During today’s Coaching the Group call, Sherri and Ruth asked several questions about getting started as speakers. Here are a few tips:
Q: What should I do first?
A: Register with WomenSpeakers.com for a free listing. This is the largest online directory of Christian women speakers in the world and gets several million hits a year.
Q: I want to do a website, but should I start with a website or a blog?
A: Start with a website and then add a blog.
Q: How should I go about creating a website?
A: Steps…
1. Decide on a name for your website. Ideally, select your own name or the name of your ministry. Remember, you will need to say this hundreds of times over the years from the stage, on radio, etc. Choose a short name that is easy to say 10x fast! Do not use dashes or underscores.
2. Purchase the URL (website name). I use Godaddy.com, the World’s #1 Registrar.
3. Either hire someone to build your website or use a website wizard, like GoDaddy’s “Website Tonight.” Note: If you already have all the information required of our Qualified Speakers at WomenSpeakers.com, you could realistically put a website up in one evening. Most likely, however, you will not have all of these items when you are just starting out. Use the Qualified Speaker requirements/profile at WomenSpeakers.com as your goal. When you collect those items, you are ready to move to the next level: professionalizing your own website and getting additional visibility at WomenSpeakers.com.
4. Once you have a website, add a blog. I use WordPress.com. It’s free and fantastic. Link to your blog from your website home page.
5. When you have several speeches under your belt, have a one-sheet, a video clip, several topics and reference letters, then you may want to consider applying to a speaker’s bureau. Many of the big name speakers are on the roster of a dozen or more bureaus. Others have hired their own publicist.
Hope this helps!
Marnie
