bit. It is OK to feel a bit uncomfortable the first time you tell someone that your topics are:
The “Jack Rabbit Energy Workshop” and “Be A Red Beet, Not A Deadbeat”
The SNAPPY titles will catch them and the subtitles will make them want more. When they ask what the Jack Rabbit Energy workshop is you just say “I can teach you how to have the spring and energy of 12 jack rabbits on a trampoline… When does your group meet?”
Take Advantage of Your Subconscious Mind
Don’t write the speech until you have a dated speaking engagement.
Again, allow your subconscious mind to do some work while you do the calls. When someone gives you a date, you will be able to write a speech in a flash because your subconscious mind has done all the work.
Get Leads Through Public Speaking
The summary of how to get started in generating paid-for (or at least free) leads for your direct sales business:
- List your topics.
- Pick out 3 topics with the best value that are going to market.
- List the benefits or value to the group, client or organization. How will the members benefit from the topic or your speech?
- Write a snappy title for each.
- Write an equally snappy subtitle that conveys the emotional value to the group in a quick one-liner.
- Make your calls.
- Write up a page description to use as a mailing piece when requested and not before.
- Write your speech when you date a speaking engagement.
The way you become a public speaker is to just start doing it!
The more contacts you make the more you will be able to fine tune things, so do not wait until everything is perfect to get started in public speaking!
