How to Choose Speaking Gigs That Skyrocket Your Consulting Business

I've noticed a lot of speakers spread themselves too thin, missing huge opportunities right at their fingertips.

It’s easy to do – focusing on volume rather than selective, strategic visibility. But dialing in on the right stages can seriously catalyze your business's growth and revenue.

Let me give you an example. I know a speaker who runs an HR consultancy and does just one major keynote per year – yes, only one.

But here’s the kicker – he gets paid $20K for this 60-minute talk. And from that one selective appearance, his consulting calendar fills up with premium clients for the entire year.

He isn’t running himself ragged trying to speak at 20 events. He identified the one stage that would put him directly in front of hundreds of executive decision-makers needing his services.

Some people say yes to every speaking opportunity for exposure. But scattering our energy across random stages drains our time and resources while only yielding minimal reward.

Smaller gigs likely mean audiences we can't substantially move the needle for. Our words resonate but lead to nothing more. It's a one-and-done effort with a few pats on the back.

Worse, overload threatens our capacity to adequately customize talks. We end up repurposing the same generic content constantly. No one remembers regurgitated ideas.

Attendees nod along without gaining tactical value to apply.

We leave with neither memorable impact nor partners ready to invest in driving change.

Here’s the option I suggest:

Vet Stages Wisely

Be ultra selective and only speak at events where your dream clients will be in the room eager for your message. Avoid irrelevant audiences that dilute your authority.

Choosing an irrelevant event just for visibility is like randomly splashing your message across billboards and hoping the right customer drives by. It may happen, but the odds aren't great.

The key is zeroing in on venues filled with executive titles who desperately contend with the specific challenges you solve daily. For example:

• An AI ethicist or FinTech security expert laser targeting Chief Technology Officers would showcase quantified case studies proving they mitigate million dollar regulatory fines and algorithmic bias lawsuits.

• A diversity consultant would highlight for talent executives how their 4-step inclusion program tangibly boosted minority representation by 15% in leadership roles at major enterprises within 18 months of training rollouts.

• A supply chain authority speaking to manufacturing operations directors would evidence reducing part defects by 40% and speeding product launch cycles by a full quarter on average when deploying their optimized QC frameworks.

Remember – platforms give visibility, but audiences generate revenue. I don’t care how impressive the stage if it’s the wrong crowd.

Pick your stage wisely and whole new income streams unlock by genuinely solving struggles for the right groups.

You become known as the expert with tangible solutions to advance their key business objectives. Not just another speaker - but a strategic partner.