How To Earn Money With A Public Speaking Job
Public speaking is one of those skills that everyone should have but very few people actually do. If you want to land a high-paying public speaking job, public speaking training can help you fulfill your ambition.
Before we give you some tips on how to start earning money with a public speaking job, let’s go over what exactly is public speaking. There are basically two types of public speakers: professional speakers and students or non-pros who are just learning the basics of speechcraft. Professional speakers might have an LLM (Law) degree or an MA in international relations, for example.
They know how to create a unique and memorable speech, can deliver it clearly and confidently, and can use visual aids, like PowerPoint presentations. Professional speakers are hired for speeches for all sorts of occasions, ranging from banquets to funerals. They might be even hired to present their company’s profile at a car show or hotel exhibition.
One of the most important things about public speaking is that the audience does not want you to fail. When you are up there in front of them with your speech or presentation, they don’t expect you to forget what you have written on the note cards or memorized. They don’t want you to use the wrong pronoun or make a spelling mistake. They don’t want you to throw up in your mouth because of fear and tension.
So, if you are not a professional speaker and are just trying to learn how to master the art of public speaking, there is still hope for you. There is nothing stopping any student or non-professional speaker from learning how to deliver effective speeches.[1] All he or she needs are the following: motivation, a good sense of humor and confidence, among others.
Making money with a public speaking job is easy when you have all these qualities in hand. There are many different jobs that you can do using your talent. You might be asked to speak on stage or present a speech or talk at a wedding, funeral, or corporate event. Sometimes, you’ll get to give your speech in front of hundreds of people and sometimes you’ll have to handle the few retired folks who get together to discuss their family histories.[2]
Even if you are not trained to handle any of these speeches professionally, there is nothing stopping you from learning how to make money with public speaking jobs. And if the topic does not necessarily involve talking about your personal background or experience, then all the more for your education and experience in other fields come into play.
For example, if you are a marketing or sales professional and your company is hiring you to speak in front of a group of businesspeople who are thinking about getting involved in your client’s product or service, you can easily talk about the things that your client does best. But you must keep in mind that the audience will not expect you to be 100% correct since this is not your field.
In other words, if at the end of your speech, your clients ask them whether they should buy from your client, they would likely say yes if they were impressed with your speech and presentation skills.
You do not have to follow the old method of finding jobs that involve public speaking. There are many other ways that you can make money with a public speaking job. You might become a motivational speaker, or a corporate trainer who gives in-house training sessions on teamwork and leadership. You might deliver speeches as part of your university studies since some students have been hired as lecturers for their subjects.[3]
In summary, public speaking is always in demand, especially when it comes to giving speeches. Whether you are a student trying to earn extra cash by giving speeches at school, or you are looking for a job in the field of public speaking, using what you know about your field can help.
Your expertise in a certain field can be used to impress the audience. Or you can use your experience as a motivational speaker to help people improve their skills and gain confidence in front of others.
All you need is the vision and the determination to go for it. And with that, here are some tips on how you can start earning money with public speaking:
1. Select a suitable public speaking gig. You can find many different types of jobs that involve giving speeches or presentations, some at higher positions than others. Jobs range from invitations to speak at companies, conferences and other events to individual consultations.[4]
2. Learn how to deliver a speech. You don’t have to be an expert speaker or master the art of public speaking in order to give a speech. But you should know how to express your thoughts clearly, how to use visual aids like PowerPoint presentations, and how you can use humor in your speeches in order to keep the audience listening.[5]
3. Know your audience well. Besides knowing what they want, you should also know who they are and what they are willing to listen to. Your topics or speeches should be chosen according to their expectations.[6]
4. Keep some tips for yourself before any gig. Memorize them and practice on how to deliver your speech as if you are the one who will be giving it. You can also keep a few notes on your speech so you can easily refer to them when you need to. This way, you’ll be more relaxed and won’t miss any vital points in your speech.[7]
If it is your first time trying out this kind of job or presentation, consider it as a sort of training period where you can easily work on the nitty-gritty details while at the same time earning some good cash. And if you have the courage to try this, there is no way you can fail. After all, not everyone who tries public speaking jobs walks away from it with cash in hand. There are those who end up with a book deal while others get their photos printed in magazines and big publications.[8]
If you are a student or a recent grad, then this kind of job can be one of your possible career choices. It’s not that hard to learn how to deliver speeches well since there are many tips and resources out there that can help you do so. You just need to do the research and study what is necessary for you to make it happen.
With all these tips in hand, you’ll be able to earn income from being an amateur or professional public speaker. But in order to make it work, you need to know how to attract the attention of an audience. So before you plan on going for a public speaking job or gig, take note of these following tips:
1. Choose a topic that is relevant and easy to understand by your listeners. Some might have difficulty understanding complicated topics even if they are related to their specific fields.[9]
2. Be clear and concise. Be sure that what you’re saying is clear enough for everyone listening while still entertaining them with your funny jokes and witty lines.
Conclusion
Public speaking is a topic that’s very interesting, especially to those who love giving speeches. Just like any other work that involves interacting with others and knowing the right things to say, public speaking is certainly a topic you must have interest in. And unlike dealing with customers or clients, it can be easy to earn money with this kind of job since you’ll only have to travel from one event or group to another.
If you are interested in making money via public speaking gigs (or at least trying them out), then all you need is the courage and confidence enough to go for it. Try having some talks and speeches as a way of exploring your new field before even getting into more serious jobs.