Last updated on March 13th, 2019 at 05:47 pm
What REALLY matters to a client when booking a keynote speaker?
I see, hear, and work with a lot of keynote speakers, and I’m seeing a common misconception that content is what gets them booked. I disagree. Of COURSE content is important. Of COURSE your message matters. Of COURSE you have something of value to share and teach. But that’s not why they book you for the keynote slot.
They book you for the EXPERIENCE YOU CREATE – the way you wrap that content – the way you make people feel – how engaging you are – how much they laugh – how good your stories are – how compelling that presentation is.
Yes, there are some people hired because they are the commonly known guru in their genre. And they will continue to be booked. Even if they suck. But many of you are calling yourself gurus when you’re really not. You’re a guru when THEY say you are. When an industry titles you as the expert, then you are being booked for that. But I wonder how often you’ll get booked as the industry expert if your speech is crap?
So unless you are the Seth Godin of your market – unless you are the celebrity off The Biggest Loser – then you fall into the category with the rest of us who are being booked for more than the content we teach. We are being booked for our WOW factor. We are booked for the experience we deliver in that hour.
So today I ask you one question….if all content were removed from your speech, what’s left?
What is your WOW factor?
What is the experience that you create?
What is the experience they receive?
If you create an amazing experience and then learn how to sell it on the front end, you’ll get more business. I promise.
Related Stories:
Kelly Swanson is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, motivational speaker, Huffington Post Contributor, and cast member of The Fashion Hero television show airing on Amazon Prime. She is also the author of Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale, The Land of If Only, The Story Formula, and The Affirmation Journal for Positive Thinking. She was a featured entertainer for Holland America Cruise Lines, keynote speaker for the International Toastmasters Convention, and has keynoted major conferences and corporate events from coast to coast. She just launched her one-woman show Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale in theaters, and it is being booked all over the country. In July of 2022, she was inducted into the National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame.
Note: Articles by Kelly may contain affiliate links and may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on an affiliate link.
