Grow Your Public Speaking Business
Hosted by Wendi McNeill, Founder of Charli Jane Speakers® since 2002 ************** Visit our FREE speaker community at www.SpeakingBizCommunity.com I help Speakers who are struggling to grow their business and get booked by providing growth strategies and speaking opportunities so they can achieve a booked speaking schedule.
Episodes
Wendi was driving through Wisconsin and asked ChatGPT where to grab food and a beer, no business name, just a description of what she wanted. That little moment got her thinking about how event planners might be doing the exact same thing when they look for speakers. In this episode, she breaks down what that shift means for how speakers get found, and what it takes to actually get chosen once you are.
In this episode: - Why Wendi ...
You may know exactly what you speak about, but can a planner who has never met you understand it in seconds? Wendi explains why broad topics are difficult to evaluate, the four pieces planners need to see, and a five-second test that reveals whether your speaker message is as clear as you think it is.
Show notes:
- Why broad topics name a category but not necessarily a fit
- Read more
In this episode:
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How AI tools can compress an event planner’s early research
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What search tools need to understand about your speaker business
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Why an SEO plugin cannot fix vague positioning
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Why discoverability does not replace pitching and follow-up
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Five practical checks for your speaker presence
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How the challenge has changed from Yahoo and Google in 2002 to AI search today
Explore both paths inside the ...
Episode Title: The Speaker One-Sheet That Actually Gets You Booked
Your speaker one-sheet shouldn’t be a résumé squeezed onto one page. It has one job: help an event planner quickly understand who you are, what you speak about, and why you’re worth a closer look.
In this episode, I’m breaking down what makes a speaker one-sheet actually work and what to keep, what to cut, and how to make the right information stan...
How to Write a Talk Title That Makes Event Planners Stop Scrolling
Show Notes:
For years, I held onto something comfortable that wasn’t serving me anymore. Speakers often do the same thing with their talk titles, clinging to broad, safe, familiar language because at least it can’t be wrong.
But here’s the quiet cost of that safety: a title that can’t be...
I was seventeen years old when I went to Camp Okontoe and something shifted. You never know when those moments are coming — you just show up, a little nervous, and somewhere in the middle of an ordinary moment, a door opens. That's what your signature talk is. Not just a keynote. A door. And behind it is an entire world of ways to serve the people...
For years, while I was building Charli Jane Speakers, my husband was on the road climbing cellular towers, gone for weeks at a time. I was home holding the fort, building something, and waiting for the season to shift. What that season taught me is that hope is not a strategy. Purposeful, consistent action is what moves things forward. And it's exactly what builds...
There was a season in my life when everything fell apart. And what I remember most isn't the hard part, it's the moment I got quiet enough to hear what was actually true. One direction. One next step. That clarity became the foundation of everything I've built since. I think about that season every time I work with a speaker on their messaging.
In this episode, I'm talking about the one sentenc...
Why Broad Topics Don't Book Stages ... And What to Say Instead
I've been thinking about Africa lately. Growing up, my parents ran mission trips, and what I watched them do every single time was get specific. This village. This well. This need. That specificity is what got things done. And it's exactly what gets speakers booked.
In this episode, I'm talking about why broad topics keep talented speakers from getting hired and the sim...
Does Your Speaker Bio Pass the 60-Second Hireable Test?
I was sitting with my coffee this morning, thinking about a member I worked with years ago, talented, gifted, and I couldn't figure out why the bookings weren't coming. We looked at her bio together, and I realized immediately: it was written for her, not for the planner.
In this episode, I'm talking about the 60-second hireable test, what event planners are actually doing whe...
Episode Title: Your Speaker Page Is Costing You Bookings — Here's the Fix
I grabbed my coffee this morning and started scrolling through speaker websites — and I kept landing on the same feeling. So close. But not quite there. Beautiful pages, talented people, but something was quietly working against them.
In this episode, I'm talking about the gap between a page that looks professional and a page that actually convert...
Talk Title Formulas That Meeting Planners Actually Book
If your talk title sounds broad, meeting planners skip it — even if your talk is fantastic. In this episode, you’ll get 5 talk title formulas (plus examples) to make your promise crystal clear and instantly more bookable.
What You’ll Learn (bullets)- Why “good” talks get ignored (it’s usually the title and ou...
Meeting planners do not read your one sheet. They scan it. In this episode, I’m walking you through the 7 things planners look for fast so your one sheet feels clearer, more credible, and easier to say yes to.
What You’ll Learn
- What planners are deciding in the first minute
- The 7 elements that make a one-sheet feel bookable
- The m...
If you’ve been pitching yourself for speaking gigs and hearing crickets, the problem might not be your topic; it might be how you’re showing up in the inbox.
In this episode, I break down a simple 3-part speaker pitch email formula that helps meeting planners actually open your email, read it, and respond.
You’ll learn how to write a subject line that...
How to Find Paid Speaking Gigs in 2025 (Even If You’re Just Starting Out)
Feeling stuck waiting to get picked for your next speaking gig? In this episode, Wendi McNeill of Charli Jane Speakers shares five proven strategies to land paid gigs in 2025, even if you’re brand-new to the industry.
Discover where to find real opportunities, how to pitch with confidence (not pushiness), and what simple materials help you s...
The #1 Mistake New Speakers Make With Their Bio (And How to Fix It)
🎙 Episode SummaryIf you're pitching yourself as a speaker (or avoiding it altogether), your bio could be the silent dealbreaker. In this episode, I break down how your speaker bio plays a crucial role in getting noticed by event planners, and what to do if it's falling flat.
Plus, I’ll share easy ways to streamline your pitch process and start landing more ...
If you're sending pitches and hearing crickets, you're not alone. You're probably not doing anything wrong; you're just missing a few key tweaks.
In today’s episode, I’m breaking down the three biggest mistakes speakers make when pitching themselves for events (and how to fix them fast). These aren’t just theories—they're based on 22+ years of helping speakers get booked.
Whether you're new to pitching or ha...
Figuring Out What to Charge as a Newbie Speaker
Figuring out what to charge as a newbie speaker is a common challenge, but today, we will crack the code and set you up for speaking success.
We'll explore the factors influencing your speaking fee, the pricing pitfalls to avoid, and the strategies to find your sweet spot. By the end, you'll have the knowledge and confidence to charge what you're worth.
Resources:
Stepping into the world of public speaking can sometimes bring a sneaky feeling called 'impostor syndrome.' It's that voice in your head saying you're not good enough or you don't belong on stage. But guess what? Many great speakers have felt this way at some point. The good news is you can overcome it and shine as the speaker you're meant to be.
Resources:
Are you a speaker looking to get more people to know and love what you do? Social media is like a magic wand that can help you do just that! It’s a great way to show the world how awesome you are. Let’s discuss how to use social media to build your brand and become a well-known speaker!
Resources:
Craft a Killer Speaker Bio Guide & Template - Grab it here!...
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