Become a Speaker and Boost Your Reach with Vanessa Emerson – 022

Speaking. One of the best ways to do lead gen for your business.

If you are a dental consultant, check out my interview with Vanessa Emerson.

She runs 2 Dental Speaker Orgs. One super kind lady!

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Our podcasts are interviews between Justin Krane, Krane Financial Solution’s President, and various professionals, one or more of which are or have been Krane Financial Solutions clients. However, nothing stated within the podcasts should be considered a testimonial or endorsement of Krane Financial Solutions or Justin Krane, and the professionals have not been directly or indirectly compensated for being interviewed.

Our podcasts are interviews between Justin Krane, Krane Financial Solution’s President and various third-party professionals. Noting stated within the podcasts should be considered a testimonial or endorsement of Krane Financial Solutions or Justin Krane, and the professionals have not been directly or indirectly compensated for being interviewed.

Vanessa Emerson helps event planners and educators find and work with each other. Founder of Dental Speaker Institute and Dental Speakers Bureau, Vanessa Emerson is known as a thought leader by clients, prospects, meeting planners and peers. Her marketing services are in high demand, specializing in speaker materials, website design and e-mail marketing services. Honored by Dental Products Report as one of the Top 25 Women in Dentistry (2017), Vanessa is known as the ‘go-to’ resource for inside-the-industry information that helps meeting planners create better meetings, speakers acquire more bookings and BOTH to meet their business goals. In this episode, we chat about the steps you need to take in order to become a professional speaker.
**SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM FOR THE VIDEO!**

Becoming a Speaker

Dental Professionals have a wealth of knowledge they’ve gained through their business experiences.
Yet they aren’t always able to see themselves as influencers or speakers.
Remove the pressure of speaking – remember it’s just a conversation.
You are sharing your experience – that’s it.
Work with coaches or leadership organizations to fine-tune your skills.
One simple way to get started speaking is to join a Toastmasters chapter to test the waters.
Toastmasters is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs.
This is an affordable ($45 for 6 months) and easy to access platform with a great number of opportunities. There are both virtual and in-person engagements.

Creating a Plan

Before you’re ready to approach an event booker for a speaking engagement, it’s important to get your plan of action together.
It’s better to get ready and aim before you fire.
First, decide what you want for your business and if Speaking fits into the whole picture. If so, develop a strategy around that.
Think of Speaking as Marketing.
Look at your areas of expertise and choose a topic that will bring traffic to your business. Then decide on your niche.
Create presentations that are going to shine a light on what you’re trying to drive.

Approaching a Meeting Planner

Create Course Descriptions – and less is more.
Use measurable verbs – There’s a big difference between illuminating and mastering a concept.
Vanessa mentions four or fewer being best – you want to seem like an expert instead of a jack of all trades.
Have a website, speaker packet, and social presence ready to go.
In your speaker packet – it’s best not to start with your bio.
It’s more about your audience than yourself.
Next focus on the pain point – What is the challenge that keeps the attendee up at night that you will solve with this course?
Lastly, show how this course will resolve their problem.
This doesn’t happen overnight so get started now!

The Dental Speaking Institute

DSI is a master’s program for the speaker who would like to earn a professional designation.
The DSI was created for those with no professional experience or those looking to level up their skills. And there’s something for everyone.
This is a conference that happens annually for speakers, planners, and sponsors.
There workshops, showcases, and speaking contents.
The next conference is scheduled for January 7-9, 2021 in Phoenix, AZ
For full conference details, check out this link.

BONUS!

Email info@TheDentalSpeaker.com to receive a complimentary PDF version of Vanessa’s new book, So… You Think You Want to Speak in Dentistry? for more information on becoming a professional speaker.

Best Quotes:

“Dental professionals get to the point in their career where they have gained a lot of experience and knowledge and really are someone who could share significant information with the industry and be seen as an influencer. But they’re challenged by how to get started.” (4:59)

“I think it’s better to get ready and aim before you fire.” (11:51)

“Determine what do you want for your life so you can decide even, is this something I want to do as a business? And if so develop a business strategy around that.” (12:23)

“If we think about speaking as a marketing activity, you’re going to want to only create presentations that are going to shine a light on what you’re trying to drive.” (16:09)

“We don’t start with the bio, you know, it really, it’s about them. And what is the pain point? What is the challenge that keeps the attendee up at night that you solve with this course?” (21:15)

“There’s a big difference between illuminating and mastering a concept.” (21:50)