Speaking Skills or Passive Profits – Which is Better?
If you had to pick, would you want to possess powerful speaking skills or would you prefer earn a strong passive income from your speaking business? I know, you said… both!
But if you made me pick, I’d choose the passive income every time. It seems that the prevailing wisdom is that having great speaking skills will earn you an income in speaking. In my opinion, if you have above average speaking skills but are an excellent marketer of your content, you’ll fare much better.
While the top priority of professional speakers, according to the NSA, is to learn the business aspects of speaking for a living, many speaking skills sites today are only focused on presentation skills development.
The big question is why…
Having great speaking skills…
Will not make you a living as a speaker, in and of itself. Masterful marketing, not your speaking skills on the platform is is the fastest route to earning an excellent income as a speaker.
In fact in the survey of professional members that NSA did in 2007, its reported that 64% of the speakers who responded earned less than $100K in pre-tax income.
Even worse is that 61% of them earn less than 10% of their money passively, from product sales. If you are wondering why I consider that to be worse, it’s that these results do not factor in the current state of the economy where more than 40% of engagements are being cut and those that remain have fees that are being heavily negotiated.
If the “backend” of your business is weak, or you are one of the vast majority who barely sell any product online, you may find your speaking business is in immediate danger and in need of a speakers financial rescue plan.
So in 2009, if you have to choose between improving your speaking skills or improving your marketing skills so that you can earn more income from a worldwide audience without leaving your home office, choose wisely. It will make the difference in your income this year.
In this, the first post of 2009, I want to wish you a prosperous and fruitful New Year. If you feel your speaking business IS in need of a speakers financial rescue plan a.k.a. a “speakers bailout plan” contact me today by email or phone for information about my upcoming Unforgettable Speakers Mentoring and Mastermind program, which begins on January 14th.
Also, join in the conversation – leave me a comment with your views below!
Related posts:
- The “cornerstone” of a speakers passive profits
- A Public Speaking Class Requires Work, Right?
- Public Speaking; It’s a Business, not a Speech
- If Public Speaking Is Dead – How Can My Speaking Business Survive?
- Public Speaking Skill Starts With Clarity
Tagged with: public speaking • public speaking skills • public speaking tips • speaking skills
Filed under: Speakers Marketing • Speaking Tips
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You write on so many interesting subjects. You might be very wise. I like such people. Don’t stop writing as your information is valuable.