Speaking is selling. It's an effective marketing strategy because it showcases your knowledge and expertise to many people at once. People will remember you and will think you're successful. It gives you higher visibility and credibility which will increase over time.

But you already know that. Now you want more. You want to know HOW to get started. It's actually quite easy to promote your service-based business by public speaking.

To help get you started, I'll share with you the steps I took that got me started public speaking and giving presentations.

It all started with an article.

Step 1: October 2006. I wrote an article entitled "How to Get Unstuck and Regain Momentum." It appeared in that month's newsletter, on my blog and was submitted to online article sites.

Step 2: November 3, 2006. The readers' response was so great; I decided to continue the discussion, a very casual one, using Skype. Around 6 people joined the call.

Step 3: November 5, 2006. I was surprised with how interactive the ‘call' went. Most everyone joined the conversation. I asked questions and those present shared their insights then asked their own questions – I hardly did any talking. Following that session, I posted a review of the call on my blog "Marketing momentum discussion continued."

Step 4: About the same time, a call went out to members of a networking group, asking for volunteers to speak at their upcoming virtual summit. I didn't have a presentation nor any material prepared, but I knew I had to jump on the opportunity. My heart in my throat, I replied, offering to give a presentation on regaining momentum. My offer was accepted.

Step 5: For the next month and a half, using my article, Skypecast notes, blog comments and additional research, I worked my butt off writing a presentation description, bio, the actual presentation and PowerPoint slides.

Step 6: January 12, 2007. I nervously gave my first presentation "Regaining Loss of Momentum" in a virtual room and it was a success.

That's when things really took off. That single presentation led to invitations to give the same presentation to their groups. To date, this is the most requested speaking topic. It also increased my confidence, so I was more willing to volunteer.

I had a similar experience with my blog post entitled "How to create a compelling 30-second pitch." Not only do I offer this as a workshop topic, I've turned the content into an information product -- a guidebook called "Designing a compelling 30-second intro" – that I give away when signing up for my newsletter.

In the short time I've been speaking, I've given numerous presentations for virtual events, been interviewed on the radio and via Podcast, participated in radio round table discussions, appeared as a guest host for online networking meets, hosted group discussions and given teleclasses.

Despite my maternity hiatus, I still receive speaking invitations. My goal is to start Podcasting this year, and I may team up with 2 entrepreneurs to do a weekly internet radio show.

The steps outlined above are simple strategies I used to get started. There are many other speaking opportunities available to you. And if you're willing to speak for free, you'll find more than you know what to do with.

You may want to expand and improvise on my suggestions for your own business. The point is, just get out there and start speaking. The first few times are the most difficult, but you'll find the more you use public speaking to raise awareness about your business, the more comfortable you'll be doing it. You may even find that you like it.

Copyright. Cristina Favreau. All rights reserved.