Being a great speaker isnāt enoughāyou need to be seen as one. The best speakers donāt just talk on stage; they talk online first.
Event organizers, podcast hosts, and conference planners arenāt just looking for talent. Theyāre looking for authority. If they canāt find youāor worse, if your LinkedIn is a ghost townāyouāre already losing opportunities.
But hereās the challenge: most speakers donāt struggle to speakāthey struggle to write.
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What do you even post?
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How do you stay interesting without repeating yourself?
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What if no one engages?
The trick is repurposing what you already knowāyour insights, your stories, your stage experience. You donāt need to start from scratch.
Below are 40+ post ideas designed to make content creation effortless. Use them consistently, and watch how fast the speaking gigs follow.
1. Establishing Thought Leadership
Want to position yourself as the speaker people need on stage? Start by shaping the conversation online. Hereās how:
ā Debunk an industry myth. Challenge a widely accepted idea thatās actually flawed.
āMost people think great speakers are born, not made. In reality, speaking is a learned skillālike writing or sales. The best speakers werenāt naturals; they simply practiced relentlessly. But thereās one thing they all did that accelerated their growthā¦ā
ā Explain a trending concept in simple terms. Make complex topics accessible.
āAI is reshaping [industry], but hereās the part no one talks about: It wonāt replace you, but it *will* replace people who donāt know how to use it. Hereās how speakers can future-proof themselvesā¦ā
ā Highlight a surprising statistic. Hook people with data, then offer insight.
ā80% of speakers donāt get rebooked. Why? Itās not talentāitās lack of audience connection. The best speakers donāt just informāthey do this insteadā¦ā
ā Give your take on a major industry shift. Show youāre ahead of the curve.
āVirtual events are here to stay, but most speakers still treat them like live talks. Big mistake. Hereās what top virtual speakers do differentlyāand why itās the key to standing outā¦ā
ā Post a contrarian opinion. Go against the grain (with substance).
āStorytelling is overrated. There, I said it. Most speakers force weak stories into their talks when what audiences really want is this insteadā¦ā
Own the conversation, and the stage follows.
2. Showcasing Your Speaking Experience
Your expertise isnāt just in what you sayāitās in what youāve done. Sharing your experiences builds credibility, attracts event organizers, and makes you more relatable. Hereās how:
ā Share the biggest lesson from your latest speaking gig. Turn your experience into a teachable moment.
āI walked on stage expecting a well-prepared audience. Turns out, half the room had never heard of my topic before. Hereās how I recoveredā¦ā
ā Talk about a question an audience member asked that made you think. Show that youāre constantly learning.
āāIf you had to give this talk in 60 seconds, what would you say?ā A question from the audience that stopped me in my tracks. It made me rethink how speakers overcomplicate their message. Hereās the answer I wish I had givenā¦ā
ā Post a behind-the-scenes look at your speaker prep. Pull back the curtain on your process.
āMost people see the polished 45-minute talk. What they donāt see? The 20 hours of research, the messy first drafts, and the five different ways I practiced my opening line. Hereās a sneak peek at how I prepare for a talkā¦ā
ā Share an audience testimonial or feedback from your last talk. Social proof speaks louder than self-promotion.
āOne attendee told me, āIāve seen a dozen talks on this topic, but yours finally made it click.ā Thatās the real goal of speakingāunlocking something for your audience. Hereās how I structure my talks to make that happenā¦ā
ā Write about a time you bombed on stageāand what you learned. Show resilience and growth.
āFive minutes into my talk, I could tell I was losing the room. Blank stares. People checking their phones. A speakerās nightmare. But instead of pushing through, I did thisāand it turned everything aroundā¦ā
ā Highlight a funny or unexpected moment from a past event. Show your personality and relatability.
āI once walked on stage, grabbed the mic, and confidently started⦠at the wrong conference. Wrong audience. Wrong topic. 500 pairs of confused eyes staring back at me. Hereās how I recovered (and what I learned about thinking on your feet)ā¦ā
The best speakers donāt just deliver talksāthey share the journey. Let people in, and theyāll keep coming back.
3. Storytelling & Personal Branding
People donāt just book speakers for what they knowāthey book them for who they are. Your personal journey, challenges, and defining moments make you memorable.
Hereās how to turn them into compelling LinkedIn posts:
ā How did you become a speaker? Share your journey.
āI never planned to be a speaker. In fact, I used to hate public speaking. But one day, I was asked to present on [topic], and something clicked. I realized speaking wasnāt about performingāit was about connecting. Since then, Iāve spoken on stages I never imagined. But the real turning point was this one momentā¦ā
ā Whatās the scariest moment youāve had on stage?
āThe audience was dead silent. Not a single nod, no smiles, no engagement. My worst fearābombing in real timeāwas happening. I had two choices: panic or pivot. Hereās what I did to turn it around (and why it changed how I speak forever)ā¦ā
ā Whatās your favorite talk youāve ever given, and why?
āSome talks are just another gig. Others stay with you forever. For me, it was [event name]. The energy, the audience, the way everything just clicked. But what made it special wasnāt just the talkāit was this one moment that reminded me why I do thisā¦ā
ā Tell a personal story that connects to your signature topic.
āYears ago, I faced [challenge]āand it completely changed how I see [topic]. At the time, I didnāt realize the lesson Iād learned. But now? Itās the foundation of every talk I give. Hereās how that one experience shaped my entire speaking careerā¦ā
ā Share a moment when you knew you were meant to be a speaker.
āMost speakers have that one momentāthe one that made them realize, āThis is what Iām meant to do.ā For me, it wasnāt a standing ovation or a big paycheck. It was a conversation with one person afterward that made me rethink everything. Hereās what they saidā¦ā
Your story is your brand. The more you share, the more you attract the right audiences, the right opportunities, and the right stages.
4. Engaging Your Audience & Generating Discussion
Great speakers donāt just talkāthey spark conversations. LinkedIn is a place to involve your audience. Hereās how to get people talking:
ā Ask your network: Whoās the best speaker theyāve ever seen?
āSome talks stick with you for years. Whoās the best speaker youāve ever seen live, and what made them unforgettable? Letās build a must-watch list.ā
ā Post a poll: What makes a great keynoteādata, stories, humor, or audience interaction?
āWhatās the secret sauce of a great keynote? Every speaker has their own formula, but if you had to pick just one, whatās the most important element? Vote below!ā
ā Share an industry debate and ask for opinions.
āThereās a heated debate in the speaking world right now: Should speakers tailor their content for each event, or stick to their core keynote? Some say consistency is key; others say customization makes all the difference. Where do you stand?ā
ā Post a short LinkedIn video answering a common question you get.
āāHow do you start a talk when youāre nervous?ā I get this question all the time. Hereās the three-step trick I use every time I walk on stage. (Video inside.)ā
ā React to a popular LinkedIn post related to your topic.
āJust saw a post saying āSpeaking is a talentāyou either have it or you donāt.ā Couldnāt disagree more. Speaking is a skillāsomething you refine with practice. Hereās why I believe anyone can become a great speakerā¦ā
The best way to grow your audience? Start a conversation they want to join.
5. Teaching & Adding Value
The best way to attract speaking opportunities? Teach what you know. When you share practical insights, you position yourself as the expert event organizers want on their stage. Hereās how:
ā Break down a speaking technique that works well for you.
āMost speakers start with āHello, my name isā¦ā and lose their audience immediately. Hereās the opening technique I use insteadāand why it works every time.ā
ā Share 3 mistakes new speakers make (and how to fix them).
āNew speakers tend to make the same mistakes over and over: (1) Overloading slides, (2) Talking too fast, (3) Ending with āAny questions?ā instead of a strong close. Hereās how to fix each one.ā
ā Post a list of your favorite public speaking books.
āWant to level up your speaking? These 5 books changed the game for me. (And no, TED Talks isnāt one of them.)ā
ā Explain how to structure a talk for maximum engagement.
āA great talk isnāt just a string of ideasāitās a journey. I use this simple framework to keep audiences hooked from start to finishā¦ā
ā Share a tip on handling stage fright.
āYour palms are sweating. Knees week, heart is racing. Youāre about to step on stage. What now? Hereās the one trick that helped me go from nervous to confident before every talk.ā
ā Talk about how you research and prepare for a big talk.
āMost of my work happens before I ever step on stage. Hereās my exact prep processāfrom research to rehearsalsāto make sure every talk lands.ā
ā Break down the key components of a powerful story in a speech.
āA good story doesnāt just entertaināit transforms your audience. The best ones have these 3 elements (and hereās how to use them in your next talk).ā
ā List 5 things every speaker should do before stepping on stage.
āWant to walk on stage feeling prepared and confident? Donāt skip these 5 things before every talkā¦ā
Teach often, and people wonāt just see you as a speakerātheyāll see you as the go-to expert in your space.
6. Networking & Growing Your Speaking Career
Speaking opportunities donāt just happenātheyāre built through relationships. The more you share about your journey, the more people will want to bring you into their circles.
Hereās how to turn networking into new gigs:
ā How did you land your first paid speaking gig?
āI didnāt have a fancy reel or big-name connections. But I landed my first paid speaking gig because of one thing: positioning. Hereās what I did that got me booked (and how you can do the same).ā
ā Share your process for reaching out to event organizers.
āIf youāre waiting for speaking gigs to come to you, youāre already losing. The best speakers pitch themselves. Hereās my simple outreach strategy that gets responses from event organizers.ā
ā Write about the best conference youāve spoken at and why.
āSome events stand out not just for the stage, but for the people. [Event name] was one of the best conferences Iāve spoken atāhereās why, and what other events can learn from it.ā
ā Highlight a time when networking led to a speaking opportunity.
āOne DM changed my career. I wasnāt pitchingāI was just having a conversation. And that conversation led to the biggest speaking opportunity Iād ever had. Hereās how it happened (and what you can take from it).ā
ā Discuss how speaking has impacted your business/career.
āSpeaking isnāt just about the stageāitās a business multiplier. Since I started speaking, Iāve seen [specific result]. But the biggest benefit? Itās thisā¦ā
ā Share a piece of advice youād give to new speakers.
āIf I could give one piece of advice to new speakers, itās this: Stop waiting to be āready.ā Start speaking nowāon LinkedIn, in meetings, on small stages. The best way to get better is to start before you feel qualified.ā
Speaking isnāt just about what you knowāitās about who knows you. Keep showing up, and the right opportunities will follow.
7. Promotional & Authority-Building Content
Want more speaking gigs? Make it obvious that youāre in demand. The more you showcase your work, the more people see you as the speaker they need.
Hereās how to do it without feeling overly self-promotional:
ā Announce an upcoming speaking engagement.
āExcited to be speaking at [event name] next month! Iāll be covering [topic] and sharing [key takeaway]. If youāre attending, letās connect. And if you canāt make it, Iāll be sharing my biggest insights after the eventāstay tuned.ā
ā Share a short clip from your last talk.
āHereās a 60-second clip from my last keynote on [topic]. In this moment, I break down [key insight]. Watch until the endāthis part always gets the biggest reaction.ā
ā Share your speaker reel.
āHard to believe Iāve been speaking for [x] years now. Hereās a 3 minute reel of all the special momentsāthe last part always makes me smile. Happy to recommend my editor if any speakers out there need one.ā
ā Post a carousel of slides from a past presentation.
āMissed my last talk? Here are a few key slides from my presentation on [topic]. Slide 3 is the one that changed how people think about [concept]āwould love to hear your thoughts.ā
ā Show a before-and-after of a talk you improved.
āHereās a look at how I refined my talk on [topic]. The first version was fineābut the final version landed 10x better. The key change? It was thisā¦ā
ā Post a roundup of all the events youāre speaking at this year.
āItās shaping up to be a big year! Here are the events Iāll be speaking at in [year]. If youāll be at any of these, let me knowāIād love to connect in person.ā
ā Share a list of podcasts youāve been featured on.
āHad some amazing conversations on these podcasts recently! We covered everything from [topic] to [topic]. If youāre looking for insights on [your expertise], start with episode #3āitās one of my favorites.ā
ā Announce your availability for speaking in the next quarter.
āIām opening up a few more speaking slots for [upcoming quarter]. If your company, conference, or podcast is looking for a speaker on [topics], letās chat.ā
Visibility creates opportunity. The more people see you speaking, the more theyāll want to book you.
Final Thoughts: Turn Content into Speaking Opportunities
Speaking opportunities donāt just appearāyou create them. And the simplest way to do that? Show up online before you step on stage.
ā Consistency is key
Even one post per week builds authority. When event organizers scroll through your profile, they should immediately see why you belong on their stage.
ā Engagement matters
Posting is just the first step. The real magic happens in the comments. Respond, start conversations, and connect with the people who book speakers.
ā Repurpose your content
Your LinkedIn posts arenāt just posts. Theyāre future speaking topics, email pitches, podcast talking points, and even the foundation for a personal brand-building newsletter.
If youāre not putting yourself out there, no one will know to book you. The best speakers donāt just talk on stageāthey talk online first.
Need help building your personal brand so event organizers come to you? Letās chat. š¤
Mo is the founder of Column, a technical research and content agency. Connect with him on LinkedIn.


