š They Lied to You: Cold Emails Still Work...Here's the Cheat Code š
š¤ This edition will make you money
Welcome to September where I hope it is damn cooler than what we saw in August!
Letās get straight to it: If youāre on the fence about PLATFORMā¢ because you donāt have a lot of experience, then fret not.
Most of our speakers donāt have a lot of speaking experience. In fact, 82% of PLATFORMā¢ attendees have never been paid for a keynote.
Yes, I am.
So, if youāre thinking, āI donāt have a defined keynoteā or āIāve never been paid to speakā, then PLATFORMā¢ is for you.
Letās see you in Austin. š¤
Registration closes soonā¦
Ok, letās talk about 5 Ways to Leverage Cold Emails for More Speaking Gigs.
š #1 - Nail the Subject Line
If you donāt read the rest of this email, make sure you remember #1.
Your subject line is your first impression. You have to make it count. A strong one is the difference between the recipient opening your email or hitting the dreaded āARCHIVEā button.
So, hereās what we have to do: Keep it short, specific, and relevant.
One thing I like to do is also use a questions work well, as do results-driven teasers like:
Need a speaker who energizes your audience?
Looking to fill a keynote slot at [Event Name]?
Can I support your next event with a high-impact session?
What if your audience left saying ābest talk of the yearā?
Want to increase engagement at [Event Name]?
Would a [Topic]-focused talk benefit your audience this year?ā
The key is to test several options and keep track of what works.
š #2 - Make It Feel Personal
How much SPAM do you get?
I thought so.
No one responds to a cookie-cutter message. Event organizers can spot a copy-paste job from a mile away. So hereās what I recommend: Write like you're speaking directly to them.
Hereās how to make your emails feel more personal and authentic:
Use their name (not just āHi thereā).
Reference their company, a recent event they ran, or a talk you saw and loved.
Highlight shared interests or values.
Show that you understand their audience and goals.
The more tailored your message, the more likely youāll hear back.
š #3 - Lead with Value
Ok, hereās another big one. āļø
Before you pitch yourself, ask: Why should they care? Your message needs to answer that clearly and confidently.
Look, Iāve been doing this for a decade.
Hereās what I know works: Target events where your expertise aligns with the theme.
Then, identify a challenge their audience facesāand how your talk solves it. Share a brief win or impact you've had at similar events.
Hereās the key: Position yourself as not just a speaker, but THE SPEAKER theyāve been looking for.
š #4 - End with a Clear Next Step
Every great email ends with a clear, simple call to action. What exactly do you want them to do next?
Whether itās scheduling a quick call, replying to explore the fit, or checking out your reel, make the ask direct and easy to say āyesā to.
ProTip: Instead of asking for the usual 30-minute call, propose 20 or 15. Make it easy for the organizer to say, āYes.ā
š #5 - Donāt Forget to Follow Up
This is where most speakers drop off, because frankly, theyāre lazy.
I had an event in OKC a couple of weeks agoā¦
The last slide I showed featured a QR code that went directly to my contact form (šthis is the form and feel free to copy it š„) where folks can schedule a call.
As soon as I got back to the hotel room, I flipped open my laptop, and emailed every single person who completed the form.
Every. Single. Person.
Funny story, so all of the sudden my family wants to go out for dinner (while I was in the middle of my emails), and I saidā¦
š
Why?
Because I had to answer each email. ASAP. Why?
As soon as you leave the stage, the clock starts tickinā.
Similarly, following up quickly on your cold emails increases your chances of landing a gig significantly. But donāt just resend the same note. Instead, add something new:
Reference your earlier email with a fresh angle.
Share a new clip, testimonial, or idea.
Offer an alternative speaking opportunity or workshop format.
š„ The Main Idea of the Passage š„
Hereās a quick recap:
Write subject lines that spark curiosity
Personalize your email to make a real connection
Highlight your unique value as a speaker
Add a clear CTA to move things forward
Follow up with purpose and persistence
Start sending smarter emailsāand watch your speaking calendar fill up.
Hereās Whatās On Tap for PLATFORMā¢ 2025:
š„ Session 1: Letās Craft The Killer Keynote From Start To Finish
š„ Session 2: An Insiderās Look Into Speaker Bureaus
š„ Session 3: 5 Negotiation Strategies To Drive Connection & Boost Revenue
š„ Session 4: A Proven Formula For Setting Your Speaker Fee
š„ Session 5: Live Workshop: Turn Your Book Idea Into An Outline And Action Plan
š„ Session 6: The Hot Seat: Letās Build Solutions For Your Speaking Business
Location š ā> Austin, TX
Date š ā> September 20-21 (Saturday and Sunday)
Spots are filling up fast, so register today.šš¾
Ready to invest in your speaking business? Here are ways we can help:
Community: Why stay on the Internets when you can come outside? Join a community of speakers at every stage of their business for an exclusive in-person mastermind. Sign up for PLATFORM
ā¢2025 (Sept. 20-21 | Austin, TX).Coaching: Over the past 18 months, weāve coached 19 speakers who ranged from Iām just getting started to I want to charge more. If you want a guided gameplan get you to the next level, then schedule a discovery call with our co-founder, Will Baggett today.
Courses: Our āGet Paid to Speakā course shows you, step-by-step, how to build a speaking business. These seven modules will put you in position to monetize your message.
If you liked todayās newsletter, be sure to like, share, and comment below.š
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