- Jen Glantz is an entrepreneur and the founder of Bridesmaid for Hire.
- She’s landed multiple speaking gigs by sending a specific email pitch to event organizers.
- The email should be brief but detailed — explain your interest and share your expertise, she says.
As a solopreneur, one of the ways I’ve been able to expand my network and build up my credibility has been through speaking at events and conferences and teaching workshops at companies. This has allowed me to share my expertise in a memorable way and establish myself as a thought leader within my industry.
Jen Glantz
People often ask me how I was able to speak at events like the SXSW conference, at General Assembly, and at a recent virtual conference for GoDaddy. I don’t have a speaking agent and I don’t get opportunities in my inbox, but my strategy is simple: I spend an hour a month researching conferences and events that are happening later that year. Then, I send the organizers a standard pitch email.
Here’s the exact script I use when I pitch myself as a speaker for different events.
A quick introduction
When people open up an email, you only have a few seconds to impress them and convince them to keep reading the entire message. That’s why I like to start my speaker pitch emails off with a short introduction, summary, and memorable detail.
Hi [name],
I’m [name]. It’s really wonderful to e-meet you. I’m here in your inbox because I’d love to be a speaker at [name of event] to share actionable, engaging, and unforgettable tips on [topic] with the audience. Why me? I’m [add a few lines about your credibility and what makes you unique]. Plus, [add your fun fact here or a memorial detail that makes you stand out].
A deep dive into relevant experience
Consider your speaker pitch email as not only a first impression, but as a chance to recap your credibility, speaking history, and relevant experience. Your goal is to get the person reading the email to hit reply and get to know you even better. Share three to four sentences that explain more about who you are.
For the past [number of years], I’ve worked in [share details on your industry or career path]. Through that work, [share expertise, key findings, niche topics you’ve studied, projects you’ve started, or accomplishments]. I’ve spoken to audiences that include [list speaking engagements you’ve had in the past].
A breakdown of speaking topics
Depending on how much you know about the event, you can pitch a few speaking topics that you think would interest the organizers. If you’re not sure what they’re looking for, share three to four topics that you’ve spoken about in the past and details on each.
I’ve spent time diving into the content of this event and feel my expertise could benefit the audience on the following topics:
- Public speaking for introverted entrepreneurs approaching sales calls
- Personal branding for entrepreneurs without a huge social media following
- Social media tips to strategize and engage a growing audience
- How to handle investor rejection and turn the no’s into success
A list of reasons why the audience would benefit
Besides introducing who you are and what you bring to the table, it’s also important to outline what you’ll share with the audience that will make them feel like they got the most out of the event. To do this, I share a brief list of takeaways that an audience will have after they listen to me speak through direct feedback I’ve had from past speaking engagements.
By the end of my session, audience members will walk away saying:
- “I now know how to [fill in the blank] better than before”
- “I received clarity from an expert on [topic]”
- “I’m feeling excited about what’s next when it comes to [topic]”
- “This workshop on [topic] was the best one I went to at [event]”
- “The advice [speaker’s name] shared was unique, practical, and super relevant”
A strong closing
I wrap up my pitch emails with a simple, enthusiastic summary explaining why I want to speak at that specific event and offering to share more information.
Speaking at [name of the event] is an opportunity I’m truly passionate and excited about, especially because [give a compelling reason]. I’d love to share more information and hear about ways I can design a [workshop, speech, keynote, session] that’s perfect for the audience.
Thank you for your consideration.
All the best,
[Name]
Pitching yourself as a speaker at an event can feel intimidating. If you approach your initial email with catchy details, credibility, and proof that you’d connect with the event’s audience, you’re more likely to get a response and perhaps even find yourself on their stage.
