How to Build a Speaking Brand People (Actually) Remember

Let’s be honest: it’s hard to stand out nowadays. Being someone who is remembered means getting rebooked and recommended. Here's how to build a speaking brand.

One of the biggest mistakes new speakers make is going broad. Creating talks like “Leadership in Today’s Workplace” or “Innovating for Success” sounds like they could be delivered by anyone.

Event planners aren’t typically looking for generalists. They’re looking for someone who understands their audience’s specific challenges.

Instead of “leadership,” try going more niche:

• No Blueprint? Create One. – Why the Best Leaders Think Like Artists and Move Like Athletes
  

Instead of “innovation,” try:

• Ahead of the Algorithm: Everyone’s talking about AI. But what should you actually do about it?
  

Instead of “Marketing,” try:

• Entertain or Die: Day Trading Attention for the 21st Century

Narrowing your focus doesn’t limit your opportunities. It positions you as the obvious choice when your topic fits the room.

Having a great personal story is valuable—although it’s not the whole package.

Plenty of speakers say: “I built a company, so now I teach entrepreneurship.” That’s not a brand. That’s a starting point.

What makes your brand:

• The specific change your audience walks away with
• The perspective you bring that others don’t
• The way you explain things so they actually stick
• The reputation you build by consistently being useful

Ask yourself:

• What does your audience leave knowing that they didn’t before?
• What shift happens in their thinking or behavior?
• Why should they hire you instead of someone else who says the same thing?

A lot of speakers wait. They think: “Let me fine-tune my talk, get a few gigs, and then I’ll worry about marketing.”The secret sauce is actually starting!

Think about how you can do small things now that will add up later:

• Post short insights on LinkedIn
• Write simple blog posts
• Share one useful idea per week
• Comment on industry conversations
• Talk about the problem you help solve

Be helpful before you’re famous. That’s how opportunities find you.

Event planners skim through endless speaker bios. You need a one-liner that makes them stop and think, “Oh—that’s interesting.”

Forget:

• “Motivational speaker helping audiences reach their potential.”
• “Leadership expert with 20 years of experience.”

Try:

• “The FBI negotiator teaching sales teams how to close like lives depend on it.” (Chris Voss)
• “The neuroscientist explaining why your best ideas come in the shower.”
• “The restaurateur who built the #1 restaurant in the world.” (Will Guidara)

What to include:

• Something specific about your background
• Who you help
• The unexpected insight or takeaway you deliver

Anyone can give a talk. The speakers who get remembered create an experience.

That doesn’t mean gimmicks. It means:

• Running interactive workshops instead of static keynotes
• Using props or demos that make your point stick
• Offering follow-up resources that continue the learning after the event

Look at Jesse Itzler: he doesn’t just deliver keynotes—he brings DJ Dee Wiz on stage to create an energy shift mid-talk. It’s not a concert, but it feels like one for a moment, and that energy makes people lean in, eager to remember what comes next.

People should leave thinking something happened, not that they sat through another presentation.

Speaking is a relationship business. Being easy to work with matters as much as being good on stage.

A few ways to build real relationships:

• Follow up after events, just to say thanks
• Share helpful resources without expecting anything back
• Make introductions when you can
• Respond quickly and professionally—people remember that

At the end of the day, people book speakers they trust, not just speakers they like.

Professional videos, social media posts, and email lists—all helpful. But they’re not a substitute for being good at what you do.

Focus on:

• Posting content that actually helps people
• Using video to show your speaking style
• Staying visible to your network without overcomplicating it.

Being a good speaker isn’t rare. Being a speaker people remember—and want back—is.

It’s not about luck. It’s about positioning yourself clearly, delivering consistently, and making the right people aware of what you do.

And if you’re wondering where to start: tighten your focus, craft your one-liner, and share your perspective.

The rest follows.

Serious about growing your speaking career?

VaynerSpeakers helps speakers build brands that get remembered—and booked.

Contact us today and let’s get started.