7 Ways on How To Ask For Higher Speaking Fees

Getting higher speaking fees can be a difficult task. After all, if you’re not charging enough, then how do you convince people that they should pay more for your services? That’s why we’ve put together this blog post about 7 steps to take if you want to charge higher speaking fees. It will help you find the perfect balance of high quality and worth so that people are willing to pay what you deserve!

1. Modernize your Website

The first thing you should do to increase your speaking fee is modernize your website. Having an out-dated site will make it seem like you don’t have the latest technology, which means less people are going to be interested in what you have to say. You need a mobile-friendly website that’s easy for clients and potential bookers alike to use quickly and efficiently. It can also help if your website has testimonials from past clients who loved working with you – this builds trust between yourself and others so they know exactly why they should hire you instead of someone else.

2. Update your Sizzle Reel

Next, you need to update your sizzle reel. Your video clip is the first impression people are going to get of you and what you have to offer so it’s important that it be clean and professional looking. That way, when someone goes on YouTube or Google they can find a short preview of who you are before deciding whether or not they want to watch more videos about your company. Your sizzle reel is a video that showcases what you have to offer, and it can make or break whether someone wants to hire you for an event. Make sure your reel includes some of your best work – this will not only show off how experienced you are, but also why people should trust hiring you over the competition.

3. Be Clear about Costs

This one might seem simple, but sometimes clients forget that there are additional fees involved in booking speakers besides their fee. For example, if they’re having a conference at another location then you may need transportation or lodging included into your package so it’s more cost effective for them instead of paying per diem on site expenses. Don’t be afraid to ask questions upfront so you know how much money is going to be added on top of your fee for any additional expenses.

4. Speak at the Right Events

Not all speaking gigs are created equally. Sure, it can feel great to say yes to every opportunity that comes along, but it’s better if you’re more selective about which ones you choose. Make sure they fit with your brand and target demographic so people actually want to listen to what you have to share instead of dozing off halfway through your talk because they don’t care enough. That will not only help build relationships with clients who think highly of speakers like yourself, but also boost word-of-mouth referrals by ensuring everyone has a good time during each event.

5. Be Unique

When you’re going after a higher speaking fee, it’s important to be unique. While that doesn’t mean do anything crazy or out of the ordinary, it does mean you should stand up for yourself and your brand by not giving in too easily when someone wants to negotiate your price down. If they tell you no at first then come back with an offer slightly lower than what you know is fair, but don’t accept their original offer just because they asked. Make sure the value of who you are as an individual or business matches up with how much money people will pay for your services.

6. Master the Money Conversation

You aren’t going to get anywhere if you’re trying to negotiate a higher fee without knowing how much exactly is fair. Mastering the “money conversation” means asking yourself some tough questions about supply and demand, what your competitors are charging, as well as understanding where all of your fees go when it comes time for payment. Once you have those answers down pat then you’ll know precisely how much money people should be willing to pay both short term and long-term so that everyone wins in the end.

Include final thoughts: Make sure that any client knows up front what they can expect from working with someone like you before agreeing on a price tag. It will help them feel more confident signing their name on the dotted line and hiring you for an event.

7. Network

Last but certainly not least, networking can help increase your speaking fees more than ever before! The key here is making sure you’re always building relationships with others in your industry. Remember, people hire people they know and trust – that’s why it’s crucial to stay connected even after a gig is complete. You never know when someone might approach you about another opportunity down the road, so make sure you cherish every opportunity like this because networking can help increase your speaking fees more than anything else.

John Lawson is one of the most trusted and experienced eCommerce professionals in the industry. John is the founder of The Ecommerce Group, which he started in 2011 to share his knowledge with other entrepreneurs in the industry. It’s the oldest eCommerce group on Facebook with over 8,500 members from around the world!

John speaks at conferences all around the world, including Retail Global, South by Southwest, Etail, Digital Summit, Hubspot Inbound, Ad-Tech and more. He also writes for several international publications such as Power Retail, Small Business Trends and Disrupt Magazine.