Do you know how to research your speaker topics so that they truly resonate? Let’s dive into this essential topic, developing your speaker topics for the year ahead. It’s something every speaker needs to get right, and yet, so many miss the mark by failing to evolve and stay relevant. If you keep talking about the same topics year after year, you risk losing opportunities. Audiences expect fresh, meaningful content, and staying ahead of their needs is critical to staying in demand.
Why Constant Evolution is Crucial for Speakers
One of the most important things for us as speakers is the need to constantly adapt and evolve. You can’t just keep banging on about the same topics year after year. If you do, a few things will inevitably happen,
- You won’t get invited back to events,
- You’ll become less relevant,
- Securing speaking jobs will become increasingly difficult.
The reality is, audiences change, industries shift, and expectations grow. Staying ahead of the curve means putting in the effort to figure out what your audience truly needs and wants from you.
Leveraging Your Community for Insights
If you have a community that you’re deeply connected with, use it as a resource to help shape your topics. Even if your community isn’t the one booking you directly, they likely reflect the audience you’ll be speaking to. For me, I get booked by corporations with a lot of small business clients, that’s my sweet spot. But the insights I gain from my community are invaluable for understanding their challenges, issues, and opportunities.
In the last quarter of each year, I make a point of talking to my clients and asking the important questions,
- What are your biggest challenges right now,
- What opportunities are you seeing on the horizon,
- What’s keeping you awake at night,
This isn’t a formal process, it’s about genuine conversations and listening.
Testing Your Topics Through Engagement
I also run a webinar towards the end of the year that outlines my predictions and insights for the year ahead. It’s a chance to share my thoughts on what I believe my audience needs to focus on. Here’s the magic of that webinar, it doubles as a litmus test.
- Does the feedback align with my expectations,
- Are people agreeing, or am I completely off the mark,
- What are the hot-button issues I’m seeing resonate,
The feedback I receive from this process is incredibly valuable. It ensures that the topics I develop aren’t just interesting, they’re relevant and necessary.
Relevance Equals Bookings
Here’s the bottom line, if you’re crafting a speaking topic that no one cares about, no one will book you. Staying deeply connected to your community keeps you informed about what matters most to them. It’s that connection that helps you remain relevant, relatable, and in demand.
Do the Work and Stay Connected
So, there it is. Do your research. Talk to your community. Use every tool at your disposal to uncover the topics that matter. The more connected you are, the better your chances of building a speaking portfolio that keeps you in demand year after year.
