I shared a ‘Core Conversation’ yesterday afternoon at SXSW with the consummate professional speaker Tim Sanders , author of Love is the Killer App , The Likeability Factor , and Saving the World at Work . Aided by some great comments, suggestions and questions from the audience, we discussed some of the important rules to follow if you want to develop a paid professional speaking career. Of course, there are a variety of ways to break into the speaking circuit, and these rules can be creatively broken, but they will help you get started learning the system (if only to hack it later).

With all due respect, love and admiration, why do you, some of our planet’s best teachers (professional speakers) think that all you have to do is throw up a website to get invitations to speak? Then I’d like for you to tell yourself that the only difference between you and the high profile speaker is positioning – and OK, I’ll concede, more experience. 12 essential Steps to Attract Your Ideal Customers What’s with the trend to try to build relationships only over the Internet?

Specializing in branding for high-fee professional speaker markets, she has launched thousands of thought leaders since 1987. Specializing in branding for high-fee professional speaker markets, she has launched thousands of thought leaders since 1987. She rocked the house at the meeting of the Northern California Chapter of the National Speakers Association. Vickie Sullivan is internationally recognized as a top market strategist for experts. Vickie’s groundbreaking work has earned her an appointment on the Women’s Leadership Board for the Kennedy School of