Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies

Carol Cox
  • 4.8 (125)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Weekly

It's time to escape the expert trap and become an in-demand speaker and thought leader through compelling and memorable business presentations, keynotes, workshops, and TEDx talks. If you want to level up your public speaking to get more and better, including paid, speaking engagements, you've come to the right place! Thousands of entrepreneurs and leaders have learned from Speaking Your Brand and now you can too through our episodes that will help you with storytelling, audience engagement, building confidence, handling nerves, pitching to speak, getting paid, and more. Hosted by Carol Cox, entrepreneur, speaker, and TV political analyst. This is your place to learn how to persuasively communicate your message to your audience.

  1. 1d ago

    How to Get Your Next Speaking Engagements: The Bookable Speaker Checklist

    If you've been sending speaker proposals and hearing nothing back, look at three things: relevance, reach, and relationships.  Does the organizer understand why your talk fits their audience? Can they see evidence of you speaking? And do people in your network know what you speak about well enough to recommend you? Those are the three R's we're covering in this first episode of our Bookable Speaker podcast series. I’m joined by Speaking Your Brand coaches Diane Diaz and Erin Mark to talk about what each one looks like in practice and specific things you can do today to get your next speaking engagements on the calendar. Get our free Bookable Speaker Checklist at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/checklist/ You’ll learn: The three R's of being a bookable speaker: relevance, reach, and relationshipsHow to adapt your positioning to an event without creating a new talk every timeQuestions to ask an event organizer before you send a proposalWhy video of you speaking has become more useful to buyers, and how to capture it on a budgetWhat to ask for in your speaker contract when an event is being filmedHow warm introductions, other speakers, and small local talks can lead to more opportunitiesAbout Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/492/  Download our free Bookable Speaker Checklist at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/checklist/ Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Enroll in our online Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/  Attend our in-person speaking retreat in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/live/  Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcoxDiane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/ Erin Mark = https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinmark/  Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 486: Stop Creating Every Presentation from Scratch: Build One Talk You Can Adapt for Any AudienceEpisode 483: How an I.D.E.A., Not a Topic, Makes You Easier to Refer, Pitch, and Book with Carol CoxBooked Without Burnout series

  2. Sep 28

    Making Universal Topics Relatable: Live Signature Talks from Our Thought Leader Academy Grads

    How do you speak about something as big as love, money, or the meaning of life without letting it become abstract or overwhelming? You make it personal. In this Back Stage with Speaking Your Brand live show, you’ll hear three of our recent Thought Leader Academy grads, Beth DeAngelis, Vanessa Dean, and Kelsey Faye, as they each deliver a 10-minute version of the signature talk they developed in the program. Their talks explore some of life’s biggest subjects: Beth DeAngelis explores love and human connection as essential leadership skills.Vanessa Dean turns financial behavior into something deeply human through candid stories about ADHD, money, and the gap between knowing what to do and doing it consistently.Kelsey Faye draws from her stories to explore meaning, faith, and the search for purpose.You’ll hear how they: Use one specific personal experience as the doorway into a universal topicMove from “this happened to me” to “this means something for all of us”Make an abstract idea tangible through stories, metaphors, and frameworksShare vulnerability in service of a clear thought leadership messageHelp audience members recognize themselves in a story that isn’t their ownWe also have a roundtable conversation about what Beth, Vanessa, and Kelsey have learned while developing their talks and what’s next for them as speakers and thought leaders. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/491/  Watch the video at https://youtube.com/live/mchMlKWq3zM Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Apply for our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/  Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcoxBeth DeAngelis = https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethdeangelis/ Vanessa Dean = https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-dean-adhd-money-coach/ Kelsey Faye = https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelsey-faye-246347344/ and instagram.com/the.cathedral.within Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 355: What a Signature Talk Is and What It Should be Doing for You

  3. Sep 21

    Making the Invisible Visible: Live Signature Talks from Our Thought Leader Academy Grads

    How do you turn an overlooked pattern or experience into a thought leadership message that changes how your audience sees themselves and the world around them? One of the most powerful things a speaker can do is make the invisible visible. In this Back Stage with Speaking Your Brand live show, our lead speaking coach Diane Diaz hosts three of our recent Thought Leader Academy grads, Stephanie Warner, Noa Stisin, and Carolyn Clow, as they each deliver a 10-minute version of the signature talk they developed in the program. Each speaker makes an invisible influence visible: Stephanie reveals how our sensory environments quietly shape our energy, capacity, and leadership.Noa explores how a parent’s internal state and inherited patterns shape what happens in difficult moments with a child.Carolyn shows how the often-overlooked practice of self-leadership affects our ability to lead others. You’ll hear how they: Bring an overlooked problem or pattern into viewUse stories to make an unseen experience recognizableGive audiences language for something they may have felt but couldn’t nameTurn an abstract insight into a memorable frameworkOffer a practical next step audiences can use in their own lives We also have a roundtable conversation about what Stephanie, Noa, and Carolyn have learned while developing their talks and what’s next for them as speakers and thought leaders. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/490/  Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/live/ZWHCwywBH1Q?si=U6QsPCGhG4EqTEc- Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Apply for our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/  Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcoxDiane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediazStephanie Warner = https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-warner-tcp/ Noa Stisin = https://www.linkedin.com/in/noastisin/ Carolyn Clow = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolynaclow/  Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 355: What a Signature Talk Is and What It Should be Doing for You

  4. Sep 14

    To Get Booked and Referred, You Need Signature Stage Segments

    If you want more speaking invitations, it’s tempting to think the answer is more pitching, more social posts, and more cold outreach.  But event organizers are receiving more speaker submissions than ever. Being one more qualified person in the pile isn’t enough.  You need parts of your talk that people can remember, describe, and refer. I call these Signature Stage Segments: intentionally crafted moments that bring together storytelling, humor, audience interaction, props or costumes, and quotable lines. They make the talk more engaging for the audience and give you the kind of video that actually shows an event organizer what you can do on stage. In this episode, I share examples from our clients and our own talks.  You’ll hear how a lion at a watering hole, a round of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” a game show, a medical mask, and a pair of human-versus-AI paddles all became memorable stage moments. And we’ll talk about the part many speakers still hold back. In this episode, you’ll learn: What a Signature Stage Segment is and why it helps you get booked and referredThe five elements that make stage moments memorableHow to use our I.D.E.A.L. Storytelling Ingredients to turn something that happened into an actual storyHow simple props can make an abstract idea visibleWhy quotable lines belong in both your talk and your speaker reelThe thing many speakers are afraid to bring to the stage and why it matters About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/489/  Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/  Attend our in-person speaking retreat in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/live/  Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 488: They Took the Stage at Our Speaking Retreat. What Happened Next?Episode 462: Speaking Strategies That Create Lasting Impact: Live Signature Talks from TLA GradsEpisode 422: How to Create a 10-Out-of-10 Keynote that Leaves Your Audience in Awe with Julia Korn [Client Case Study]Episode 345: Elevate Your Audience Engagement Skills with These Proven Strategies with Katie Anderson [Client Case Study]Episode 467: Making the Shift from Performer to Keynote Speaker with Andy Nunn

  5. Sep 7

    They Took the Stage at Our Speaking Retreat. What Happened Next?

    What stays with you after a speaking retreat - once the filming is over, the notes are back in your hands, and you're home again? We could tell you what happens at one of our in-person speaking retreats and workshops.  Instead, our lead speaking coach Diane Diaz sits down with three women who experienced it: scientist and registered dietitian Dr. Karen Corbin, physician and health equity consultant Dr. Nicole Rochester, and emotional freedom and forgiveness coach Brenda Reiss.  They talk candidly about having to practice without their notes, watching themselves on video, learning to use stories and props, and getting immediate feedback from a room full of women who wanted them to succeed. What I love most about this conversation is what happened next.  Nicole changed how she delivers talks and brought a much more personal story to a medical conference.  Brenda learned to trust herself and let more of the real person behind her expertise come through.  Karen became even more committed to helping scientists use story and personality to become trusted voices.  Their experiences are different, but the thread is the same: when you stop trying to get every word right, you create more room for the audience to connect with you. You can watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/live/rmXYSCCoz-A. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/488/  Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/live/rmXYSCCoz-A Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Learn about our in-person speaking retreat: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/live/  Learn about our online Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/  Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcoxDiane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediazNicole Rochester = https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-rochester-md/ Karen Corbin = https://www.linkedin.com/in/karen-corbin-phd-rd-75229111/ Brenda Reiss = https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendareiss/ Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 411: Reframing Public Speaking: From Elite Skill to Everyday Power with Dr. Karen CorbinEpisode 329: From Compelled to Take Action to TEDx Speaker with Dr. Nicole RochesterEpisode 347: The Power of REAL Practice to Transform Yourself as a SpeakerEpisode 385: Leading with Story in Your Talks [Roundtable]

  6. Aug 31

    The Confidence Advice Women Get Backward About Public Speaking

    If you've been telling yourself you'll pitch the conference, keynote, or TEDx talk once you feel more confident, I want you to reconsider the order.  Public speaking isn't something you do after you become confident. It's one of the ways confidence is created. I’m sharing three practical ways to build real speaking confidence: say yes and get the reps, experiment with different formats and time constraints, and use podcasting to strengthen your ability to speak naturally.  I tell the story of walking into a TV studio for the first time with my heart pounding - and how becoming a regular political analyst years later finally gave me the repetition I needed to trust myself. And then there's the thing that surprised me most: taking an eight-week improv class. Even after decades of speaking, improv helped me get out of my head, into my body, and more comfortable not knowing exactly what would happen next. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why confidence is created through speaking rather than perfected in privateWhat it means to embody your message instead of delivering it only from your headWhy repetition builds the muscle memory that makes speaking feel more naturalWhat my first TV political panel taught me about saying yes before I felt readyWhy relying on a script can interrupt your connection with the audienceHow PechaKucha, Ignite, DisruptHR, workshops, and keynotes develop different speaking skillsWhy hosting a podcast or becoming a regular podcast guest strengthens impromptu speakingWhat an eight-week improv class taught me about uncertainty and presenceHow speaking confidence can help you claim the identity of “speaker”Why women's public voices matter to gender equalityAbout Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/487/  Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/  Learn more about our speaking retreat in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/live/ Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Related Podcast Episodes: Speak with Confidence podcast seriesEpisode 379: How to Develop Stage Presence and Build Confidence as a SpeakerEpisode 378: The Power of Women's Voices and Stories to Change the World

  7. Aug 24

    Stop Creating Every Presentation from Scratch: Build One Talk You Can Adapt for Any Audience

    If you’re exhausted by creating a brand-new presentation every time you’re invited to speak, I get it. You want the talk to fit the audience. But customizing your message is very different from reinventing it. In this episode, I’m joined by our coaches Diane Diaz and Erin Mark to talk about how we each use one foundational signature talk across different audiences, industries, and formats. Erin shares how she adapts her CALM framework for everything from a six-minute-and-40-second PechaKucha talk to a 60-minute keynote.  Diane explains what to keep, what to change, and why your stories should be the last thing you cut when time is tight. In this episode, we talk about: Why customizing a signature talk is different from creating a new talk from scratchThe core elements that should stay consistent across speaking engagementsHow Erin adapts her CALM framework for different industries and talk lengthsHow Diane changes stories and audience engagement without losing her central messageWhy listing 10, 15, or 20 speaking topics can make you harder to remember and referHow our Brand Voice Canvas connects your mission, expertise, methodology, and experiencesWhat Erin did when she was assigned a topic outside her expertiseHow to expand a keynote into a workshop without turning it into a content dumpHow your signature talk can become podcast talking points, website copy, and months of LinkedIn content About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/486/  Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/  Learn more about our speaking retreat in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/live/ Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcoxDiane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz/ Erin Mark = https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinmark/ Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 288: A Framework for Creating a Signature Talk for Income and ImpactEpisode 462: Speaking Strategies That Create Lasting Impact: Live Signature Talks from TLA Grads with Erin MarkEpisode 475: From Personal Story to Thought Leadership: A Framework for Speakers with Erin MarkEpisode 483: How an I.D.E.A., Not a Topic, Makes You Easier to Refer, Pitch, and Book with Carol Cox

  8. Aug 17

    Get Hired, Get Referred, Get Clients: The Relationship Side of Speaking with Nikki Rausch

    What if the most important sales moments connected to your speaking engagement happen before you step on stage and in the first few minutes after you step off? My guest, sales strategist Nikki Rausch, has been my go-to coach for sales language, proposals, pricing, consultation calls, and follow-up for years.  In this conversation, we walk through the entire speaking engagement from the first inquiry to the conversations that happen after your talk.  Nikki explains how to make yourself easy for an event organizer to hire, plant sales seeds without turning your presentation into a pitch, and recognize when an audience member is giving you a buying signal. We also chat about why your job as the speaker begins long before your scheduled presentation time.  In this episode, Nikki and I talk about: Why you should answer an event organizer’s question before asking for a callHow to state your speaker fee clearly and keep the conversation openNikki’s “rapport bank account” and why your presence matters before you reach the stageThe difference between planting sales seeds and selling from the stageHow to use client stories and Q&A responses to show people how you helpWhat a buying signal sounds like after a presentationHow to invite someone to buy or schedule a call while her interest is still high About Our Guest: Nikki Rausch is a sales strategist, speaker, and founder of Sales Maven. With more than 25 years of sales experience and over a decade as a business owner, she teaches service-based entrepreneurs how to have confident sales conversations that lead to yeses, without feeling pushy or fake. As a Master Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Nikki focuses on the language and communication behind selling. Her approach is rooted in building rapport, recognizing buying signals, and guiding conversations in a way that feels natural for both you and the client. She is the author of three books, including The Selling Staircase, and host of the Sales Maven Podcast, ranked in the top 1% globally. Through her coaching, programs, and speaking, Nikki supports women entrepreneurs in turning sales into a skill they can rely on, so they can grow their business with clarity and confidence. About Us: The Speaking Your Brand podcast is hosted by Carol Cox. At Speaking Your Brand, we help women entrepreneurs and professionals clarify their brand message and story, create their signature talks, and develop their thought leadership platforms. Our mission is to get more women in positions of influence and power because it's through women's stories, voices, and visibility that we challenge the status quo and change existing systems. Check out our coaching programs at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com.  Links: Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/486/ Nikki’s website: https://yoursalesmaven.com/  Get Nikki’s free gift Follow-Up Made Easy Guide: https://yoursalesmaven.com/easyfollowup  Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/ Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/  Learn more about our speaking retreat in Orlando: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/live/ Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcoxNikki Rausch (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikkirausch/  Related Podcast Episodes: Carol’s episode on Nikki’s Sales Maven podcast: https://yoursalesmaven.com/blog/integrating-both-thought-leadership-and-lead-generation-into-one-talk/Episode 133: Authentic Selling at Your Speaking Engagements with Nikki RauschEpisode 34: Relationship Selling with Nikki RauschEpisode 483: How an I.D.E.A., Not a Topic, Makes You Easier to Refer, Pitch, and Book with Carol Cox

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It's time to escape the expert trap and become an in-demand speaker and thought leader through compelling and memorable business presentations, keynotes, workshops, and TEDx talks. If you want to level up your public speaking to get more and better, including paid, speaking engagements, you've come to the right place! Thousands of entrepreneurs and leaders have learned from Speaking Your Brand and now you can too through our episodes that will help you with storytelling, audience engagement, building confidence, handling nerves, pitching to speak, getting paid, and more. Hosted by Carol Cox, entrepreneur, speaker, and TV political analyst. This is your place to learn how to persuasively communicate your message to your audience.

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