How can you tap into the motivational speaking industry?

Take time to really understand what's involved and if/once you can get over the hurdle of public speaking then it's about why you want to be on stage. I say "why" because doffing into this will uncover your passion and interests which will ultimately wind up being your compass or North Star leading you to your niche.

I would suggest you experiment, experiment, experiment! Try different mediums (live, livestream, pre-recorded, panels). Also, don't worry about fees, pricing, etc.. Get your name out there!

Finding your niche can be difficult at first. If you tap into things you already know, for example if you are already working for an industry, try to find a way into Speaking that way, I have been able to find a connection between what I speak about and the needs of a certain industry it became a lot easier.

If you are just starting out, reach out to other speaker groups to get their input. They already know what work and what doesn't and most people are very helpful. A website is key! you need to showcase that you are a speaker otherwise how would people know? If you don't have any speaking events yet, then social media is your bff! People need to hear you speak so they can connect with you

I agree about needing high quality content. I would also add the need to have consistent content on specific platform (or platforms if you have options).

There is a plethora of groups on Linkedin, Facebook and even meetup groups. From there you can build interest for your medium (newsletters is one i highly recommend!).

I recently joined the National Speakers Association and went to their annual conference for the first time. I met many public speakers who have been doing this for years and I learned a lot from them. I learned more about what I want and don’t want and what I’m willing to do to build that side of the business. It did confirm that my story is unique and to embrace it. It was admittedly a bit uncomfortable going alone and not knowing anyone, but soon after meeting many nice and supportive people, I realized I grew in knowledge and confidence, that I belonged there, and also brought my unique experience to others. Try something new, meet some new folks, and remember that your story is unique and there is no one pathway to go down.

I would practice this with people as often as you can. Do it live or even record it. I promise you the feedback will greatly help! You can't fall in love with your messeng-ing alone. You need to see how it works.

Avoid the HUGE mistake of comparing yourself to others! Your lane is YOUR LANE. Sure, you can learn from others, see how other speakers are doing what they're doing and take a few notes. But your focus should be on YOU: Your story, your gifts/skills, and your message. You can end up being stagnant or unhappy by constantly looking at what everybody else is doing. Believe in yourself!