Vicki Wusche, Property Investor, Author and Speaker, knows the importance of sharing her message with the world, and with a diary jam-packed with speaking engagements for the next 6 months, she’s certainly doing just that.
Vicki’s a pretty busy lady, what with being a property investor, trainer, business mentor, author, speaker, and casual underwater photographer. So when we heard about her upcoming speaking gigs, we just had to know how she bagged them, and why they’re so important for her to squeeze into her schedule.
With top tips on how to secure those slots and share your message, hold tight and prepare for a little ‘Whoosh’ in your life…
WE HEAR YOU’RE TOTALLY BOOKED OUT FOR SPEAKING OVER THE NEXT 6 MONTHS, WHERE WILL WE BE SEEING YOU ON STAGE?
I think I have become a bit of a speaking junkie – I love (and always have) sharing my understanding of the world.
I have been invited to travel all over the UK from Edinburgh to Belfast, Exeter to Kent. In the next few months I will appear on stage with Daniel Priestley and the team at the Brand Accelerator event on March 20th, HMO in a Box on April 25th and lots of property events across the country too.
TELL US THE NITTY GRITTY, HOW DID YOU SECURE SO MANY SPOTS?
I ask, and I keep asking. I contact anyone I have spoken for in the past and offer to come again. I contact hosts of relevant events and explain what I can speak about and of course mention that I have written 3 books.
My website and Facebook all let people know I speak and I regularly publicise where I am speaking next which often brings a flurry of new requests. My last post informed my following I had 5 new slots and I was then asked to speak at a further 3!
I also record and share a lot of videos and we have a show reel too. We have created a home studio with camera and lights from Amazon – it has much such a difference to the professionalism and I think in return that is really paying dividends to the new bookings coming through.
WHY WAS PUBLIC SPEAKING SUCH A KEY STRATEGY FOR YOUR BUSINESS?
Essentially, it’s a no-brainer way to share your message and be heard by many.
Whilst my books have been a great way to enable my readers to get to know about me and what I stand for, public speaking is the next level. It enables me to share my message in person (but to many people at a time) and give people a more in-depth opportunity to know me, like me and decide to trust me.
I can trace all my high value sales from both people reading my books and getting in touch or from simply seeing me for the first time as a speaker and then doing their own level of due diligence before deciding to work with me.
SOME PEOPLE FREAK AT THE THOUGHT OF PUBLIC SPEAKING, DO YOU?
I don’t anymore because I honestly believe that if you follow the Key Person of Influence methodology and you are clear on what you have to offer (your pitch), know you have something of value (your product) and get an opportunity to speak (profile), then you will naturally exude confidence (even if you’re not quite feeling it just yet.)
WHAT ENCOURAGED YOU TO START PUBLIC SPEAKING?
Here’s something that helped me – in a training session I had with Blair Singer, one of Robert Kiyosaki’s sales advisors, he asked me the following questions (ask them to yourself):
- Do you believe in what you are doing?
- Do you know how to do what you are doing/offering?
- Would your service make a difference to others?
- If you could cure the world of cancer or another dreadful ailment, would you share it with the world?
- Would it be selfish to keep a cure secret?
If you answered yes to all of these questions – then why are you not speaking and selling to everyone you possibly can?
I know it isn’t always that easy, and I do understand that some people are more introvert so the idea of being on stage is not an enjoyable experience. But if that resonates with you, perhaps you need a strategy for your business where someone acts as a spokesperson or you could speak via videos and webinars so as to avoid the crowds. Because whatever happens – the more people who know you, understand what you have to offer and get a chance to engage with you so they feel like they can trust you, the more sales your business will make.
WHAT DOES BEING A “KEY PERSON OF INFLUENCE” MEAN TO YOU?
It’s about reaching a point in your business where strangers come to you and tell you what you do and get it right. They know who you are and what you stand for. They know why they would want your help. It’s all about teaching everyone your pitch so they can share the message.
WHAT’S THE HARDEST THING ABOUT BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR?
Being alone! Finding the right supportive community can be a real bonus – a place to learn and to meet others that may become your customers or know people that can become your customers. That is the KPI community down to a T.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR ANYONE WANTING TO FURTHER THEIR SPEAKING CAREER?
- Practice – ask friends and family to listen to you.
- Graduate to non-threatening opportunities – like asking a question if ever a person on stage prompts it, or if anyone wants a volunteer then be that person.
- Practice on video. You don’t have to listen to it because you will know when you did well as it will feel natural and comfortable.
- Remember it’s not fear you are feeling, it’s excitement. That feeling in your stomach is adrenaline so just embrace it.
- Book your first event and speak without selling – just share your knowledge and give massive value initially. Then bring the selling aspect in as you feel more confident.
- Always video record your talks – keep a record and protect yourself in case anyone challenges what you have said. Eventually you will feel confident enough to watch them back and once you decide to make a show reel, well then you will be flying.
- Post on You Tube and start a following.
Tweetable gold nuggets from Vicki:
“You’re a key person of influence when people know who you are and what you stand for” – @PropertyMermaid @VickiWusche on the @kpimethod blog
“Remember it’s not fear you are feeling, it’s excitement. That feeling is adrenaline so just embrace it” – @PropertyMermaid @VickiWusche on the #kpimethod blog
How to get speaking engagements – @PropertyMermaid @VickiWusche on the @kpimethod blog https://bit.ly/vwusche
