Speak and Market Like A Pro

12/23/2025

Wonderful to receive the Talkadot participant testimonials from my June 2025 Deep Dive presentation for NSA Northwest Chapter on designing speaker marketing materials and one-sheets.

12/09/2025

The End-of-Year Communication Every Speaker Should Send to Past Clients
by Lois Creamer

As the year winds down, most speakers focus on finishing strong, wrapping up events, closing out financials, and taking a well earned break. But there’s one high-impact move that can set you up for a stronger, more profitable 2026: sending a smart, value-driven end-of-year communication to your past clients. This is a strategy many of my clients have used.

Too many speakers underestimate how powerful a simple, thoughtful message can be. Your clients already know you, like you, and have hired you before. They’re the warmest buyers in your world. And while you’re busy thinking about next year, so are they - budgets, retreats, conferences, sales meetings, and strategic planning sessions are all taking shape. If you’re not tapping into that planning window, you’re leaving opportunity on the table.

Here’s how to send an end-of-year message that feels personal, relevant, and opens the door to additional business.

1. Start With Appreciation

Clients want to feel seen and valued. Begin your message with a sincere thank-you for the opportunity to work together this year (even if it was last year (or longer), gratitude never expires! Acknowledge the importance of the work they do. Highlight how much you enjoyed supporting them. This sets the tone and makes the outreach feel like a relationship touchpoint, not a transaction.

2. Reflect on Key Wins

Remind them of the impact of your program. A simple line such as, “I’m still hearing from attendees who put X into action” or “Your team’s engagement in the session was a highlight of my year” positions you as a partner, not just a presenter. It helps jog their memory about the value you brought, and reinforces why bringing you back is a smart decision.

3. Pivot to the Year Ahead

This is where the magic happens. Tie your message to the realities of the marketplace: shifting expectations, uncertainty, new challenges, tighter budgets, or the need to uplevel skills. Let them know how your work is evolving for 2026, such as new topics, updated frameworks, refreshed case studies, or enhanced formats like breakouts, follow-ups, or virtual sessions.

You’re signaling that you’re not delivering the same talk on repeat. You’re keeping your finger on the pulse and showing up ready to help them succeed in a rapidly changing environment.

4. Make It Easy for Them to Take the Next Step

Close with a low-pressure invitation:

“If you’re in planning mode for 2026, I’d love to be part of the conversation. Just hit reply and I’ll send over a quick menu of options we can explore together.”

No forms. No friction. Just an easy reply.

5. Keep It Short and Warm

This is not a pitch deck. It’s a relationship-builder.

A friendly tone + clear value + a simple next step = bookings more business.

Final Thought

End-of-year communication isn’t about pushing for business. It’s about serving, nurturing the relationships that already exist and staying top-of-mind when buyers are actively planning. Speakers who send these messages consistently get more repeat work. Those who skip it compete with the entire marketplace for new business.

Walk into 2026 ahead of the game!

BONUS! Here's a sample email you can personalize and send.

"I hope you’re doing well! As we wrap up the year, I wanted to reach out and say how much I appreciated working with you and your team. If you’re starting to plan meetings for 2026, I’d love to be part of the conversation. I’ve updated my programs based on what’s shifting in the marketplace, and I think they’d be a strong fit for where many teams want to be. If you’d like options, just reply, and I’ll send a quick menu. Thanks again for the opportunity to support your group!"

Note: attach a PDF of your core offering sheet.

Then: CALL in January.

12/06/2025

If you want to capture this information before the end of this year… this is it! My last design session this year… and it’s FREE! Ideal for any level of speaker, trainer, consultant, author…

——
Designing Marketing One-Sheets!

Professional Speakers Toastmasters Club
is hosting this
FREE MASTER CLASS WORKSHOP
Presented by
Sheryl Roush, DTM, and CEO, Sparkle Presentations, Inc.

Wednesday, December 10
5:00-6:30pm Pacific (PST) / 8:00-9:30pm Eastern (EST) / [UTC -08.00]

--->>>Register EARLY to receive the Zoom link, and materials
Registration Link: https://tinyurl.com/Professional-Speakers-Reg

Registration closes at 4:30 pm (PST), December 10.

12/05/2025

Color of the year… We will see how this plays out in Marketing….

Pantone has named a shade of white called Cloud Dancer as the defining color of the next year. Have they gotten it right? Reporters for our Styles desk sat down to debate. https://trib.al/woXf4LL

12/03/2025

How to Sell Your Speech in 2026: A Guide for Speakers Who Want More Bookings


If you’re a speaker, consultant, or expert who wants more engagements on the calendar, the game has changed, but the fundamentals haven’t. Buyers are more distracted, events are more hybrid, and competition is louder than ever. But the speakers who know who they serve, the outcomes they deliver, and how to reach the right buyers are still winning.

Here’s the updated roadmap for selling your speech in today’s market.

1. Start With a Clear Positioning Statement – No Surprise!

Before you send a single email or make a single call, nail your positioning. You’ve heard me say it for years:

“I work with [target] who want to [outcome].”

This is your north star. It tells buyers exactly who you help and what outcomes you create. Clear positioning makes everything else easier - your outreach, your pricing, your proposals, your marketing.

2. Know Your Buyers and What They’re Dealing With

Today’s speaking opportunities fall into three buckets:

Corporate

Sales teams, leadership groups, employee experience, customer service, tech, healthcare, and finance. Corporate buyers want results, relevance, and ROI. They need help with hybrid workforce issues, team energy, performance gaps, and cultural alignment. Some of the changes brought about by the pandemic remain.

Associations

Still relationship driven, still a slow process. Still valuable. Associations are hungry for high-content programs, and they often leverage speakers for more virtual content, webinars, and licensing after the main event. Note: as you’ve heard me say many times, lead with content,

Niche Events – Masterminds, Membership Groups, Book Clubs

A growing category. Smaller gatherings, high engagement, often with follow-on consulting opportunities. Read my chapter on “Aftercare” in Book More Business: Make MORE Money Speaking.

3. Modern Outreach That Gets Responses

The old model of “just call and leave a voicemail” is outdated. You need a smarter blend of personal and digital. But I must add, I would never discourage picking up the phone!

Corporate outreach

• Research using LinkedIn and company news

• Send a short, personalized message (video messages stand out, audio messages can stand out)

• Share a core offering sheet/one sheet – a good overview of your business

• Ask for a brief discovery call. This is where the relationship begins.

Association outreach

• Email the meeting planner (remember this is the information gatherer, not the decision maker with a program idea and title that include 3 outcomes

• Ask about themes, all opportunities and decision timelines

• Offer a short video clip so they can “see you in action”. Under two minutes or so.

• If you don’t get it this year, nurture them for next year. Ask permission to put them on your email list. Associations recycle great speakers. They typically get rid of information from year to year, so you’ll have to start the process again next year.

4. Ask Smart Questions That Lead to the Sale

Your goal is to understand:

• What outcome the event is driving toward

• Why they’re having the meeting

• Who the audience is and what they’re struggling with

• Their fee range

• Whether they need workshops, virtual sessions, panels, etc.

Great questions shift the conversation from logistics to value, and value sells.

5. Price With Confidence

You’re not selling “a speech.” You’re selling expertise + outcomes + experience.

Buyers invest when they understand:

• The problem you solve

• The transformation you create (outcomes – what will they do differently)

• How can your content live after the event? Offer Aftercare! Your value will expand far beyond the keynote.

6. Treat Speaking Like a Business

The most successful speakers:

• Track leads

• Keep an up-to-date CRM

• Follow up consistently

• Leverage every gig into repeat business

• Capture testimonials and referrals

• Package their expertise into multiple offers

Your speech is the door opener. Your larger body of work is the revenue.

Final Thoughts

Selling your speech in 2025 is about positioning, clarity, and delivering real outcomes and ROI to clients who need them. If you want more bookings, higher fees, and a speaking business that grows month after month, this is your path.

By Lois Creamer

12/03/2025

Are you passionate about sharing your message?

Do you have a clear, compelling marketing message for your presentations?

Do your potential clients know the Who, What, and Why of your speaking / training services?

Discover the Marketing Magic of the Speaker One-Sheet!

It’s your Who, What and Why!

Professional Speakers Toastmasters Club Hosts a
FREE MASTER CLASS WORKSHOP
“How to Design Effective Speaker One-Sheets”

* Presented by Sheryl Roush, DTM, PDG, CVP
and CEO, Sparkle Presentations, Inc.

Wednesday, December 10

5:00-6:30pm Pacific (PST) / 8:00-9:30pm Eastern (EST) / [UTC -08.00]

--->>>Register EARLY to receive the Zoom link, handouts, and worksheet!

Registration Link:
https://solarzar.wufoo.com/forms/professional-speakers-december-10th/

Registration closes at 4:30 pm (PST), December 10.

11/22/2025