How to Secure An (Online) Speaking Engagement During COVID-19
If you are looking to position yourself as a thought leader in your industry or bolster your overall profile, securing relevant speaking opportunities throughout the year should be a key component of your PR campaign.
Amid COVID-19, this task may seem impossible, but there are plenty of opportunities out there. Between webinars, virtual conferences, zoom networking events and happy hours– you just need to think outside the box!
Where do you find these relevant, reputable speaking opportunities? It is going to take some digging, but here are four strategies to consider:
1. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE
If your goal is to land a speaking opportunity at an online industry event, you need to know the industry and have related expertise. Are you in commercial real estate, architecture, engineering and construction (AEC)? Be sure to do your research to pinpoint significant associations within the industry—which may include Bisnow, Urban Land Institute or CoreNet. One way of finding these events is to regularly read trade publications. Make a list of the organizations that specialize in your industry that would find your knowledge valuable. Make this a “living” document and add onto it whenever possible.
2. BE PREPARED TO PITCH AND FOLLOW UP
As with pitching yourself as a media spokesperson, offering yourself as a speaker to industry events may take some convincing – and creativity. Be prepared with a pitch, background on your industry experience, a
list or links to past speaking engagements and bylined articles, and a variety of talking points tailored to the event or webinar. You could also reference ways you would address topics from recent events or industry themes the organization has been discussing.
As another crucial step, be sure to follow up and keep track of responses, as it takes time for event contacts to respond – especially amid COVID-19.
3. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS
When event contacts begin to respond to your pitch, there's an opportunity to build a relationship, regardless of the outcome. Invite them to chat via phone to discuss your talking points; or, connect on LinkedIn and
consider sending a personalized thank you note after you attend one of their events. If you are not a fit for an event, connect them with someone in your network who might be – you never know when your paths will cross in the future. Getting your foot in the door is the most challenging step but could equate to lasting relationships.
4. BE CREATIVE
During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more complicated than ever to secure speaking engagements, given that many events are being moved online or rescheduled to 2021. To ensure success, you need to be immensely creative. There are plenty of virtual events and webinars taking place right now, but make sure to tailor pitches and talking points to each opportunity.
Still, no luck? Create an original webinar/virtual panel, pitch bylined articles to industry-focused trade publications for extra exposure, or alter your messaging to focus on topics deemed “valuable” in our current climate.
Need help securing top speaking or event opportunities? Reach out to sarah@violetpr.com to learn more about Violet PR’s service offerings. To read more PR strategies and tips, visit www.violetpr.com/blog.
About Sarah Smith
A media enthusiast with a deep interest in blogging and social content, Sarah serves as an Assistant Account Executive at Violet PR for a variety of B2B and AEC accounts. She has secured dozens speaker engagements
and marketing opportunities for clients and internal management.
About Violet PR
Whether it's rebranding a city, drawing attention to a revitalized neighborhood, or promoting a new sustainable development, Violet PR helps clients make a difference. Through a combination of news stories, social media and compelling content, our N.J.-based boutique public relations firm helps clients attract more dollars and supporters. www.VioletPR.com