How to Land Prestigious Stages: Answering the 4 Most Common Questions

Landing a prestigious stage whether it's a TED Talk or a keynote at a major industry conference is a powerful way to elevate your brand and career. However, it doesn't just happen overnight, and I get a lot of questions about how to make it happen. In this post, I’ll answer four of the most common questions I receive about landing high-profile speaking engagements, providing you with a step-by-step guide on how to secure your place on those coveted stages.

Question 1. How Do I Get a TED Talk?

One of the most common questions I hear is, "How do I land a TED Talk?" It’s a dream for many, but TEDx stages are selective, and landing one is a deliberate process.

The first thing you should know: you need to be invited to give a TED Talk or you need to be known for who you are. This means that most of the time, you won’t just apply like you would for a regular speaking gig. Instead, you’ll pitch yourself to the TEDx organisers by showing them why your idea matters to their audience.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

• Pitch Yourself Effectively: Start by identifying the TEDx events that align with your expertise. These are independently organised events, so each TEDx event has its own team of organisers. You need to introduce yourself with a pitch that shows what you bring to the table for their event. This isn’t about selling yourself, it's about making it clear how your talk will benefit the audience.
• What Can You Do for Their Event? Every TEDx event is about ideas worth spreading. Ask yourself: how does your idea fit into their theme, and will their audience care about what you have to say? Organisers are looking for speakers who can deliver a fresh, insightful perspective that resonates with their attendees. Focus on the impact of your idea, not on promoting yourself or your business.
• It’s Not About You, It’s About the Audience: If you focus too much on yourself your achievements, your brand, or your story you’re missing the point. TEDx is about serving the audience with ideas that can spark change. Your pitch should be audience-centric. Why does your talk matter to them? What value will it provide?

Pitch yourself, but always ask how does my idea help their audience? That’s the mindset that gets you a TEDx invitation.

Question 2. Do I Need a Big Following to Land a Prestigious Stage?

The short answer? It helps, but it’s not a dealbreaker. Many people believe you need a massive social media following to get on prestigious stages, but that’s only part of the equation. Yes, having an audience can boost your chances, but it’s not the only factor.

Here’s what really matters:

• Are You an Expert in What the Audience Needs to Know? If you’ve established yourself as an expert in a particular field, event organisers will be interested in your expertise, even if you don’t have millions of Instagram followers. What’s most important is that your content aligns with what the event’s audience wants to learn or experience.
• Your Following as Proof of Impact: While a big following isn’t essential, it can be a nice bonus. Why? It shows that you’ve already made an impact on a community, which can give organisers confidence that you’ll deliver a high-quality presentation. But even without a huge following, if you can demonstrate expertise, credibility, and a track record of engaging talks, you still stand a strong chance.

Ultimately, it’s more about the depth of your message and your ability to engage an audience than about your social media reach. If you’re an authority on your topic and have something valuable to offer, you don’t need millions of followers to secure prestigious stages.

Question 3. What is the Dealbreaker to Landing a Prestigious Stage?

When aiming for prestigious stages, there are a few deal breakers that can immediately get you disqualified. Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing how to land the gig.

• A Vague or Unclear Message: If you can’t clearly communicate what your talk is about and how it will benefit the audience, you’re not going to get far. Event organisers need to see exactly what you bring to the table. Your message needs to be specific, actionable, and aligned with the event’s theme. If you can’t explain what you’ll be talking about in one or two concise sentences, it’s a red flag.
• Too Promotional: The number one mistake aspiring speakers make is focusing too much on themselves or their brand. Remember, prestigious stages aren’t for self-promotion—they’re for educating, inspiring, or providing value to the audience. If your talk comes off as a sales pitch, you won’t make it through the selection process.
• Lack of Expertise or Credibility: If you don’t have a solid background in the subject you’re pitching, it’s going to be tough to convince organisers to put you on stage. Your experience, insights, and achievements in your field are crucial. Organisers need to know you’re qualified to speak on the topic.

In short, a lack of clarity, too much self-promotion, and insufficient expertise are the deal breakers that can block your chances of landing a prestigious stage.

Question 4. How Long Will It Take to Land a Prestigious Stage, and What Do I Need to Do?

Landing a prestigious stage takes time and effort. There’s no one-size-fits-all timeline, but generally, it can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years depending on your current level of experience and visibility.

Here’s what you need to do to accelerate the process:

• Develop a Clear Value Proposition for the Audience: First, make sure you’re clear about the value you bring to the stage. Organisers want to know how your talk will benefit their audience. Whether it’s a unique perspective, practical insights, or a compelling story, your message needs to offer something the audience can take away and apply.
• Create a Great Pitch: Your pitch is the gateway to landing that stage. You need to craft a well-thought-out proposal that clearly communicates your topic, your expertise, and why it matters to the event’s audience. If possible, show past examples of your speaking engagements through video or testimonials.
• Know What You’re Doing: This seems obvious, but make sure you’re prepared and experienced before aiming for big stages. Start by speaking at smaller events or hosting webinars to build your confidence and polish your delivery. You need to know how to engage an audience, tell a compelling story, and deliver value.
• Be Persistent: Building up your speaking career takes time. You’ll need to network with event organisers, pitch yourself to various events, and get comfortable with rejection. Not every pitch will be successful, but if you keep improving your skills, refining your message, and learning from the process, you’ll eventually land the stages you’re aiming for.

I'm Here To Help

I've had the privilege of helping hundreds of clients secure TED Talks, conferences, keynote speakers, TV interviews, podcasts, and more often for the very first time, and within just a few months. Many of these talks have gathered millions of views and helped my clients significantly grow their social media presence, establishing them as authorities in their fields. These initial successes often lead to further opportunities on other prestigious platforms.

While I can't guarantee these same results for everyone, my most successful clients have worked with me one-on-one. The tailored coaching and personalised strategies they've received have been key to their success. If you're serious about landing a prestigious speaking engagement, I encourage you to join my "Unlocking Your Speaking Potential Course." In this course, I go in-depth on how to secure top speaking opportunities, build authentic confidence, and master the secrets of effective public speaking.

If you're ready to take your speaking career to the next level, join now by clicking the link below: