Whether you’re refining your business model, mastering new technology, or finding a strategy to take advantage of the next market boom, Inman Connect New York prepares you to take a bold step. The next chapter is about to begin. Please join us. Join us and thousands of other real estate leaders from January 22-24, 2025.
Many of you know that I am a big believer in goal setting. With that in mind, one of my big goals for 2023 was to speak on the main stage. I put action behind intention and ended up speaking at the following locations:
The Gathering of Eagles Conference will discuss the theme “A New Perspective on Containing Operating Costs.” At Side X Side in Long Beach, California, we had a fireside chat with Keven Sturdivant, founder of KASE Real Estate, about “How to 10x Your Prices.” At Inman Connect Las Vegas, I had a great, trajectory-changing conversation with eXp’s Michael Valdez about how to “attract” agents on your behalf. I “hired” them at the California Association of Realtors REImagine conference, where I gave my first solo presentation on “The Luxury Code: From Average Professionals to Elite Professionals.”
This is my goal now as I work on my plans for 2025. We all have a story we want to tell, and sometimes we need help getting expert insight on how to tell that story.
On stage at Inman Connect Las Vegas | AJ Canary Creative Services
Therefore, this time I decided to add an expert to my team to improve my profile and presentation. I work with Miranda Barrett, founder of Mind the Mic Consulting, an event and speaker support company.
Her homepage says it all. “There’s more to public speaking than just stepping into a microphone, especially if you believe you’ll have an impact on your audience.”
According to Barrett, the skills needed to be an effective speaker or presenter are different from the skills needed to get on stage in the first place. “If you have a support team to handle details like marketing and outreach, create presentations, and manage bookings, you can succeed faster,” she said. “Above all, you have to show up to give. If a speaker’s primary purpose is to sell and promote their services, the audience will pick up on this and it will undermine their credibility.”
3 things to consider when building your pitch
The real estate industry has no shortage of media opportunities for agents, team leaders, broker owners, and other stakeholders, from local news to national or international media. Not to mention, there are countless opportunities for agents to speak at conferences (like Inman Connect), association meetings, internal events, and more.
From the moment you walk in the door, trying to be your best in presentation, knowledge, comfort level, and everything else that makes your appearance effective is no easy task. The amount of media coverage you’ve had in the past can be very influential in getting you on stage or offering writing opportunities for major publications.
It’s not just about having a story to tell. It’s important to know what media representatives and event organizers are looking for and present your story in a way that makes sense to your audience.
“If you want to resonate with decision-makers, it’s really important to be clear about your topic and your audience’s views,” Barrett says. “Saying things like ‘I’ll customize your speech to suit every audience’ won’t help you, and you’re unlikely to get a booking.”
“Not every speaker will be a perfect fit for every audience. Get a clear idea of who fits your expertise and look for that niche. Don’t try to misrepresent yourself to your audience. It’s a disservice to you and to them to do so,” she continued.
Once you have the opportunity, the real work begins and you can create your message and presentation.
1. Build relationships with journalists and event organizers
Getting media engagement and speaking opportunities starts with building relationships. The outreach you do is similar to job hunting, but the job you’re looking for is a chance to be on stage or in a publication. Unless you have a public relations person or a PR company working for you, we are all just fish in the sea, so we need to stand out.
Connect with your favorite authors on social media and share your thoughts on their recent work. Connect with thought leaders in your field who may be planning a panel discussion for an upcoming industry event.
Make sure you know the person or organization you’re pitching to and their work. There’s nothing more unpleasant than a sales pitch that doesn’t make sense for your event or publication.
2. Contribute to other articles and panels
Reporters and producers are always looking for subject matter experts to interview, and contributors are often looking for story ideas as well. Look for journalists who specialize in topics that match your expertise and can be your go-to source for the answers and content they’re looking for.
If you are invited to participate in a panel or webinar, use it as an opportunity to practice your skills. Be sure to show up well-prepared so you can add something of value to the conversation.
Don’t let your ego control you. Don’t derail or derail the conversation by trying to hog the spotlight. Remember that being a good team player is essential and can lead to a “starring role” in the future.
3. Develop a media kit
From your cover letter to your pitch deck, how you present yourself to event promoters and media representatives can help you get noticed and possibly get the media coverage you deserve. .
A well-prepared media kit is essential to attracting the right kind of attention and controlling your brand’s story. According to Sarah Dissegna of Elev8 Designs Co., who designed my press kit, the packaging includes a section featuring a solid one-page bio, an up-to-date high-resolution headshot of the professional, and links to previous media appearances. must be included. . Being able to highlight where you’ve been covered before increases your credibility and helps journalists determine how you fit into the story they’re working on.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to speak on stage or appear on camera, you’ll need videos of previous presentations. Companies like Blended Sense offer filming and editing services so you can showcase your style and approach. Show yourself on camera when you lead a conference, training session, or participate on a panel, and have a video editor turn it into a promotional “sizzle reel” to include in your media kit.
Start planning now for success in 2025
Setting a goal to speak at conferences and contribute to the media is an important step in increasing your personal brand and professional impact. The path to these opportunities is paved by intentional action, building relationships, and demonstrating that you’re already an expert.
The year 2025 is just around the corner. Make this the year you take your public speaking and media presence to the next level.
Troy Palmquist is the founder and president of HomeCode Advisors. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
