325: From Free Webinars to $10K Keynotes: How I Built My Speaking Business with Mallory Erickson

Have you ever wondered how to turn speaking opportunities into a meaningful part of your business?

In this solo episode of What The Fundraising, Mallory Erickson gets candid about how she built her paid speaking business, what she did before people were paying her, how she decides which opportunities are worth her time, and why being a great speaker is only one part of building a sustainable speaking career.

Mallory shares what she learned from years of unpaid speaking, how she used content partnerships to make early opportunities financially possible, and the role that webinars, word of mouth, testimonials, and a speaker reel played in growing her reputation. She also talks openly about her current speaking rates, the value of protecting her time and family commitments, and why she believes speakers should advocate for fair compensation while also considering equity across the sector.

Most importantly, Mallory offers a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions she makes when evaluating speaking opportunities and the relationships that have helped her speaking business grow organically.

In this episode, you will be able to: 

- Understand how unpaid speaking opportunities can help build the reputation, experience, and word-of-mouth referrals that lead to paid opportunities.

- Identify ways to make speaking opportunities more financially accessible early in your career, including content and platform partnerships.

- Create the foundational materials you need to market yourself as a speaker, including a speaker reel and media kit.

- Think strategically about your speaking rates by considering travel, preparation, lost business time, and personal commitments.

- Create space in your calendar for higher-value speaking opportunities instead of automatically saying yes to every opportunity that comes your way.

- Build stronger relationships with event organizers by being thoughtful, collaborative, kind, and easy to work with while still maintaining clear boundaries.

Check out Mallory’s speaking media kit and speaking reel: https://malloryerickson.com/speaking-workshops/