There is a vast market of professional, trade, industry, and membership associations that hold conferences, conventions, annual meetings, and educational events every year, and they hire speakers.
But how do you find them? Who actually makes the decision to hire a speaker? How do you reach that person? And how do you turn a cold introduction into a relationship that can lead to a booking and future opportunities?
In this candid and practical Masterclass, Chris Clews pulls back the curtain on the business behind the keynote, sharing the strategies he has personally used to make the association market a significant part of his speaking business.
Chris will walk us through how he identifies associations that are a strong fit, researches the right decision-makers, approaches them directly, crafts outreach that gets attention, follows up effectively, builds genuine relationships, and stays on their radar for future opportunities.
We’ll also explore how a clearly differentiated speaking brand can help you stand out in a crowded marketplace and give buyers a reason to remember you.
This isn’t theory. It’s a look at what Chris is actually doing to find opportunities, build relationships, and get booked.
Whether you’re new to the speaking business or looking for a more proactive way to fill your pipeline, you’ll leave with practical strategies you can immediately put to work.
Takeaways:
1. Where the Speaking Opportunities Are: Discover the world of professional, trade, and industry associations and why these organizations represent a valuable market for keynote speakers.
2. How to Find Associations That Hire Speakers: Learn strategies for researching organizations, identifying conferences and annual meetings, and determining which associations are the best fit for your speaking topics.
3. How to Find the Right Decision-Makers: Understand who makes speaker-booking decisions, where to find their contact information, and how to get your message in front of the right people.
4. How to Turn Cold Outreach Into Warm Conversations: Explore approaches to introducing yourself, capturing attention, and starting meaningful conversations with potential clients who have never heard of you.
5. The Art of Following Up Without Being a Nuisance: Learn how to stay on a prospective client's radar, build familiarity and trust, and develop relationships that can lead to future bookings.
6. What Works, What Doesn't, and What Chris Would Do Differently: Hear firsthand lessons from Chris's transition out of corporate America and the approaches he has refined while building his speaking business.
You'll leave with practical strategies you can immediately apply to finding opportunities, building relationships, and getting booked.
