How To Get International Speaking Engagements

Let’s get clear on one thing right now; speaking engagements are mandatory for growing your brand. From an Apple or Microsoft convention to a neighborhood Tweet-up or Chamber of Commerce event, a well delivered speech, by a credible speaker, will result in an improved brand image and quite possibly some hungry customers.

Mike speaking at Denmark’s Ivaerk & Voekst

I have a little secret for you. Your credibility automatically increases the farther you travel. The out-of-towner has an automatic leg up. I mean, who from Bumble-F-Egypt wants to hear from a speaker who is also from Bumble-F-Egypt? There is no allure there.

But, when the speaker comes from Bumble-F-Canada, for example, everything has change. The mystery and intrigue is automatic. Therefore the credibility is instantly assigned. To maintain the credibility you need to be a great speaker, but I will keep that for another post.

In this blog I want to share with you the secret I discovered to landing great international speaking gigs. It’s all about having an insider who can work the local scene and facilitate all the translations. And I am talking more then just the language, I am also talking about translating the culture.

Mike speaking at a Twestival event in Copenhagen

For example, I recently did seven… count ‘em. Seven!!!!… speaking engagements in Denmark. It would have never happened unless I had a contact who knew my American presenting style and requirements as well as the Danish presentation expectations and requirements.

Bring in Lori Webb, from Indspark. She works with speakers from the US and brings them into Europe. Not just Denmark but all of Europe – from London to Moscow and from Berlin to Rome.

Lori Webb of Indspark, brings US speakers to Europe and feeds ‘em too!

With Lori’s “insider” help I was able to get some BIG presentations at some very prestigious Danish events. Lori brought instant comfort to local Danish representatives and leveraged my outsider status to give me instant credibility.

So, here is what you need to do. First commit to speaking internationally, and then find yourself an insider. While you can go the route of using an old fashion speaking agency, a true independent insider (like Lori) is even more effective.

Lori Webb and her youngest son Benjamin

And here is the trick for finding your “Lori.” Whenever I speak at an event in the United States, I always ask the crowd who is from out of town. Then I asked who travelled the farthest. Inevitably, even with a crowd of only 50, someone is from out of the country.

Your job is to make sure you meet and mingle with the out-of-towners who raise their hands. If they liked what you had to say, they may be able to represent you in their home country or put you in touch with the “Lori” there.

Yes, Mike is telling Danes how to drive a bus!

I do it. It works really well. You need to do it, too. So, start looking for your Loris or if you want to take a super short cut call my Lori in Denmark. But you’ll owe me one.

By Mike Michalowicz, Author of The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur