Get booked as a speaker, you may say, me? Yes, you. If you’re talking on video, going live to connect with an audience, hopefully you’ve learned the parts of a good story. And that applies to a podcast, to a presentation that is 5 minutes, 15, or an hour in front of a small or big audience.  Doing a podcast or a training for a company, opening as the keynote for associations, or organizations is an awesome way to establish credibility, and exposure to a large pool of people who need your services.  Why 7 ideas?  The title is designed to get your attention. There are dozens of podcasts or music you could be listening to right now. Just like in our coaching world, when we are up against the famous names, the niche experts, and the masters of the industry, we must find something that gets noticed. My title likely grabbed your attention, and I am hoping for my ideas to do too. Think about how you can grab prospects' attention.  1 Circle of 100: Start with 25  Create a list of 25 people who know you. Ultimately, a network of 100 is what you want. Family counts, but only if they have a connection with an organization that could benefit from your work. Send a sales letter by mail to each of the people on the list and customize each middle paragraph of the letter specific to the addressee. Let the circle know what you are currently doing in your career and ask them to help you identify organizations that might benefit from your work. For this idea to generate business, it must have several components. ·  Middle paragraph specifically written for the addressee, form letters don’t count.  ·  Be clear about what you offer and don’t have a dozen options. Keep it simple.  ·  Message should be benefit driven not ego driven. Don’t go on and on about how great you are but rather the solution you provide.  ·  Call to action on their part – ask for what you want.  ·  End your letter with a question like “Would you be so kind as to pass on my name?”  ·  Database everyone, not just the decision‐makers.  2 Make hot leads a priority because they cool off fast  The biggest mistake of my career was not chasing leads soon enough. I still cringe when I think of all the people who approached me after a program, asked for my card, and promised to call to schedule me for their next meeting, and never did. I would leave meetings thinking I had a dozen leads and then realize months later that I had heard from very few that followed through. ASK the interested party for their business card and permission to call the next day so you can hear more about their needs. Then make sure you (or a staff person calls back as promised). After speeches, I’d be holding 25 evaluation sheets that asked me to contact them or add them to a mailing list. I was sometimes so overwhelmed that I didn’t call them within the week (if I was at a conference when we met) or few days (if it was a local presentation) nor add them to my email list. At the time I started this texting was a BIG deal and I didn’t text to connect but today I would definitely do that. AND say, “I just sent you a quick email message with the info I promised, check your spam or trash just in case.” 3 Plan calls ahead of time. Have notes and all necessary tools in front of you  Before you place a sales call, do your homework! The internet has made sales so much easier than when I started. Now a quick company website check will tell you more than you should need to get it done. Don’t begin the call by telling the client you have done all this research. Just listen and take careful notes. By using some of the same terminology you found on the website, you will connect with the client better. Also, search for signs of previous conventions to know what level of speaker they have hired in the past. If it was a household name and you are not one, it might be a breakout, something for spouses at a convention, or a workout instead of a speech, you are going for instead of the keynote. To get booked as speaker that gets