I'm so grateful that a speaker contacted me yesterday to make an inquiry about speaking in the Christian market. For those of you who are passionate about Christianity and becoming a celebrated speaker in the field, there's much to learn before you have the right to get paid for it.
I have good and bad news for you. First, the good news.
There is good money to be made in the Christian market. You know that, but it hasn't been your experience because you've been speaking for free at your own church, someone else's and haven't really figured out yet how to monetize those presentations. But you're determined to make it work.
Christian Speakers Bureaus are quick to tell you that you need to have the credibility and experience before they will represent you. That means a significant list of churches that have hired you in the past, well-written copy on your website, social media and a good following.
Remember, bureaus want speakers that already have established excellence! And why not? They are paid a percentage of your speaking fee. Why would they spend their time selling an unknown when the sales cycle is considerably less with a well-known figure for whom they are certain will be getting a standing ovation?
If you have the brand and the expertise and the experience, you can get a fee plus expenses, plus the privilege of selling your products.
Here's the bad news...if you are not positioned properly and your marketing outreach isn't well-constructed, thorough and consistent, you'll be below the line of visibility. Your telephone won't ring with invitations to speak. You have to make it ring. And if your phone isn't ringing, speakers' bureaus won't give you the time of day, nor will churches other than your own or your friends and family's own.
To make matters worse, if you do reach out to bureaus before you have your act together, you will de-legitimize yourself and compromise your credibility. Don't embarrass yourself by not being positioned and not taking the time to professionally package your expertise.
It's a privilege to stand before an audience and get their attention. Any audience! So, let's work together to package your expertise so that your marketing efforts reflect your intention to join the ranks of other successful Christian experts who speak.
Mary McKay, speaker marketing specialist, is the founder of the Turnkey Speaker Booking System, where you learn to position your expertise for more paid speaking engagements. To get your F.R.E.E. weekly tips, relevant articles and coaching on positioning and marketing your expertise and attracting more clients, visit http://www.TurnkeySpeaker.com.
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