Here's how you can establish your personal brand through public speaking.

Establishing your personal brand through public speaking begins with defining clear goals for your presentations. Identify what you want to achieve through your speaking engagements, such as positioning yourself as an industry expert, building credibility, or expanding your professional network. For example, if your goal is to position yourself as a thought leader in digital marketing, your presentations might focus on sharing innovative strategies, case studies, and insights to educate and inspire your audience. By defining specific goals for your speaking engagements, you can tailor your content, delivery, and networking efforts to effectively communicate your personal brand and achieve your objectives.

Be a thought leader with public speaking: Speak on your passion & expertise (become an authority!). Craft valuable content with solutions (data, stories, takeaways). Engage your audience (ditch lectures, use stories & humor). Speak at conferences & events (spread brand awareness). Promote talks on social media & website (build anticipation). Share expertise beyond speeches (articles, blogs, discussions). Network after talks (build relationships with potential clients). Record & share presentations online (expand reach beyond event). Public speaking isn't just a talk, it's a strategy to build a powerful personal brand and become a thought leader. Have FUN doing it; and it will gild your personality.

Every exceptional speaker I know is also an exceptional storyteller. And this is no coincidence. A strong speaker who understands branding differentiates themselves with their story and how they tell it. Everyone's story is unique and different. You can speak on the same topic but educate or inform with a different story. Here is what I do: I have a different story to tell depending on how I want to connect with the audience, how I want them to feel, and ultimately what takeaway I want them to have from the talk. A good practice is having a document of stories and personal anecdotes you can always draw on. This will differentiate you from any speaker, as the audience will remember YOU, thus building your personal brand.

Use personal anecdotes and experiences to illustrate your journey, challenges, and achievements. Craft stories that highlight your unique perspective and expertise in a way that resonates with your target audience.

Use personal anecdotes and experiences to illustrate your journey, challenges, and achievements. Craft stories that highlight your unique perspective and expertise in a way that resonates with your target audience.

Does your wardrobe speak as powerfully as you do? Dressing the part in public speaking is crucial for building your personal brand. By carefully choosing your attire & the visual aspects of your presentations, you create a powerful, cohesive image that resonates with your audience. Consistency in your visual theme ensures that every aspect of your presentation helps make your brand instantly recognizable and memorable. Attire that reflects the professional image you aim to project, alongside using physical materials that match your visual theme, reinforces your credibility & authority. Each element, from your slides to your suit, should contribute to a unified brand experience that captivates your audience.

Develop a consistent visual identity across all your public speaking materials, such as presentation slides, business cards, and websites. Choose a cohesive color palette, typography, and logo that represent your personal brand’s values and style. When delivering presentations, ensure your visual branding aligns with your message and enhances the overall experience.

Branding from the stage comes down to managing presence. The best public speakers have intense physicality, negotiate space well, and strategically position their bodies for maximum impact. They connect emotionally and intellectually with their audiences and somehow find a way to engage all five senses. Hence, their message resonates long after they exit the stage. My overarching goal in speaking is to deliver the best experience possible in the allotted time and make myself memorable (in a good way, of course). With a blend of stagecraft that balances formally rehearsed passages with improvisation, I am the speaker you cannot categorize, the one you will remember, the one you will want to book again. And I smile a lot. That helps.