Make Marketing Suck Less

Run Your Speaking Business Like a Machine

As a speaker, you've got a lot of responsibility on your shoulders.

Especially if you're running your speaking business like a lone wolf.

You are in charge of finding speaking opportunities, pitching those speaking opportunities, and tracking those pitches when they go out the door.  Then, the sales conversations, negotiating your speaking fees, booking your travel, marketing your speaking.

Plus, you have to create the speech, customize the speech for that specific audience, and become a master of the speaking craft, on top of following up with the people who gave you the opportunity to speak in order to stay top of mind, so that you get amazing referrals and testimonials.

And, maybe, just maybe, you’re running another business, as well. Whew.

One of the questions I've heard in the Rebel Speaker Facebook group is, “What the heck can I outsource to focus on what really matters in my speaking business?”

If you're building a speaking business, you can use an expert set of eyes like mine, on what you should be doing to build that business. And this is why I offer Speak For Impact Strategy Sessions. Let's define your speaking vision. Create an action plan for making it happen, and you can find out how I can help you make that vision a reality. You can get all of the information at drmichellemazur.com/speak.

Now let's talk about outsourcing. And when I'm talking about outsourcing, I am talking about hiring a talented assistant to help you with tasks. In my business, I have Dorothea. She's over at dorotheasdesk.com and she does amazing work for me behind the scenes. My business would not run without her.

But, when I was first transitioning into getting an assistant, I had no idea what types of things I could have her do for me that would free up my time. So, as a speaker, here are five things that you can outsource to a virtual assistant.

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Outsourcing Task One: Researching Places to Speak

You need to have researching done for places to speak. You have to get your research strategy in place. Meaning, you have to know what keywords you're targeting, who your competition set is.

But, once you know that, you don't have to do all of the Googling, and putting it into a spreadsheet or your CRM, to keep track of it.

A VA can actually do the research for you. One of my suggestions is to quantify this task.

Say, “Hey, can you find me speaking opportunities at leadership conferences and can you find me 10 of them this week?”

Make it a very specific task. Give them your research strategy, and let them go to town, and give them feedback on what they find. Because they should be Googling, you should not be Googling.

[Tweet “Your assistant should be googling for speaking gigs. YOU should not be googling!”] 

Outsourcing Task Two: Creating Pitches

The second piece you can outsource in your business is creating pitches.

Now, I don't recommend having your VA send the pitch, because I really do believe the sales process falls on you, but you can get a template together and set up the pitch.

Then your VA can fill out the template, send it to you, you customize it, and then you send it out. All you have to do is press send, and if you need a pitch template,

I do have a five day course that I offer about pitching, and you can grab that at drmichellemazur.com/pitch. That will get you started on getting that template that you can give to your VA.

Outsourcing Task Three: Tracking Speaking Opportunities

The third task that you can outsource is, once you're finding these speaking opportunities, and pitching these speaking opportunities, you have got to track those speaking opportunities. And by you, I mean, your assistant.  

You will find that most speaking opportunities, especially if you're pitching associations or conferences, are going to have a six to eight month lead time.

So, that means that you're going to have to track when those applications open, when they are due, when you should be following up.

A VA can do that for you, and then send you reminders that say, “Hey, you've got to get that application in or we need to send a pitch here.” You should be using your VA  to remind you of what needs to happen to keep you fully booked and track those speaking opportunities.

Outsourcing Task Four: Booking Travel

The fourth piece you can outsource to your assistant is booking travel. Once you book a speaking gig and you have to travel for it, give it to your VA to research.

Tell them your travel preferences, that you prefer aisle seats, you prefer morning flights, you prefer evening flights. But, hand them all of the details and let them do the research, book the travel.

Yes, if you're a control freak like me, you'll probably  want final approval. But, have them book the travel for you, because you don't need to be doing that.

Outsourcing Task Five: Tracking Referrals & Testimonials

Then the final task you can outsource to a VA is tracking referrals and testimonials. In my interview with David Fisher, we were talking about that point after you speak being about the mid-point of your relationship.

You should stay top-of-mind after you speak at an event for a couple of reasons.  

First, they might want to rehire you. You're now a known quantity. They might have another gig for you.

And second, they will refer you to other people, but you have to ask for those referrals. You have to ask for those glorious testimonials that you can post on your website. And, your VA can keep track of those things and help you make those asks.

So, those are five different tasks that you can outsource to a virtual assistant to help your speaking business run like a well-oiled machine.

By having a VA to help you with this, it frees you up to focus on what matters most. Your sales process for selling the speech, and the speech, itself. Making that the best product it can be.

If you want help making your speech the best product, and help with your sales process, then apply for a totally complimentary Speak For Impact Strategy Session, where we can make a plan for your speaking business, and I can tell you on what to focus on next. Go to drmichellemazur.com/speak.

And remember, you don't have to carry all of this on your shoulders. Get someone to help you out, so you can focus on speaking and making an impact.