4 Effective Methods for Reaching Out to Planners

3. Make a Connection on Social Channels 

Social media can be one of your best friends when it comes to making contact with event planners and organizers. However, for this method to be effective, you need to do your research. Generic DMs are just not good enough. You need to know everything about this event organizer before you initiate contact. It’s the only way you will open the doors of opportunity. 

So when researching conferences you want to participate in, find the organizer(s) on social media, and get busy with your online detective work to find out as much as you can about them before making a connection. 

It’s also an excellent idea to BE SOCIAL. One little message isn’t going to give you much. Instead, set aside time to occasionally like, comment, and share their content, allowing you to occupy their notifications and keeping you front of mind when they next come to consider booking new speakers. 

Of course, don’t be annoying here. No more than 3-4 interactions a week. Otherwise, you will annoy them into blocking you and slamming the door shut on any chances of speaking at their conference or event.

4. Direct Mail

I’ve already spoken about the power that direct mail still has. Event planners are far more likely to open snail mail than any email campaign, so never write off this method of reaching out! 

That said, you will need to get creative to grab their attention. Plain white envelopes ain’t going to do it. You need to think outside the box. If you’re lacking inspiration, you can read my post covering direct mail strategies for planners.

Whatever you decide regarding strategy, make sure it stands out, and do not forget to follow up! Once again, a phone call is best, and you have the benefit of an icebreaker right off the bat, which should take the edge off any nerves you might have.

Reaching Out to Planners is Easy – But It Requires Hard Work 

The good news for you as a speaker trying to grow your business is that you have plenty of opportunities to get up on that stage. The only thing standing in your way is a lack of planners knowing you exist. 

Reaching out to planners changes that. They suddenly know you are, can evaluate your marketing materials, and assess whether you are as good of a fit for their event as you think you are. 

The one drawback is that it’s a numbers game. You can’t contact one event planner expecting to hit the jackpot. You’ve got to put in the work. 

But, little by little, as you work on cultivating those relationships, the speaking opportunities should come trickling in, one by one, until you have a long trail of inbound inquiries and you get to pick and choose which events to attend. 

It’s a long journey, but one that is incredibly worthwhile for your business. 

Again, if you would like to get hold of those email templates and gain other hints and tips for reaching out to planners, then make sure to join our free Facebook group Breakthrough Public Speakers today.  

I also put together a little kit that includes a video training and playbook PDF you might find helpful called How to Find Speaking Gigs. You can grab it here.