
Guest speakers in Durban: Start Low
If you are one of the popular guest speakers in Durban, taking along supplemental materials such as business cards and pamphlets can help get the word out about you, and may increase page views to your website or phone calls asking about what you offer. Also start early on to create products for example your own unique DVD with value-based content. This will serve not only as an additional income stream but also as a big business card. Make sure you contact info and website is indicated on all products. Take all calls that you can. Speak at churches, public conventions and conferences, and schools for free. Consider these functions like community service. They will fit nicely into your portfolio and look good on your resume. You may also land references and recommendations from them. Once you've gotten quite a few of these low to no paying engagements, begin shopping around for paying jobs. Join a guest's speakers association, or spruce up your website with your new accomplishments. The trick is to make yourself available and for people to know about you. That is how you will land the paying jobs. Being a booked guest speaker can be a rewarding, fun career for the right person. However, you will take your share of hard knocks before you start making big money. You may have to start by speaking at public functions, churches, and schools for free in order to build your resume. But once you have the appropriate amount of public speaking experience, and once people get word about you and your discounted prices, you are sure to book one gig after another.

