Simone Vincenzi

Public speaking isn’t just about delivering a message—it’s about making a connection. Whether you’re addressing your team or customers, speaking with confidence and emotion builds trust and strengthens relationships. When you connect emotionally, people feel heard, understood, and valued. This connection fosters loyalty, inspires action, and ultimately helps you grow your career. Mastering public speaking means mastering the art of connection—turning your words into a powerful tool for leadership and influence.

A big part of overcoming objections, after having listened and empathised, is to share stories of how other past clients have dealt with similar situations. So always have a few stories ready for any major objection as you will always need them.

Unless you are a celebrity, the speaking industry is a referral-based industry, making your network incredibly important. Building strong connections can significantly impact your success as a speaker. There are three core networks that every speaker should focus on: Fellow Speakers: They can share insights, recommend you for events, and provide support. Industry Professionals: These relationships can open doors to speaking engagements and enhance your reputation. Agents and Bureaus: They have the expertise and connections to promote you to a broader audience. Investing in these networks will help you build a strong foundation in the speaker industry and maximise your opportunities for success.

To negotiate high fees, your marketing material, the quality of your material, your content, your team, your videos, your pictures etc. needs to look premium. Bookers will make their first idea about you and your fees based on what they see at first glance when they google you. If your business looks premium, they will already enter the conversation with a different price expectation.

I failed an important presentation at a large event that took me months to book. Why did I fail? I became complacent. After delivering more than 1000 talks, I thought I had it in the bag. However, my lack of preparation showed during the event I could see hundreds of people leaving the audience while I was speaking. I wanted to disappear. Since that moment, I never showed up unprepared for a speaking gig, always elevating my standards. Never get complacent.

There is nothing more powerful than delivering great content to stand out and establish your credibility in online settings. The attention of your audience will drift. If the way you deliver and the quality of your content is able to keep them glued to the screen, you don't need big accolades to be credible. Do your work do the talking and you will get booked over and over again.