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Securing Speaking Engagements
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One of the best ways to get speaking engagements, should that be part of your marketing strategy or your business, is to approach those who run events and introduce yourself as a contingency speaker. Here’s an example of a letter I send to event organizers, program directors and so on.
January 19, 2001
Joe Smith
Program Director
XYZ Association
123 West Street
St. Louis, MO 63128
Dear Joe,
I’m confident that, as the program director for the XYZ Association, you include a speaker’s canceling at the last minute as one of your biggest fears. I’m contacting you to let you know that I’m located in your area and available as a contingency speaker, should this ever occur.
I’ve enclosed a one-sheet that lists my qualifications and several of my presentation topics. If one of your speakers cancels at the last minute, call me and I’ll be glad to fill in if I’m available.
Sincerely,
Gill E. Wagner
P.S. I would appreciate receiving an invitation
to your next business meeting.
Note that your first contact with “Joe” is focused on alleviating one of his biggest fears, not on getting yourself speaking engagements, which is why this works so well. So, assuming you’ve done your homework and are contacting people who want the information you provide, you will almost always make an immediate friend. And in many cases, these program directors will book you outright, because you approached them this way.
Have a great week!
Gill
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