In this illuminating conversation with Blair Bryant Nichols, owner of BBN Creative Management, we unlock the secrets to leveraging speaking opportunities as your most potent marketing tool. Blair reveals why the traditional conference booth approach pales in comparison to securing a speaking slot, where you gain undivided audience attention and accelerate the know-like-trust curve that converts prospects into clients.

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of public speaking with industry expert Blair Nichols. Blair is a seasoned speaker coach and manager, helping individuals leverage speaking engagements to grow their brands, attract clients, and establish themselves as thought leaders. We discuss the power of storytelling, how to break into public speaking, and why authenticity is key to success. If you’ve ever considered speaking as a way to grow your business, this episode is a must-listen!

In this episode of the Product Chats Podcast, host Rebecca Kalogeris welcomes Blair Bryant Nichols, owner of BBN Creative Management and an expert in strategic speaking platforms. Blair helps business leaders refine their public speaking and storytelling skills, guiding them to craft compelling narratives that engage stakeholders and customers alike. 

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

✅ How to break into the public speaking industry

✅ The biggest mistakes new speakers make (and how to avoid them!)

✅ How to turn your expertise into a profitable speaking business

✅ The truth about getting booked for corporate and keynote events

✅ How to craft your personal brand and build a powerful speaking platform

Blair has trained countless professionals on topics like breaking into speaking, overcoming stage fright, and monetizing speaking opportunities. If you’re ready to take your skills to the next level and start getting paid to share your knowledge, this episode is a must-listen!

In this episode of Scaling Up Business, host Bill Gallagher sits down with Blair Bryant Nichols, an expert in speaker management, business strategy, and creative leadership. Blair shares insights on how entrepreneurs and business leaders can leverage public speaking as a powerful tool for growth, whether it’s for brand awareness, lead generation, or establishing thought leadership.

Discover the liberating shift from side hustle to full-blown business ownership, as Blair shares his personal experiences and strategic insights. He dives into the benefits of having control over client selection, work-life balance, and financial prospects, drawing on his own journey to replace his salary and gain autonomy. Blair's story illuminates the freedom and flexibility that remote work can offer, allowing entrepreneurs to sculpt their ideal lifestyle and enjoy the fruits of their labor on their own terms.

Join us in this empowering episode as we embark on a journey from overcoming stage fright to seizing the spotlight with Blair Bryant Nichols, owner of BBN Creative Management. Discover invaluable insights on crafting a strategic speaking platform and unleashing diverse and purpose-driven messages for speaking success.

How to Make Money as a Public Speaker breaks down the strategies and business models behind building a profitable speaking career. In this episode, we explore how to position yourself as an expert, attract paid speaking opportunities, and diversify your revenue streams. From setting the right fees to leveraging partnerships, we’ll share actionable insights to help you turn your voice into a thriving business. Whether you're just starting or looking to scale, this episode will give you the tools to monetize your message effectively.

In this episode, listen for: 

• Building a Speaking Business: Strategies for building a sustainable business around speaking. Identifying your ideal audience and crafting a compelling message. How to find and secure speaking opportunities.

• Monetizing Your Expertise: The different ways to generate revenue from speaking. How to create and sell products or services related to your speaking business.

• The Importance of Storytelling: Leverage your unique story and expertise to connect with audiences and crafting a narrative that resonates with your target market.

Blair is the owner of BBN Creative Management for Diverse and Mission-Driven Talent. An expert in strategic speaking platforms, Blair guides speakers and business leaders through the nuances of public and corporate speaking. With a background representing top authors and managing diverse projects, he highlights the need for a varied portfolio for effective competition.

Expert Authority Effect™ Interviews is the Top 100 Entrepreneurship podcast where 2x #1 International Best Selling Author, Speaker & CEO Mario Fachini interviews industry-leading authors & experts and has them share their best publishing, marketing, and business strategies so you can learn how to implement them in your own business. Now's YOUR time, so prepare to shine!

Topics discussed in this episode:

• Introduction to Blair Bryant Nichols and BBN Creative Management

• The importance of purpose-driven success and client autonomy

• Strategies for leveraging speaking engagements

• Embracing diverse representation in storytelling

• Navigating different types of speaking opportunities

• Expanding expertise and business growth

• The role of mentorship and career transition experiences

• Practical advice for aspiring speakers

In today's episode we will cover why it is crucial to voice your story and connect with your customers in order to grow a fulfilling and successful business. We also talk about how to create more joy than anxiety in our businesses and to start facing our fears and weaknesses to grow stronger.

We discuss:

• His journey from working at traditional speakers bureaus to founding his own firm 

• What initially drew him to the speakers bureau industry 

• The business model behind speakers bureaus and how they operate 

• His decision to pursue an MBA and how it influenced his career 

• The challenges of working under restrictive leadership and the push towards entrepreneurship 

• The strategic positioning of keynote speaking in business development 

• How his business model differs from traditional speakers bureaus and the focus on holistic client management 

• Advice for corporate refugees on leveraging speaking engagements 

We discussed things like:

• How to identify your core message and communicate it effectively

• Common challenges people face when preparing for public speaking and how to overcome them

• Key components of a well-structured speech or presentation

• Advice to help speakers build confidence on stage

• How to find the right speaking engagements for your business

• How to figure out what to charge

We discuss all of this plus so much more, so be sure to tune in! Being a solopreneur is awesome but it’s not easy. It's hard to get noticed. Most business advice is for bigger companies, and you're all alone...until now.

Though my management and coaching is specialized to every speaker, based on their current platform, target audience, objectives, and goals, I focus on developing these three main pillars that comprise my Sustainable Speaking Strategy.

Pillar 1: Speaker Assets, Branding, & Positioning

Pillar 2: Unique Go-to-Market Plan to Drive Strategic AND Paid Speaking

Pillar 3: Scaling Beyond Speaking - How to Convert Audiences into Customers

Blair specializes in helping his clients understand the strategic landscape of public and corporate speaking, emphasizing the need for a diverse portfolio of offerings to compete effectively.

In this interview he shares with us tips on how to become a better public speaker and how will this help your business growth.

Some Key takeaways from this Episode:

• Lessons from Keith Farazzi

• Mastering Niche Audiences and Strategies for Speaker Success and Market Penetration

• Crafting a Compelling Personal Brand and Generating Leads

• Selling From Stages And How To Elevate Yourself Into A Thought Leader and Market Influencer

Blair Bryant Nichols of BBN Creative Management shares about helping coach and guide and place speaking talent. From his education in entertainment management, through incredible internships and career roles, Blair has earned a name for helping speakers find their niche and channel what they are best at.

Check out this episode with Blair Bryant Nichols —a seasoned expert who began his career at the HarperCollins Speakers Bureau and has since become a renowned speaker coach and business consultant. Blair will share his vast experience working with traditional publishing powerhouses and offer invaluable advice on how to build and sustain a successful speaking career.