Here's how you can help motivational speakers identify their niche and position themselves in the industry.

Speaking from the heart transcends words, creating a powerful emotional connection with your audience. When you share your true self, you touch lives deeply, resonating long after your speech ends. Passion and vulnerability have the power to move emotions, leaving a lasting impact. Remember, it's not just about what you say or do, but how you make people feel that defines your legacy.

I encourage speakers to start with a thorough self-assessment. This involves reflecting on their passions, strengths, experiences, and values. By understanding what drives them and where they excel, speakers can identify areas they are genuinely passionate about and knowledgeable in. It's essential to know who the ideal audience is. I assist speakers in defining their target audience based on demographics, interests, and needs. I guide speakers to conduct market research to understand current trends, demands, and gaps in the motivational speaking industry. By analyzing what audiences are looking for and where there is less competition, speakers can find a niche that aligns with their strengths and has growth potential.

Thank you for raising this wonderful question, as far as niche is concerned I always suggest to read IKIGAI and find time figure it out about " What you really love at " And What you are good at. Once you find the answer you get the clarity about your niche, after that nurture your niche, take your niche to next level, join courses, class and develop your skills and start adding values in life of others through your niche. This approach will give you a new identity as a motivational speaker.

Audience analysis is challenging but vital. You need to use their language and tailor your presentation to fit their needs. I have found the meeting professional I'm communicating with often doesn't work in the industry I'm speaking for. Whenever possible I arrive long enough before my speech to interact with the audience off stage, in the hotel, at meals, wherever I can learn about the day to day challenges of the audience.

One thing I see that is important is asking "What does this mean to the audience?" Whilst we may want to speak about our passion, crafting the message to resonate with the current times and potential needs of the audience. Last but not least, be authentic and not condescending.

Try to identify people's needs and how best to talk it out. Do a thorough research on how best to help their confidence and how best it could help them achieve their desired result

Be super clear on your target audience. It’s hard to research their challenges if you’re not quite sure who you want to focus on. ‘Leaders’ can be too broad; “Leaders in the manufacturing industry” is better; “Leaders in the agricultural products industry” is even better. Do not try to be all things to all people. You’ll be in higher demand by focusing on a speciality area.

I agree. When you clear on your audience, you can be more clear on your messaging and your messaging can help attract right clients.

It's time to design your message once you have a clear understanding of your specialty and target audience. Your speeches should be uplifting and accessible, offering practical guidance that meets the requirements of your audience. A clear message makes you stand out and has the power to convert casual listeners into devoted supporters. Don't be afraid to use your individual viewpoint to approach subjects in novel ways, and don't be afraid to share personal tales as they may be effective tools for building rapport.

Hey somebody else to to do it. No matter how skilled of a writer you are, a professional who helps businesses craft messages on a daily basis gives you the leverage to by pass the entrepreneur attempting to write their own copy and finding themselves stuck. A second set of ears and eyes are crucial to helping you land and close contacts faster. Since money loves speed and the desire to bring revenue into your business, it’s easier to hire a professional to help outline and craft your message.

After understanding your audience, you can refine your approach to reaching them and build your content. If you decide to focus on conferences, you need to be a great speaker who can attract attention and inspire the audience over a longer period. If you opt for social networks and YouTube, your content should be in video format with short, engaging pitches to quickly convey your message. But the key is to start testing. In the beginning, the format might not be the best, the audience may need refinement, the content might not be very attractive, but, this is the way to learn—practice makes expertise, and there’s no other way! Allow yourself to make "mistakes" as they provide valuable learnings and help you refine the process.

I've always followed the edict that one should place themselves in the audience member's shoes. What do THEY want to hear about? What message is important to THEM that you want to get across? What will THEY get out of listening to your messages that they can takeway? Answer these questions and you're on your way!

Aim for something a little ‘spiky’ in messaging, just a little off the beaten path that intrigues people. For example I have a keynote and book called The Myth of Employee Engagement. It’s intended for HR audiences. I don’t really think employee engagement is a myth but I do speak about how many employees do. The title draws people in cause it’s a little controversial on the face of it. Then there are some other slightly spiky messages in the speech.

Agreed! Carefully curate your social media presence to be consistent with what you want to speak about and be known for. Don’t get distracted by side topics that aren’t on brand. It took me a while to get clear on this. I used to speak on leadership a lot so it still draws me in when people post about it. I will like and briefly comment but focus on speaking issues pretty much exclusively seeing as that’s my expertise and passion. We can get stuck going down rabbit holes of things we love but aren’t focusing on- and life is busy enough!

Your brand is who you are, what you represent. The ideaology and perception of whom the audience assume you are. Often times, they must have formed this around all your work ethos and environmental influences, they know what you are capable of handling and eagerly looking forward to that whenever an invite is presented to you. On no cost, are they expecting you to fall short of that pedestal, I tell you, they even expect more from you, in dishing out core value, in your style and gesture, in talking, in sharing, in engagement, in feedback, future recommendation and so on. With best wishes, Temitope Atoyebi

Crear y mantener una marca personal sólida es fundamental para destacar y establecer tu credibilidad en tu nicho. La consistencia en tu mensaje, la coherencia y la presentación son tres puntos claves que deben reflejar fielmente siempre y en todas tus plataformas. Una marca fuerte no solo te hace memorable, sino que también construye confianza y lealtad entre tu audiencia.

Construir uma marca forte é o desafio principal para quem deseja se destacar no mercado. Prestar aten??o aos detalhes e manter a credibilidade s?o fundamentais para obter sucesso ao conquistar e encantar os clientes.

Develop a mission statement and let that be the mantra that helps cultivate your brand. This will keep your branding consistent and reliable. Remind yourself of your mission statement when things get tough. Go back to basics.

By embracing failure as an essential part of the success journey, we can transform our personal and professional lives. This perspective not only empowers us to overcome obstacles but also inspires others to pursue their dreams with resilience and determination. Achieving the Top Motivational Speaking Voice badge with this unique viewpoint will set you apart as a speaker who not only motivates but also instills a deeper understanding of success and failure.

Not much to add to this but in a world of overwhelming information I’ve found that, particularly since the pandemic, people are hungry for personal connection. Networking is huge part of my business and I find the most interesting clients at in person events whose social media paths I may never have crossed.

I strongly agree to this, your life network is your net worth. Quite a number of people have engaged with you online via one platform or the other, but the day they will meet you physically, it will be the most fulfilling moments for them. It will totally seal up that online relationship and engagement. The feeling is not here, it brings more to realization and affirms your consistent efforts over the time. All thanks to you not given up and for constantly building that awesome brand. With best regards, Temitope Atoyebi

→ Spread the word (get your message out there) Now that you know your stuff, tell everyone! Websites, social media especially LinkedIn, networking, physical events or LinkedIn events can help.

Market Research: Analyze the current landscape. Who are the leading speakers, and what are their niches? Identify gaps where your unique perspective can fill a need. For instance, if mental health is underserved in your network, consider specializing in that area.

Self-Discovery: Identify your passions, expertise, strengths, and values. What topics excite you and resonate with your experiences? Continuously learn to stay current in your field. Market Validation: Determine your target audience, analyze the competition, and connect with potential clients to refine your message. Stay informed about industry trends and audience preferences. Positioning & Branding: Develop a compelling message, build a consistent brand, and share your story authentically. Invest in professional development to hone your craft. Networking & Engagement: Attend industry events, leverage social media, offer free resources, and seek feedback to build your audience.

I believe it’s important to be a forever student. It’s what allows me to continue to learn, grow and be stretch. I don’t want to always be the smartest person in the room.

The motivational speaking industry is indeed ever-evolving, and staying updated is crucial. I wholeheartedly believe that the mentoring part is especially important—it's all about who mentors you. A great mentor can provide invaluable guidance, feedback, and insights that can significantly enhance your skills and knowledge. Investing in continuous learning and having the right mentor can make all the difference in keeping your content fresh and engaging.

STAY RELEVANT: Keep yourself fresh and abreast of the latest developments in your field. Understand and research trends. Develop insights and smart takeaways.

I am a life long learner! I encourage you to continue to learn and grow forever. It will always be an asset! Even courses I did just for fun I find have a way of adding nuances into all kinds of places. I find I utilize the lessons often in unexpected ways. Lifelong learning in my books is a must!

I made a conscious decision to narrow my niche in 2013. The voices around me kept telling me to go shallow and wide, as my message applied to a wider audience. What I found, is that by narrowing my niche, my expertise was elevated. I literally speak their language, know their pain and understand them. You can't do that with a wide net. I also found that if you zoom in on what looks like a narrow niche, there are sub-niches within that where my expertise shines even brighter. Someone once said that my niche, the Wedding and Events industry, is an inch wide, but a mile deep.

You are unique and that means you have unique experiences as you grow and evolve. Share what’s happening in your life right now. Share how things haven’t gone right and how you navigated those challenges. Your audience wants to know you and will connect with you as a speaker more deeply. When you share the hard conversations about the real you. The things that make you unique.

Hablar desde la experiencia personal es una estrategia infalible. Compartir lo que has vivido y experimentado no solo a?ade autenticidad a tu mensaje, sino que también te permite conectar de manera más profunda y genuina con tu audiencia. Cuando tus palabras están respaldadas por vivencias reales, se vuelven más convincentes y resonantes. La autenticidad es siempre la mejor guía.

Tell a story. Tell Your story. Make it Engaging. Make it Meaningful. Make it Authentic. Make it Relevant to your Audience and their personal/professional circumstances.