Brilliant but not booked? How to show you’re the speaker event planners hire

You’ve got to be really good at what you do, right? That’s a given. You care about delivering real value on stage and you want decision-makers to know they’re dealing with one of the best.

Here’s the rub: if you’re not showing people, how will they ever know you’re the authority? And if they don’t know you’re the authority, how will they know to book you as their keynote speaker?

I meet brilliant speakers all the time who are light on enquiries. Not because they lack skill, but because they’re not signalling the right things to the right people at the right time. If that’s you, breathe. This isn’t about bragging; it’s about making it easy for conference planners to reduce risk and say “yes”.

How event organisers decide who to book

Event organisers are scanning for trust markers. In their world, a bad speaker is a career-limiting move. They’re asking:

• “Will this keynote speaker land our theme and keep 800 people engaged?”
• “Do they have proof - results, testimonials, a showreel - that they deliver?”
• “Is it easy to see their topics, fees, availability and process?”

Your job is to answer those questions before they’re asked.

Five ways to show you’re the authority (without feeling salesy)

Showreel that proves outcomes, not just applause

Sixty to ninety seconds is plenty. Open with your strongest moment, add a line on the result (“Helped X team increase adoption of Y by 32%”), and close with a clear call to action: “Book Stef for your next conference or leadership offsite.” Make it easy to find: top of your site and pinned on LinkedIn.

A speaker page built for buyers

Think like an event planner searching “book a professional speaker on resilience” or “motivational speaker for corporate events”. Use those phrases naturally in your headline, bio and talk descriptions. Include: speaking topics, ideal audiences, outcomes, formats (keynote, breakout, virtual keynote), tech requirements and a simple enquiry form.

Proof stacked where it counts

Curate three to five specific testimonials with names, logos and measurable impact. Add short case studies: the brief, your approach, the result. Screenshots of post-event feedback? Gold. This isn’t ego; it’s evidence.

Teach in public

Post short clips, one-page frameworks and practical checklists. Share the thinking behind your keynote. When you publish useful content regularly, you’re not “promoting” - you’re demonstrating. Decision-makers start saving your posts and, when they’re ready to hire a keynote speaker, you’re already top of mind.

Make it easy to enquire

Clear fees or a range, a simple calendar link, fast response. If a bureau or organiser has to dig for information, they’ll move on to the next professional speaker who made it effortless.

A word on authenticity

If self-promotion feels icky, try this reframe: you’re not shouting, you’re signposting. You’re helping the right people find the right solution at the right time. When we find your comfortable way to show up - your voice, your rhythm - you’ll share more consistently. And consistency wins bookings.

If you’re brilliant but not booked, I’d love to help you build the trust markers that get you on more stages - conferences, offsites, awards nights, the lot. Let’s make sure people know how good you are in a way that’s true to you - and sustainable.

Want more of the right people to know about what you do? Let’s talk.