Professional Speaking: Strategic Speaking for Authority and Demand – Details, episodes & analysis

Maria Franzoni is a former speaker bureau owner and author of The Bookability Formula. She shares a blunt, practical view of what makes a speaker bookable in the UK and European markets, and why “being good” is not the same as “getting hired”. This show is unmissable if you're serious about speaking.

1. Why “follow your passion” is often terrible business advice
2. The UK/Europe market reality vs the US speaking market
3. Why relevance to a paying market comes before polishing a keynote
4. What really builds credibility (and what screams “fake”)
5. The networking mistake almost everyone makes
6. Why speakers overrun and how it hurts the event (and other speakers)
7. The real reason top-paid speakers get booked
8. What makes organisers and bureaus reject someone instantly
9. Demo videos: why bad video is worse than no video
10. Whether your full keynote should be public or private
11. Plagiarism in the speaking industry and why it happens
12. Podcast guesting as visibility and as training for concise communication

1. Relevance is the filter. If the market doesn’t care, your passion won’t save you.
2. Proof beats claims. Testimonials, outcomes and case studies do the heavy lifting.
3. Bookability is business. Relationships, follow-up and sales habits matter more than most speakers want to admit.
4. Assets signal quality. A weak demo video can quietly kill deals before you’re even considered.
5. Great speakers are often not the highest paid. The most bookable speakers usually run the best business.

Maria Franzoni

1. LinkedIn: Maria Franzoni
2. Website: mariafranzoni.me
3. Book: The Bookability Formula (Great read)

1. Speaker bureau newsletters and topic forecasts (example: Chartwell)
2. The Dip (Seth Godin), referenced by John in the wider show context
3. Judy Carter (comedy writing advice mentioned), The New Comedy Bible, and see previous guest appearance.

00:00 The bookability...

Why do so many capable speakers never gain momentum or consistent bookings?

In this short solo episode, John Ball breaks down the single biggest block that stops speakers from becoming successful professionals. It is not talent, confidence, or credibility. It is the habit of overthinking and under-acting.

Drawing on years of coaching speakers and working inside the speaking industry, John explains how planning becomes a comfort zone, why “being ready” is often procrastination in disguise, and how real progress only starts when action meets reality. If you want to treat speaking like a business rather than a hobby, this episode will give you a sharp reset.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

02:09 The Main Obstacle for Speakers

03:05 The Importance of Taking Action

06:30 Navigating Challenges and Imperfections

11:30 Building a Speaking Business

17:54 Conclusion and Call to Action

Visit https://strategic-speaker.scoreapp.com to take the 2-minute Strategic Speaking Business Audit and find out what's blocking you from getting more bookings, re-bookings, referrals and bigger fees. There's a special surprise gift for everyone who completes the quiz.

Want to get coached for free on the show? Fill in the form https://forms.gle/mo4xYkEiCjqtz9yP6, and if we think your challenge could help others, we'll invite you on.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening. Rating the show 5* on Spotify helps their algo recommend the show, so please take a moment to follow the show and leave a rating.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Strategic Speaking Business Audit

Take this quick quiz to find out where and why your speaking business is leaking opportunities.

How to Beat Digital Distraction and Do Deep Work From Home

Summary

In this conversation, John Ball and Steven Puri explore the challenges of remote work, emphasising the importance of focus, intention, and managing distractions. They discuss how digital distractions are engineered to capture attention and the significance of establishing rituals and habits to enhance productivity. Puri shares insights on achieving a flow state for peak performance and the role of luck in success. The discussion also highlights practical strategies for overcoming procrastination and the power of prioritisation in achieving meaningful work.

Takeaways

Focus is about intention, not discipline.

Most of us are overwhelmed, not lazy.

Distraction is engineered to steal your attention.

You can do meaningful work without burning out.

Don't die with the great thing inside you.

You need to jealously guard your brain energy.

The difference is I hit play in your app?

Intention is key to moving your life forward.

You can achieve more by doing less.

Don't let distractions dictate your day.

Sound bites

"Most of us are overwhelmed, not lazy."

"Don't let distractions dictate your day."

"You can achieve more by doing less."

FREE Trial

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Chapters

00:00 The Evolution of Remote Work

07:17 The Role of Luck in Career Paths

13:16 Distractions in the Digital Age

18:35 Active Procrastination and Focus Strategies

24:37 Weekly Planning and Daily Tasks

32:35 Personal Development and Productivity Mindset

39:36 Understanding Flow State for Enhanced Productivity

48:42 The Challenge of Focus in a Distracted World

49:11 The Importance of Intention and Environment

49:37 Finding Clarity and Direction in Work

Visit presentinfluence.com/quiz to take the Speaker Radiance Quiz and discover your Charisma Quotient.

For speaking enquiries or to connect with me, you can email john@presentinfluence.com or find me on LinkedIn

You can find all our clips, episodes and more on the Present Influence YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@PresentInfluence

Thanks for listening, and please give the show a 5* review if you enjoyed it.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Strategic Speaking Business Audit

Take this quick quiz to find out where and why your speaking business is leaking opportunities.

 Being a coach can be frustrating. You learn to become a coach. You put in the hours of coaching and build up your confidence to start charging for your services, but then you find out you need to have media and marketing strategies, and you need to do sales and loads of other things that aren't coaching, aren't your zone of genius.

Some coaches don't bother and end up falling by the wayside.  Some will find work with coaching companies that will help to find you clients and will give you an hourly rate, and some will want to do things their own way and grow their own coaching business. Or maybe a combination of those options, and this episode is for those of you who really are ready and willing to learn and do what it takes to grow your business.

Podfluence is all about growing your business and your brand to help you get more clients and more opportunities, but we need to know how to find or create these opportunities.

My guest is Simone Sauter, and Simone became a divorce coach after her partner of 10 years, suddenly left her. In that time, she found that one of the best ways to promote her own business and service was by getting featured in prestigious magazines and on podcasts. She figured out how to do that, and did such a great job of it that people started asking her to teach them how to do it too. So now Simone is a publicity coach for professional coaches like you and me.

If you've been wanting to grow your business and your personal brand, but struggling with the how, you are going to get some great tips in this episode and we'll be taking a look at why coaches should be getting featured in magazines and other podcasts, and how to get you started with this and what you need to be doing to grow your business through digital media.

You can download Simone's insider tips giveaway here: https://www.simonesauter.com/insider-tips/

Enjoying the content? Join me for the Podfluence Weekly newsletter on LinkedIn, Medium or Beehive to get articles and show updates every week(ish).

You are warmly invited to join other coaching & speaking professionals who are building their authority through podcasting in the Podfluencers Facebook Group and get your free download of How to grow your list with podcasts.

There are 2 things that fill my heart with joy: one is people sharing my episodes because they've been helpful and hopefully entertaining, and the other is people leaving reviews for Podfluence on Apple Podcasts or PodChaser. Either of these will earn my ever-lasting gratitude and both might just get you on my Christmas card list.

Of course, if you REALLY like the show, you're welcome to support Podfluence financially with our Supercast link Support the show 

Mentioned in this episode:

The Strategic Speaking Business Audit

Take this quick quiz to find out where and why your speaking business is leaking opportunities.

In this episode, how can you avoid the common mistakes most people make as podcast guests?

Discover the 3 simple fixes that can have you standing out head and shoulders above everyone else and stop people tuning out, dropping off or looking for something else to listen to.

Enjoying the content? Join me for the Podfluencer Weekly newsletter on LinkedIn, Medium or Beehive to get articles and show updates every week(ish).

You are warmly invited to join other coaching & speaking professionals who are building their authority through podcasting in the Podfluencers Facebook Group and get your free download of How to build authority with podcasts

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show with your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout-out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using this link Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Tim Reid, an international coach and speaker, takes on the challenge of creating a successful podcast to build audience and authority and discovers the surprising irony that making podcasting a hobby unlocks the time, money, and energy needed to achieve success.

"If you're into podcasting, make podcasting your hobby. What I mean by that, Johnny, is when something's a hobby, you'll find the time, you'll find the money, you'll find the resources, you'll find the energy, you'll put it in your diary, you'll look forward to the next time it comes around because it's a hobby."

Tim Reid is the host of the Small Business Big Marketing Podcast and the author of 'The Boomerang Effect'. He is a renowned business speaker who has interviewed over 595 successful business owners about their business journey and the role of marketing.

Tim Reid was an aspiring radio personality and when he was given the opportunity to use a fancy studio he seized it, creating the Small Business Big Marketing Podcast and becoming Australia's first business podcast. As the podcast gained traction, Tim realized podcasting was a powerful tool for creating brand awareness and he started to reap the rewards of his hard work. Podcasting has been his hobby and business for the past 13 years and he is passionate about helping other podcasters reach their dreams. By combining entertainment and education, Tim Reid has created a successful podcast and encourages other podcasters to respect the ads that support their shows.

In this episode, you will learn the following:

1. How to make podcasting a business and why it is an amazing format for business owners.

2. How to monetize a podcast by creating your own products or using third-party sponsors.

3. How to create compelling content that educates and entertains listeners.

Resources:

The Small Business Big Marketing podcast

Check out his Website

Give him a call with a question for his show at +61 480 015 150 and let him know what marketing is working for you. He may play it in an upcoming episode.

Other episodes you'll enjoy:

Alex Sanfilippo | How to use podcasts to create business success

Mark Asquith | How to have a full time career in podcasting and why you shouldn't learn marketing from a podcaster

Connect with me: 

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/johnaball

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/johnaball

Loved this episode? Leave us a review and rating here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/podfluence/id1484941406

Join me for the Podfluence Weekly newsletter on LinkedIn, Medium or Beehive to get articles and show updates every week(ish).

You are warmly invited to join other coaching & speaking professionals who are building their authority through podcasting in the Podfluencers Facebook Group and get your free download of

Enjoying the content? Join me for the Podfluence Weekly newsletter on LinkedIn, Medium or Beehive to get articles and show updates every week(ish).

You are warmly invited to join other coaching & speaking professionals who are building their authority through podcasting in the Podfluencers Facebook Group and get your free download of How to grow your list with podcasts.

There are 2 things that fill my heart with joy: one is people sharing my episodes because they've been helpful and hopefully entertaining, and the other is people leaving reviews for Podfluence on Apple Podcasts or PodChaser. Either of these will earn my ever-lasting gratitude and both might just get you on my Christmas card list.

Of course, if you REALLY like the show, you're welcome to support Podfluence financially with our Supercast link Support the show 

Mentioned in this episode:

The Strategic Speaking Business Audit

Take this quick quiz to find out where and why your speaking business is leaking opportunities.

If you're going to spend time being a guest on other podcasts, don't you want to know how to make the most of your appearances? I can't imagine why you wouldn't and this episode is gonna help.

I'm speaking with Jason Cercone, host of Pod Theory and Evolution of Brand, Jason is helping people improve their experiences and ability as podcast guests. If you're a regular listener, you will already imagine that we have. a lot in common but whilst we have many commonalities, there are also areas of divergence that make our approaches distinctive.

Some big questions in this episode:

• How fast should you get to the meat of things?
• What does your host want to achieve?
• The 2 main types of podcast guest
• How to sell by not selling
• Why starting your own show might not be a great idea and when you should
• How to establish yourself as an industry authority

Jason has done some deep-dive research into podcasting that gives him a great overview of the industry, such as it is, and how you as a business owner can be making a bigger impact with audiences.

Enjoying the content? Join me for the Podfluence Weekly newsletter on LinkedIn, Medium or Beehive to get articles and show updates every week(ish).

You are warmly invited to join other coaching & speaking professionals who are building their authority through podcasting in the Podfluencers Facebook Group and get your free download of How to build authority with podcasts

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show with your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout-out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using this link Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Mentioned in this episode:

The Strategic Speaking Business Audit

Take this quick quiz to find out where and why your speaking business is leaking opportunities.

As a podcast host, I see two main approaches for guests who want to come on my show. One gets results, the other not so much. Which are you using?

This week it's a short solo episode continuing the theme of the 7 deadly sins of podcasting, which can all probably apply to any of our professional interactions and collaborations with content creators.

Full transcript is available to read or you can check out #37 of the Podfluence Weekly Newsletter on LinkedIn, Medium or Beehive to get articles and show updates every week(ish). Be sure to subscribe.

You are warmly invited to join other coaching & speaking professionals who are building their authority through podcasting in the Podfluencers Facebook Group and get your free download of How to build authority with podcasts

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show with your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout-out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using this link Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Mentioned in this episode:

The Strategic Speaking Business Audit

Take this quick quiz to find out where and why your speaking business is leaking opportunities.

Connecting with an audience isn't always easy, especially when you can neither see nor hear them. One way to do this is by making the right connections in their thoughts and that is where the magic begins.

My guest today is making a welcome return as a friend of the show to help us connect more. In fact, he's going to teach us how we can inspire, influence and energise anyone, anywhere, anytime. Are you ready to learn a new superpower?

I first encountered Simon Lancaster watching his TEDx Verona talk on YouTube where I was introduced to the world and art of rhetoric. As someone with a keen interest in influence and persuasion, it was like being given the keys to enter a magical land that I had never known existed before. I find rhetoric just as exciting today as I did then and one of the people I have learned the most from in this subject is my guest on this episode.

During the lockdowns, many of us were desperate for connection with our fellow humans and Simon felt that need very acutely too finding new ways to connect, keeping his speechwriting skills sharp and discovering a new platform as well as a new passionate hobby.

The show was a live launch for Simon's book Connect which has taken somewhat longer than anticipated to publish as a podcast episode but I think it is a great way to close off 2022 and welcome 2023. Simon's book recommendations in this episode were Sense by Russell Jones and How Confidence Works by Ian Robertson. I added both to my own personal reading list.

Make sure you learn Simon's 6 powerful speechmaking tools near the end of the episode and join us again in the new year when we will continue our series on the 7 Deadly Sins of Podcasting that you need to avoid and overcome to be a successful guest.

Enjoying the content? Join me for the Podfluencer Weekly newsletter on LinkedIn, Medium or Beehive to get articles and show updates every week(ish).

You are warmly invited to join other coaching & speaking professionals who are building their authority through podcasting in the Podfluencers Facebook Group and get your free download of How to build authority with podcasts

Did you enjoy the show? Did you learn anything new or useful? If you did, then the best way to show your appreciation is by sharing the show with your online network. Tag me and I'll give you a shout-out on an upcoming episode. Leave a review and I'll read it out on the show.

Of course, if you REALLY liked it, you're welcome to support the show financially too using this link Support the show (https://speakinginfluence.supercast.tech/)

Mentioned in this episode:

The Strategic Speaking Business Audit

Take this quick quiz to find out where and why your speaking business is leaking opportunities.