With the advent of the pandemic, there’s no question that things have changed for speakers and events. While the events circuit is very much back up and running, many thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and educators have become a virtual speaker and have taken their message virtual by delivering webinars, creating digital products, and even putting on their very own live streaming events.
You can benefit from this trend by becoming a virtual speaker. Not only is it a great way to get your message out there, but it’s also a fantastic way to build your brand and grow your business. Here’s everything you need to know about becoming a virtual speaker.
A Guide to Becoming a Virtual Speaker
Here are the minute marks that cover highlights in the episode A Guide to Becoming a Virtual Speaker:
What is a Virtual Speaker?
(2:37) As the name suggests, a virtual speaker is someone who delivers their message via the internet instead of in person. This can be in the form of webinars, live digital products (such as online mastermind sessions), or even live streaming events.
Rather than traveling and giving talks in person, you can deliver your keynote or other talks virtually to a wider audience. This also means that you can reach people all over the world, which is a major benefit of becoming a virtual speaker.
Why Become a Virtual Speaker?
(3:08) There are many reasons why you should consider virtual speaking. Firstly, it’s important to remember that it doesn’t have to replace whatever you’re doing right now (unless you want it to); you can merely add it as a lucrative sideline business.
It doesn’t require anywhere near as much time or money as traditional speaking (no travel, hotel, or other speaking-related costs to worry about). Therefore you can easily slot it in around your current work and family commitments and do it all from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a laptop and a good internet connection (well, not quite, but we’ll go into what you’ll need shortly).
Another huge plus is that virtual speaking allows you to reach massive audiences. There are no geographical limits, so your message can reach people worldwide. And because you’re not tied to traveling and staying in hotels, you can easily do multiple talks in a day or week if you want to.
You can also make a lot of money from virtual speaking. With reduced overheads and potentially larger audiences, you can make more for your talks and make a very healthy profit.
Lastly, being a virtual speaker gives you a considerable degree of freedom. You can do it from anywhere in the world, design your own talks and products, and are no longer limited by time or geographical constraints.
How to Become a Virtual Speaker
(5:42) There are many potential routes to becoming a successful virtual speaker. The quickest and easiest way is to start by reaching out to virtual or live streaming event planners and offering your services.
You can also approach companies or organizations that you think would be interested in your message and offer to give a talk virtually. Or, if you have a large social media following, you can use this to your advantage and promote your talks directly to your fans.
Another excellent method if you’re a real go-getter is creating and live streaming your own events. You could team up with other speakers in your network and/or industry to create a mini-conference or event, which you can then live stream to people all over the world. This is a great way to get started in the virtual speaking world and build up a following quickly.
You can also create live (or pre-recorded) digital products that allow you to speak virtually to your audience on a more intimate level. These could be in the form of webinars, online courses, or even one-on-one masterminds or coaching sessions. These are all excellent ways to build your brand, grow your business, and make a lot of money as a virtual speaker.
What Do I Need to Become a Successful Virtual Speaker?
(7:17) In truth, the key ingredients for success in this growing speaking space are not too dissimilar from those you need for traditional speaking. Charli Jane members will already know everything about defining your niche (and niching down even further), building credibility and authority, and creating a powerful message that resonates with your target audience.
However, to rock virtual speaking, there are a few essential extras that you’ll need in your toolkit.
The Right Technology for Being a Virtual Speaker
(7:53) For virtual speaking, you need to be comfortable and confident using technology. While I mentioned earlier that all you need is a laptop and an internet connection, to do this right, and I mean really right, you do need more.
A professional microphone, a high-quality DSLR camera, lighting equipment, professional live streaming software, and a high-speed internet connection are all non-negotiables if you want to create a top-notch live streaming experience for your audience.
When Becoming a Virtual Speaker You Need To Be Comfortable On Camera
(8:30) You also need to be very comfortable speaking to a camera lens. This is something that a lot of people struggle with. Without a physical audience in front of them to interact with, some speakers really struggle to engage with the virtual audience in the same way.
If this is something you’re struggling with, my best advice is to practice, practice, practice! The more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll become. You could even try recording yourself giving a talk and then watching it back to see where you can improve.
Don’t Skimp on Any of Your Marketing or Promotional Activities
(9:33) Finally, you need to make sure that you’re promoting your talks in the right way. Just because you’re not physically traveling to an event doesn’t mean you can skimp on the promotion. You still need to let people know about your talks and make it easy for them to attend online.
Remember, because these events are online, you have a much wider audience that you can reach with your marketing efforts. Whereas traditional promotion for an event might be restricted to a specific geographical area, you can promote your virtual talks to people all over the world with minimal effort.
So when you decide to become a virtual speaker make sure you take advantage of social media, email marketing, and paid advertising (including Pay-Per-Click) to get the word out about your talks and drive up registrations.
Becoming A Virtual Speaker Can be Incredibly Lucrative When Done Right
(10:26) Becoming a virtual speaker is an excellent way to make money as a speaker. In many ways, it’s easier than traditional speaking because you have much more control over your environment, technology, and marketing.
If you’re looking for a way to take your speaking career to the next level, I would highly recommend considering virtual speaking. It could be the perfect way to grow your brand and your business.
If you want to learn more about booking your speaking schedule, why not consider joining me in Booked Gigs Course?
With my straightforward blueprint and hands-on training, you will have the tools and knowledge you need to create a successful virtual speaking business.
Click here to access my speaker business building bundle for less than $50 bucks!
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Again, don’t forget to learn more about The Charli Jane Speakers Club. If you are looking to get on more stages … this club will give you everything you need to accomplish this!
Resources & Links Mentioned
The Charli Jane Speakers Club – Learn more.
If you’re ready to get on more stages you’re in the right place! We provide members with 5,200 – 10,400 speaking opportunities a year! Yep, you heard that right! There is something for everyone. I also created a program called The Booked Solid Success Path. It goes hand-in-hand with the speaking opportunities. Plus, an amazing community and more!
Episode 131: Why Speakers Are Marketers First, and Speakers Second
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Meet Wendi McNeill
As the Founder and Owner of Charli Jane Speaker Services®, Wendi has been “Opening Doors of Opportunity” for speakers since 2002.
Charli Jane Speakers provides speakers with support, exposure, tools, tips, speaking and media leads, coaching/learning programs, and much more to assist them in growing their speaking business. Learn more about Wendi
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