Episode 20
Book More Summit Speaking Engagements
Want to book more summits? It's notoriously hard to get booked for summit speaking engagements when you don't previously know the host. Today I'm sharing my secrets for getting booked for more summits so you can make more sales and create more impact!
Learn more about booking more summits and making more sales at https://sellwithasummit.com/speakeredition/
Ready to create your summit speaking strategy? Go to https://virtualsummitspeaking.com!
Mentioned in this episode:
Summit Speaker Strategy Audio Training
If you want to learn more about summit speaking strategies and how you can use it to grow your business, jump over to virtualsummitspeaking.com. I put together a free audio training that you can take on the go in your regular podcast player!
Transcript
Welcome to Virtual Summit Success.
Speaker:I'm Jenn, founder of Virtual Summit Search, and you're in the right place
Speaker:if you want to make the most of your virtual summit experience, whether
Speaker:you're a host or virtual summit speaker.
Speaker:Let's get going with your next step to virtual summit success.
Speaker:This is a snippet from a presentation I recorded for Sell
With a Summit:Speaker Edition.
With a Summit:If you're having trouble figuring out the best ways to get booked to speak
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:this is one of the most common questions
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I get asked at Virtual Summit Search.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:We'll be covering some of the best ways to get in front of
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:summit hosts, so let's jump in!
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Alright, so I know that booking summits can feel really daunting, especially
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:if you're a new summit speaker.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:But even if you've been speaking at summits for a while, sometimes it feels
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:like it's impossible to get in front of summit hosts before they actually go and
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:have their speaker lineup nailed down.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:You might see the summit that would have been perfect for you...
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:and it just launched and it's way too late to get in on it.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So we're going to be talking today about getting booked for more summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And in case we haven't met yet, you've probably already seen me.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I'm Jenn.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I am the host of this summit speaker edition of Sell With a Summit, and I
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:also run Virtual Summit Search where we have a summit directory so you can find
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:summits to attend, but we also have a summit speaker directory where hosts
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:go to find speakers for their summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:We'll talk about that a little bit later; that is one of the ways that I
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:do find speakers for my own summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So I am actually going to be talking about the ways that I find speakers
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:for my summits and the ways that I see other people finding speakers for their
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:summits, because if you can go and get into those places where the hosts are
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:looking, you're going to be so much more likely to get booked for more summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So let's just dive on in.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:The main ways that I find my summit speakers are through my own network,
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:through recommendations from my network and even my audience, from the summit
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Speaker Directory, through guest podcasts, and even on social media.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So when I am hosting a summit, I start off by deciding what
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:topics I want to have first.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I don't go and look for speakers first - and hopefully the summit
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:hosts that you're interacting with are doing the same: they're deciding
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:on the topics so that there is a flow to the summit, and then they're
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:going and looking for folks like you.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So when I am ready to start looking for my summit speakers,
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I reach out to my network first.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So I see who fits the topics that I already have outlined
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:and I reach out to them.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So for this Speaker Edition, for example, I knew that I had to have Jess Rasdall on.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:She is THE public speaking strategist, and this is also a great fit for
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:her audience because she teaches them about public speaking, and
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:virtual summits are a great thing to include in your speaking strategy.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So luckily, she is on and you're going to love her talk.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And if you want to deliver your presentation in 20 minutes or less,
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:like a lot of summit hosts are going towards, that's a great one.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So that was why I knew I had to have her on.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And that is why reaching out to your network first is a really great place to
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:go because you know these people, you know the value that they're going to provide,
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:you know that you're a good fit for their audience so you can provide value back.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So the best way to do this is to reach out to your network and tell them that
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:you are ready to speak at summits or that you've already been speaking at
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:summits and you're looking to increase your engagement with virtual summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So what you can tell them is something along the lines of, "Hey, so I am
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:looking to speak at more summits this year, and I would really love
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:to get in front of more summit hosts.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I don't know if you know anyone who is hosting a summit, but these are the
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:topics that I would love to talk about.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:This is my audience, so I can make sure that it's a good fit and this is how
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I serve the audience of the summit."
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So when you approach it from this angle of service and how you can provide value
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:to the summit - both the hosts and the attendees - you're way more likely to get
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:recommended because your network is going to know exactly how they can tell folks
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:that they can bring you into the summit.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So the other thing is that they might be hosting the summit,
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:but they might also know people.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So that's why you can just say, "do you know anyone?"
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Because if they are the person that is hosting the summit, then they
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:know themselves and they might say, "oh, actually I haven't told anyone
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:yet, but I'm looking at hosting a summit in a few months and I
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:haven't reached out to speakers yet, but it sounds like a great fit.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Do you want to speak?"
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And if they don't, they can keep an eye out.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And by telling them the topics that you speak on and the audience, it makes
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:it a lot easier to make sure that they are sending you to the right summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:You really want to make sure that you are aligned with the
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:summits you're speaking at.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:If you haven't watched Elli Runkle's session, you definitely want to do that
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:because choosing summits that align with your values and your audience is
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:so important when it comes to summit speaking, so I want you to make sure
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:that you go and listen to that one.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And even if you don't think that someone is going to know any summit
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:hosts, you might be surprised.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I've reached out to my audience before and I said, "Hey, who would you like
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:to hear speak about this topic?"
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Whether it's the theme of the entire summit, or I have a specific topic that
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I'm looking to fill for the summit, they have given me some great recommendations.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I have had people that have been recommended by my audience.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And if someone is in an audience and they see an ask for summit speakers and
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:they recommend you, that someone hosts is immediately going to view you as an expert
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:that you are - because you are an expert in whatever you're talking about - and so
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:they're more likely to take you seriously and reach out to you and you might even
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:get onto summits that you never would have had a chance to get onto because you don't
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:know anyone who's personally connected to them, but if they're having trouble
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:filling the topic and someone says, "Hey, you should have so-and-so talk about it."
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:"Susie's amazing at this," they might reach out to you.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:You might end up on a summit with people that you never would have
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:dreamed about speaking alongside.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So it really pays to reach out to your network and let them know that you
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:are interested in speaking at summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So that's the networking side of getting booked on summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And this next one is kind of in the middle because it's both visibility
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:and it's networking because you are putting yourself alongside other speaker.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And that is the Summit Speaker Directory.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So I created this because of this exact reason: it's hard to get in
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:front of summit hosts before they have the speaker lineup, but it's
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:also really hard as the summit host to find people who fit the topics and the
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:audience that you're looking for if you've already exhausted your network.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So this is where we kind of go from networking into the visibility because
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:it also gives you that visibility aspect.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So what the Summit Speaker Directory is, is it's a place for you to put
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:your speaker profile so you can share your primary speaking topic, your
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:secondary speaking topics - if you have those - and your audience so the
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:summit hosts immediately know if you are the right fit for their summit.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And then you can have your past speaking experience on there, as well as your
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:contact info so that it's really easy for summit hosts to reach out to you and
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:invite you to speak at their summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I've gotten pitched from people who found me on my own Directory.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I know plenty of other people in the Directory who get pitches on the
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:regular, so it is a great place to get in front of summit hosts because
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:more and more hosts are finding the Directory, they're looking through it.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I look through it!
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I've booked speakers from my own Directory before.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So if you want an easy way to get in front of more summit speakers who
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:want to find people that are well aligned with their summit theme and
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:audience, this is a great place to go.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And we'll talk about that a little bit more later, so I won't
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:get into it too much more here.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And then if I haven't covered all of my speakers through my network or
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:through the Directory, then I start looking at stuff like guest podcasts.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So I'll go and do a search for the topic that I'm looking to fill, and
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:especially if I can find someone who fits the topic and especially the
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:angle, but has also spoken at summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So I might find someone who looks like they're really great fit and I go, and I
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Google them with the word summit attached and I find out they've been on a summit.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Perfect.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I need them.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So if you can showcase your expertise on guest podcasts, that is a great way
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:to get in front of summit hosts as well.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And so that may mean going and looking for podcasts on places like Listen Notes
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:- I highly recommend that because you can go and search for podcasts topics, but
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:then you can even search inside of those podcasts for another specific topic.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And then you can say, "Hey, so I see that you have had guests
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:on speaking about this topic.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I come at it from a slightly different angle.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Do you think that would be something that would be of value to your audience?
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Would they be enjoy listening to something about that?
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And also, I have another resource that would go along with that to
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:help them take it to the next level."
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So that way you are immediately showing that you're providing
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:value to their audience and that's what you're focused on.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I know that a lot of folks have trouble with pitching.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So if you are not ready to go and do guest podcast pitching, but you still want to
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:be able to showcase your expertise in that way - especially if you don't like video,
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:audio is a great way to do that - then you could even host your own podcast.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:You could have guests on, or you could just do solo episodes.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And if you don't want to do a full blown podcast, just put audio files
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:on your website, on blogs or whatever it happens to be, so that if a summit
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:speaker reaches out or someone in your network says, "Hey, I have someone
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:who's looking for speakers, but they want to get a feel for your speaking
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:style beforehand," you can say, "oh, well, I can just send them this link!"
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And that way, they can go and get a look and listen and see if they feel like
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:you're the right fit for their summit.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So those are my top ways that you can get booked on more summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So if you're hitting up the places where summit hosts are looking for speakers
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:while they're still making their speaker lineup, you are exponentially more likely
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:to get found and booked for more summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So I did promise to talk a little bit more about the Summit Speaker Directory.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:This is one of the easiest ways to get in front of summit hosts because you can go
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:and put in your speaker profile for free.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:And I created this, like I said, because I was having so much
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:trouble finding summits to speak at.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I've been speaking at summit since 2015, and I still sometimes have trouble
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:finding the right summits to speak at.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So, what I want you to do after we wrap this up is go to virtualsummitsearch.com
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:and fill out the application to join the summit speaker directory.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:What that means is you'll be getting in front of summit hosts who are looking
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:for people with your expertise and your audience so that you can serve them and
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:in your audience at the same time - and hopefully make some money, which we're
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:talking about later on in this summit.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So if you have any questions about getting booked at more summits,
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I would love to answer them.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Shoot me a DM on Instagram or an email - hello@virtualsummitsearch.com
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:- and I would be more than happy to answer your questions.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I love talking shop about summits, both with hosts and speakers, and I
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:want to help you create more reach and impact from your one-hit-wonder
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:summits that you speak at.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:So go out, take some action, book some more summits, and I can't wait to see
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:you on more summits in the future!
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Now, those aren't all of my secrets for getting booked to speak on summits,
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:so if you want more, join me in Sell With a Summit: Speaker Edition.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:It's totally free and there are so many other speakers who have incredible
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:strategies for booking more summits and making more sales from them.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I highly recommend getting in on that if you're incorporating summit
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:speaking into your business strategy.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Just go to sellwithasummit.com/speakeredition
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:and join us.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:I'd love to hear your biggest aha moment from this episode, too.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Leave a review and let me know the first strategy you're going to implement
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:to get in front of more summit hosts so you can get booked on summits.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Can't wait to hear from you and I'll see you on the next one!
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Thanks for listening to Virtual Summit Success.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Don't forget to leave a review and let others know your biggest
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:takeaways from this episode.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:Every review helps others find us, and the more successful virtual
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:summits there are, the more tips we'll have to share with you.
on virtual summits, you're not alone:
:For show notes, links, and other resources, go to virtualsummitsuccess.live