Boost Your LinkedIn Profile in 10 Minutes for More Speaking Gigs

Feature Your Speaking Gigs

(06:57) Take a moment to think about the ‘Featured’ section of your LinkedIn profile as your personal, digital trophy cabinet.

This is where you get to celebrate your victories and give a sneak peek into your world as a speaker. Don’t shy away from adding clips that show you owning the stage, captivating the audience, and creating a powerful impact.

Testimonials are another game-changer – they work as word-of-mouth endorsements right on your profile. They lend credibility and give potential event organizers a taste of the experience you bring. 

Also, if you have a well-designed, crisp speaker’s onesheet, featuring it here could work wonders. It provides a quick snapshot of who you are as a speaker and the topics you’re passionate about.

Remember, this ‘Featured’ section is not just a place to show off, but it’s a storytelling tool. Each piece you add contributes to your brand’s narrative and reinforces your proficiency. So, make the most of it, and you’ll be setting the stage for more speaking gigs.

List Speaking Engagements as Experience

Here’s an insider secret: LinkedIn’s ‘Experience’ section doesn’t have to be restricted to your 9-5 job roles. It can – and should – also serve as a log of your significant speaking engagements.

You’ve probably spent countless hours preparing for your speaking events, and each one represents a notable milestone in your speaking journey. So why not let them shine on your LinkedIn profile? Detail the event name, the date, your speaking topic, and the audience size.

Did you receive a standing ovation or outstanding feedback? Or maybe your talk sparked a fruitful discussion, led to significant changes, or even won an award? Don’t hold back on sharing these achievements – they provide real-world evidence of your impact as a speaker.

This approach builds a comprehensive picture of your speaking career and makes your profile more discoverable to event organizers. So, the next time someone is on the lookout for a speaker with your expertise, your profile pops up, and voilà – another gig heads your way!

Use Skills and Endorsements

LinkedIn’s ‘Skills and Endorsements’ section is a bona fide credibility booster. Think about it. If you’re looking to hire a speaker, wouldn’t you feel more confident seeing a list of endorsed skills relevant to the task at hand?

So, here’s your quick win: add terms such as “Public Speaking,” “Motivational Speaking,” “Leadership,” “Coaching,” or other relevant skills to your profile.

But don’t just stop there! Reach out to your network – especially colleagues, event planners, or attendees with firsthand experience of your speaking abilities – and kindly ask them to endorse you for these skills.

Remember, the number of endorsements you receive for each skill can significantly impact how you’re perceived. It’s one thing to claim you’re an excellent speaker; it’s another to have a slew of endorsements backing it up. This social proof can give you an edge when event organizers are scouring LinkedIn for their next speaker.

Lastly, don’t shy away from endorsing others’ skills too. Networking is a two-way street, and your generosity will likely be reciprocated. This simple, swift action could result in a stronger online presence and more inquiries heading into your inbox.

Personalize Your LinkedIn URL

Would you agree that a URL that reads “linkedin.com/in/john-smith-123456789” is nowhere near as professional or memorable as “linkedin.com/in/johnsmithspeaker”? 

The difference is clear as day. A customized LinkedIn URL doesn’t just look and feel more professional when shared; it also gives you the upper hand when it comes to being easily remembered and revisited by event planners, potential clients, or peers in your field.

Luckily, changing your LinkedIn URL is a breeze. Here’s how to do it in a jiffy:

1. Click the ‘Me’ icon at the top of your LinkedIn homepage.
2. Select ‘View profile.’
3. Click ‘Edit public profile & URL’ on the right rail.
4. Under the ‘Edit your custom URL’ section on the right rail, click the ‘Edit’ icon next to your public profile URL.
5. Type the last part of your new custom URL in the text box.
6. Click ‘Save.’

There you have it! In a matter of seconds, you’ve transformed your generic, forgettable LinkedIn URL into a custom, professional one that’s much easier for event planners to remember and revisit.

Small tweaks like this can make a world of difference and take seconds to implement.

Remember to update your URL on your email signature, business card, and other marketing materials to ensure it’s seen by as many potential clients as possible.

Get Active!

Finally, while perfecting your profile is essential, it’s equally important to be a lively and engaging participant in the LinkedIn community. Consider LinkedIn as a garden that needs consistent watering and care. Small actions, taken regularly, can lead to a significant payoff.

Don’t just show up now and then; aim to post updates or share valuable content consistently. This could mean posting a brief reflection from your latest speaking gig, sharing a motivational quote or article, or commenting on a fellow speaker’s post.

This “little and often” approach does two things.

Firstly, it keeps you at the forefront of your connections’ minds, making it more likely that they’ll think of you when an opportunity arises.

Secondly, it increases your visibility across LinkedIn since active users appear more frequently in feeds and search results. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of an event planner stumbling across your profile in their quest for the perfect speaker.

Remember, LinkedIn is a social network. Be social, be authentic, and most importantly, be consistent. Don’t just sit there waiting for the opportunities to come to you! And you can follow me on LinkedIn here 🙂