Let’s get one thing straight: speaking on stages isn’t just about inspiration—it’s a business. And just like any business, if you don’t know the rules, you won’t get the results.

Here’s what I see too often—brilliant women with a powerful message, stepping on stages (live or virtual), thinking their words alone will carry them. But let me be real with you… every stage has its own vibe, but the expectations are always the same.

If you want to be asked back, booked more often, and become a speaker people remember, you need to do more than just show up. You need to show up right.

Show Up Professionally

Let’s talk visuals. Your headshot from 2017? Nope. Time to upgrade. People are Googling you, event planners are checking your socials, and if your image doesn’t reflect your current brand, you’re already behind.

Got a Speaker One-Sheet? You need one. Not just a pretty PDF, but a well-curated tool that showcases who you are, what you talk about, and why someone should book you. Need help? Let me know and we can help you design one that stands out.

And for the love of your business, just because it’s a Zoom call doesn’t mean pajama bottoms and poor lighting are okay. Dress the part. Look the part. Be the part.

Show Up Prepared

This one separates the pros from the rest. If you’re using slides, know the platform. Ask questions. Test them in advance. Presenting live? Always—always—bring a backup. Thumb drive, emailed copy, even a printout. Tech gremlins love to show up uninvited.

Microphones matter. Lighting matters. Sound matters. Want to be remembered for the right reasons? Then invest in a mic that doesn’t sound like a tin can and lighting that doesn’t make you look like a ghost.

Show Up On-Point

This might sting a little: stop speaking to the wrong audience and wondering why nothing’s landing.

Your message must match the room. Talking about the power of love at a divorce recovery event? Wrong room. Hyping up entrepreneurship at a corporate HR summit? Missed the mark.

Know your audience. Align your topic. If the audience is nodding and leaning in, you’ve done your homework. If they’re checking their phones, it’s a mismatch—and that’s on you.

When you show up professionally, prepared, and on-point, you’re not just delivering a talk—you’re building a reputation. You’re making the job easier for the event planner, the tech team, and the audience. And when you do that? You steal the stage.

Remember: luck favors the prepared. Want to grow your business with speaking? Then treat it like the business it is.

Want more tips, tools, and insider secrets on the business of speaking?

Reach out, let’s connect and see exactly what you need to move your business, visibility and expertise forward.

Your message matters. Let’s make sure it lands in the right rooms, on the right stages, with the right audience—every single time.