"Never Speak for Free" Is Keeping You Off Stages

Somebody told you never to speak for free. Know your worth, exposure doesn't pay the mortgage - and it sounds like respect. But that rule is written for people who already have a fee. In 2019, Karen spoke at a conference for free - a breakout room, about 40 women - and that one free session turned into four paid speaking gigs. Seven years later, a woman from one of those audiences just messaged her on LinkedIn asking her to speak again.

In this episode, Karen breaks down the plan that makes a free stage pay: who actually books you next (it's not the organizer), the one-sentence test that gets you recommended, and exactly what to say when someone asks your fee.

In this episode:

Why "never speak for free" is incomplete advice, and who it actually protects Row six: the person who books you next is almost never the person who booked you The one-sentence test - could a stranger repeat what you do to someone with a budget? What to say when they ask your fee: ask your questions, say a number, stop talking "We don't have a budget" is the start of a negotiation - recordings, introductions, attendee access Your homework: write your sentence - under 15 words, with a verb, repeatable by a stranger to someone with a budget. Post it on LinkedIn, tag Karen or DM her the link.

Want help with it? Bring it into the LinkedIn for Women community

Resources Mentioned In The Episode:

Ready for the whole system - how to find stages, get on them, and turn one room into the next four? Grab Karen's free Borrow the Stage masterclass (about an hour) >> Borrow the Stage Masterclass

Visibility Salon: Karen's membership community, home of the Borrow of the Stage initiative

LinkedIn for Women Community: Karen's free Facebook group where listeners post their weekly 20-minute windows for accountability.

Work with Karen: Book a call to talk through your own visibility strategy.

Magical Quotes From The Episode:

"Free isn't the problem. Free with no plan is the problem."