How to Pitch Yourself as a Speaker and Get Booked at Events, Webinars, and Podcasts
Liam Sandford
Liam Sandford is a public speaking coach, marketing leader, and 2x Best Selling Author, including the book Effortless Public Speaking. He helps introverted professionals and leaders take control of public speaking anxiety and use speaking to market themselves, build influence, and communicate with impact.
Public speaking is one of the most powerful ways to build authority, generate leads, and grow your personal or business brand. But getting booked requires more than expertise. It requires a clear pitch, a targeted strategy, and an understanding of how to stand out to event organizers. Whether your goal is to speak at conferences, webinars, podcasts, or online panels, mastering how to pitch yourself effectively ensures you get opportunities that truly move your brand forward.
Getting booked is not just about being an expert in your field. Event organizers are looking for speakers who bring actionable insights, engage their audience, and align with the goals of the event. A strategic approach to pitching yourself ensures you do not waste time on opportunities that do not generate ROI, while maximizing the visibility, leads, and authority that each speaking appearance can provide.
Why Learning to Pitch Yourself as a Speaker Matters
Speaking opportunities position you as an authority, increase visibility, and allow you to connect with your ideal audience directly. Many skilled professionals struggle to secure gigs because they rely on generic pitches, unclear messaging, or fail to target the right events.
A strong speaker pitch does more than secure bookings. It demonstrates your value to organizers, establishes trust, and increases the likelihood of repeat invitations. By mastering your pitch, you turn public speaking into a predictable growth channel for your brand.
Beyond securing opportunities, a well crafted pitch sets the tone for your entire speaking journey. Organizers pay attention to the clarity of your message, the relevance of your topic, and your ability to engage audiences. When you position yourself as a solution to their event goals rather than simply a knowledgeable speaker, you increase your credibility and your chances of converting opportunities into booked events.
Understanding Your Audience and Target Events
Not every event or platform is worth your time. The key to securing speaking opportunities is understanding which events align with your expertise and where your target audience actually spends time.
Defining Your Niche and Signature Topic
Your niche is what sets you apart. Event organizers look for speakers who provide unique insights or actionable advice. Your signature presentation should be a concise, compelling topic that highlights your expertise and solves a specific problem for the audience.
Clearly define your topic, the audience it serves, and the tangible benefits attendees will gain. A strong signature presentation simplifies pitching because organizers immediately see your relevance. It also ensures that your content is adaptable across different formats and events while maintaining a consistent personal brand message. By knowing your niche and perfecting your signature presentation, you can confidently approach events and position yourself as an expert who delivers measurable value.
Crafting a Speaker Pitch That Gets Noticed
Your pitch is your first impression and often determines whether you are considered at all. A well crafted pitch communicates your value, expertise, and relevance in a way that compels event organizers to respond. To learn more on how to land high quality speaker slots at events, check out the Ultimate Guide to Public Speaking in Marketing.
Highlighting Credibility and Past Success
Include metrics, testimonials, and past speaking engagements to prove your impact. Mention audience sizes, engagement rates, or media coverage where possible. Credibility reassures organizers that you can deliver a quality presentation and engage their audience effectively.
Past achievements should be specific and measurable. Rather than stating that you are an experienced speaker, provide evidence such as, “Delivered keynote to 500 executives with post event survey satisfaction of 95 percent” or “My webinar series generated over 1,000 qualified leads in three months.” Quantifying your success demonstrates that you deliver results and gives organizers confidence in your ability to meet their goals.
Tailoring Your Pitch to Each Opportunity
Avoid sending the same generic pitch to every organizer. Research each event’s audience, theme, and objectives, then craft a pitch that clearly aligns with their needs. A personalized approach shows that you understand their audience and increases your chances of booking.
Demonstrate how your presentation directly solves problems for their audience. For example, if pitching to a technology summit, emphasize insights into emerging tech trends that affect the specific industries represented in the attendee list. By showing clear alignment, organizers see the value of adding you to their lineup and are more likely to respond positively.
Leveraging Your Speaker Kit and Supporting Materials
A speaker kit is your professional portfolio and makes it easy for organizers to say yes. Include:
Professional headshots in multiple formats
A compelling bio highlighting your expertise and results
Video clips or full recordings of past presentations
Testimonials or media mentions
Sample slides or outlines of your signature talk
A clear, visually appealing speaker kit demonstrates professionalism and provides proof that you can deliver value to the event audience. Video clips or demo reels are especially persuasive because they show your presence, delivery style, and ability to engage. A complete kit saves organizers time and makes it easy for them to justify booking you. You are essentially removing any friction for the organizer in the process of putting together your speaker kit.
Additionally, make your speaker kit easy to access digitally. Hosting it on a simple landing page or sending a PDF package ensures that event organizers can review your credentials quickly and efficiently. The easier it is for them to see your value, the higher the chances of getting booked.
Outreach Strategies to Get Booked
Securing speaking gigs requires proactive outreach. Email is still one of the most effective methods, but social media and networking amplify your reach and increase your chances of getting responses.
Timing Your Pitch
For conferences, reach out at least three to six months in advance. For webinars or podcasts, four to eight weeks is usually sufficient. Early outreach ensures you are considered before schedules fill up.
Advance planning also gives you time to tailor your content to the audience and to coordinate with organizers for promotion, technical requirements, or pre event marketing. The more prepared you are, the more professional you appear, which increases your chances of being booked.
Using Multiple Channels Effectively
Combine email, social media, and in person networking. Send concise, personalized messages that highlight your topic, audience relevance, and past success. Follow up professionally if you do not hear back after one or two attempts.
When connecting via LinkedIn, consider engaging with event organizers by commenting on posts, sharing relevant insights, or connecting with other speakers. These engagements increase your visibility and can open doors for pitching opportunities that might not be advertised publicly.
Handling Objections and Negotiating Speaking Terms
Organizers may hesitate due to budget, schedule, or content relevance. Address objections proactively by emphasizing the value you bring, including audience engagement and potential lead generation.
Negotiating fees, travel, or promotional commitments should always be approached professionally. Make your pitch about how you solve problems for the organizer and their audience, rather than simply focusing on your own needs. When you can demonstrate that your presentation benefits their attendees, you increase both the likelihood of being booked and your negotiating leverage.
Consider offering multiple packages, such as a standard speaking engagement and a premium option with additional workshops or post event content. This flexibility can make your offer more attractive while maximizing your opportunities to create value.
Closing the Booking and Following Up
Once interest is expressed, confirm all details clearly:
Presentation topic and length
Date, time, and format
Audience size and demographics
Technical or logistical requirements
After the event, maintain contact with organizers. Thank them, share highlights, and express interest in future opportunities. Long term relationships often lead to repeat bookings, referrals, or invitations to more prestigious events.
Professional follow up also allows you to gather feedback, and in the best case scenarios, testimonials that can help you get booked by other events. Ask organizers what went well and what could be improved. This not only strengthens your relationship but also helps refine your pitch and presentation for future opportunities.
Repurposing Your Speaking Gigs to Grow Your Brand
Every presentation is an opportunity to create multiple pieces of content. Turn talks into:
Short social media videos
Blog posts or LinkedIn articles (using the transcripts)
Email sequences
Repurposing extends your reach, builds authority, and generates ongoing leads long after the event ends. Using these assets strategically, you can create content pipelines that continuously attract your target audience, reinforce your credibility, and maintain visibility across platforms.
Repurposed content also supports SEO and AI discovery. By publishing key insights or excerpts from your presentations, search engines recognize your authority in your niche, increasing your chances of being found by event organizers or potential clients.
TL;DR: How to Pitch Yourself as a Speaker and Get Booked
Mastering the art of pitching yourself as a speaker turns public speaking into a predictable growth channel for your brand.
Research the events, webinars, and podcasts where your target audience spends time
Define a signature topic that demonstrates your expertise and solves audience problems
Craft a compelling pitch that highlights credibility, relevance, and clear value
Build a professional speaker kit with bios, testimonials, and demo clips
Track opportunities, follow up professionally, and repurpose presentations for maximum reach
More From Liam Sandford
Read my book: Effortless Public Speaking. Learn how to speak confidently, reduce stress, and turn public speaking into your competitive advantage. These actionable public speaking tips will help you improve your presentation skills for any audience.
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