LOOK FOR FREE, LOCAL SPEAKING EVENTS TO GET STARTED InHalifax,wehaveawonderful event at thebeginning of each year called Podcamp, that provides information on a broad range of subjects. This event is known for it’s open and friendly community, with some of the most supportive attendees of any event in Halifax. Podcamp has been the first step to launching the careers for many Halifamous public speakers, like Ross Simmonds and Kayla Short. This event provided them with a warm, friendly community which helped them to hone the craft of public speaking when they were first getting started. For your first-ever shot at public speaking, keep your eyes peeled for free and friendly events, like Podcamp, in your city. BECOME A MEMBER OF A PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS ORGANIZATION OR NETWORKING GROUP Another way to add public speaking to your repertoire is to seek out opportunities to speak for professional business organizations or networking groups.
Many of these organizations or groups need high value, educational content that will equip their members with the knowledge they need to successfully achieve their business goals. Can your unique skill set, and industry insights help other business owners to grow or improve their business? Of course! No matter where you feel your skill level is at, there is a group of people who need your expertise and these organizations will help get you in front of your ideal group of people. To find speaking engagements using this tactic, apply to become a member of your local chamber of commerce. If you are a woman in business or a visibleminority, look for organizations that represent and support you in the business community and apply for speaking opportunities as they come up.
FIND AN INDUSTRY PARTNER TO COLLABORATE WITH
Something that I suggest to my clients as a brand- building tactic is to find mutually beneficial relationships with other businesses or organizations that will help to enrich both of your communities. My recent partnership with Venn Innovation is a perfect example of that kind of collaboration.
Venn supports business owners who are in the technology and innovation sector in New Brunswick, Canada. They connect entrepreneurs with partners and resources who will help them to grow their companies. I’m in the business of helping entrepreneurs to amplify their brand. It’s my passion to provide business owners with the tools to stand head and shoulders above their competitors, even within a saturated market. WhenVennapproachedme tohost acoupleworkshops for them, it was an easy decision to say ‘yes’ and tailor a set of workshops for their audiences. We started with one workshop for start-up stage entrepreneurs on building a brand board and included a second workshop about how to ‘power up your brand’ with a set of exercises for business owners to get clarity on their brand position. While my skill set is advanced in branding and design, I was able to tailor content for both beginners and people looking to rebrand or amplify their businesses.
Providing this flexibility let me help a larger group of people and allowed my collaboration partner to offer something for both of their membership categories. One thing to keep in mind when you collaborate with an industry partner is there should be a clear alignment between your businesses’ mission and vision. This makes it easiest to develop and deliver high-quality workshops or live events that provide valuable learning experiences for participants. Not sure how to get started? Take a look at your business community to see if there are any membership-based groups that could use your expertise. If they have values that align with yours, reach out to see if there is a valuable partnership you can create together.
78
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JULY 2019
79 JULY 2019 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog