Should Speakers Ever Speak At Events? The Truth About Public Speaking, Visibility and Value
Public speaking can be one of the most powerful ways to grow your personal brand, increase your visibility and establish credibility within your industry. Speaking at conferences, panels, leadership events and industry discussions allows people to connect with your expertise in a much more human and immediate way than they often can through social media alone. A strong speaking engagement can open doors to media opportunities, partnerships, clients, collaborations and long-term professional recognition. It can position you as a thought leader while also helping you build trust and authority with new audiences.
However, every so often, the same debate resurfaces online: should speakers speak at events for free?
It is a conversation that often sparks strong opinions, particularly when event organisers approach experienced professionals expecting them to contribute their expertise, preparation and time without payment. I have had organisations contact me after discovering my work online or through my professional profile, asking me to speak at their events because they value my perspective and experience. Yet, once the conversation turns to speaker fees or logistics, I have sometimes been told that the event itself is “great exposure” for my brand so I should be “grateful” for the opportunity.
I have always found that reasoning interesting because if an organiser has already found my work, engaged with my content and identified me as someone they believe would add value to their audience, then my visibility has already played a role in helping their event. Exposure alone is not always a fair or sufficient form of compensation, especially when speaking requires preparation, strategy, travel, emotional energy and years of expertise behind the scenes.
At the same time, I also think the conversation around paid speaking is far more nuanced than social media debates often allow. I do not believe every unpaid speaking opportunity is automatically exploitative nor do I believe every speaker should say yes to unpaid opportunities simply because they are offered a platform. The real question is not whether free speaking is always good or always bad. The real question is whether the opportunity aligns with your wider goals, values and personal brand strategy.
Why Public Speaking Matters for Personal Branding
One of the reasons this debate matters so much is because public speaking has become deeply connected to personal branding and professional visibility. In many industries, your ability to communicate your expertise publicly is now part of how people assess authority and leadership.
Whether you are speaking on stage, joining a panel discussion, hosting webinars or contributing to industry conversations online, public speaking allows audiences to engage directly with your ideas, communication style and perspective. Speaking gives people a sense of who you are beyond your job title or LinkedIn profile. This is particularly important in an increasingly competitive digital landscape where visibility often influences opportunity. People are more likely to remember speakers who communicate clearly, share meaningful insight and create connection with audiences. Public speaking allows professionals to move from simply being seen online to being recognised as trusted voices within their field.
For many Black professionals and underrepresented voices especially, speaking opportunities can also become an important way to challenge visibility gaps within industries where expertise is not always equally recognised or platformed. Being visible in rooms, conversations and industries where representation is limited can have a powerful ripple effect, both professionally and culturally.
Should You Ever Speak at Events for Free?
The honest answer is yes, sometimes speaking for free can absolutely make sense. I think the problem is that conversations around unpaid speaking opportunities are often treated as black and white when the reality is far more strategic than that. There are situations where speaking without payment can genuinely support your long-term goals, help you grow your audience or allow you to contribute to causes you care about deeply.
The key is intentionality.
Speaking for free should feel like a strategic choice rather than an expectation imposed upon you.
Transparency From Event Organisers Matters
One of the biggest factors that shapes whether an unpaid opportunity feels respectful or exploitative is transparency.
Some organisers communicate openly from the beginning; they explain their budget limitations honestly, outline the value of the event clearly and present the opportunity in a way that allows speakers to make informed decisions. That kind of honesty matters because it creates trust and mutual respect.
Problems often arise when organisers minimise the labour involved in speaking or rely heavily on the idea that visibility alone should be enough compensation. Preparing for events takes work, even experienced speakers spend time researching audiences, tailoring talking points, preparing key messages and managing the emotional energy required to show up publicly.
When organisers acknowledge that work openly, conversations become much easier and more respectful, regardless of whether payment is involved.
Your Public Speaking Strategy Should Shape Your Decisions
One of the most important questions professionals should ask themselves is: what role does public speaking play in my wider personal brand and career strategy? Not every opportunity serves the same purpose.
Some speaking engagements may help you reach entirely new audiences. Others may position you alongside influential voices within your industry. Some opportunities may strengthen your credibility within a niche sector, while others may lead directly to business development, media visibility or future paid opportunities.
That is why visibility should be assessed strategically rather than emotionally.
If speaking at an event helps you connect with the exact audience you are trying to reach, supports a wider business goal or aligns with your long-term positioning, then the value may extend beyond an immediate speaker fee. On the other hand, if an event offers little alignment, poor visibility or no clear benefit beyond vague promises of “exposure,” it may not be worth your time or energy.
Visibility is valuable, but only when it is connected to meaningful opportunities and intentional positioning.
Not All Exposure Is Equal
One thing I think professionals are becoming more aware of is that exposure in itself is not automatically valuable. Being visible to the wrong audience, in the wrong context or within poorly organised events does little to strengthen your reputation or personal brand. In some cases, it can even dilute your positioning. The strongest speaking opportunities are usually the ones where there is alignment between your expertise, the audience and the wider purpose of the event. A smaller, highly relevant industry event can often be more impactful than a larger event with no meaningful connection to your work or goals.
It is also important to think beyond numbers. Audience quality matters more than audience size; after all a room full of decision-makers, collaborators or people genuinely engaged with your message can create far more value than a large audience with little connection to your work.
Charity, Community and Giving Back
I also think it is important to acknowledge that not every speaking opportunity should be viewed purely through a commercial lens. There are charities, grassroots organisations, community groups and social impact initiatives doing important work with genuinely limited budgets. Supporting causes that align with your values can be incredibly meaningful and fulfilling. I have always believed there is a difference between donating your time intentionally to support impact-driven work and being expected to work for free by organisations with substantial resources or commercial backing.
Ultimately, professionals should have the autonomy to decide where they want to invest their time, expertise and energy.
Public Speaking as Practice and Confidence Building
For newer speakers especially, unpaid opportunities can also serve as valuable practice. Public speaking is a skill that develops through repetition, consistency, reflection and experience. Smaller events, community discussions, podcasts or internal panels can all help professionals build confidence, refine their communication style and become more comfortable speaking publicly.
Not every opportunity needs to generate immediate financial return. Sometimes the value lies in experience, confidence building and learning how to communicate effectively with audiences. Many confident speakers were not born comfortable on stage. They developed those skills gradually by saying yes to opportunities, experimenting with different formats and finding their voice over time.
The Bigger Conversation About Value
At its core, the debate around paid speaking is really a conversation about value.
Who gets recognised as an expert? Whose labour is respected? Who is expected to contribute knowledge for free while others are compensated automatically?
These conversations matter because expertise takes time to build. Public speaking may look effortless when done well, but behind every polished panel discussion or keynote is years of experience, insight and professional development. I believe professionals should feel empowered to make decisions that align with both their values and their goals without shame or pressure from either side of the debate. There is nothing wrong with speaking for free strategically, and there is nothing wrong with expecting to be paid fairly for your expertise.
The most important thing is making intentional choices rather than reactive ones.
Public speaking remains one of the most effective ways to build visibility, strengthen your personal brand and establish thought leadership but visibility alone should never come at the expense of understanding your own worth. So remember that whenever you’re considering your approach to speaking at any event and stand firm in your value.
Are you a professional speaker who’s ready to stand out in a crowded market? Have you just started your public speaking journey and want to ensure that you maximise your potential? Have you been speaking for a while but feel stagnated? Do you want to attract more bookings, increase your speaking fees and grow your influence? This popular 5 week coaching programme is for you.
Over the course of 5 weeks we will clearly identify your public speaking goals and develop a strategy to achieve these goals and achieve results. We will work on building an authentic personal brand that reflects your unique voice, story and values. I will show you how to position yourself as an authority in your niche, crafting a compelling signature message that resonates with audiences and event organisers. We will also look at tactics that you can use to optimise your online presence and attract more speaking engagements and opportunities that align with your mission with or without a speakers bureau representing you.
What is included:
30 minute pre-session mapping or post 5 week debrief call
5 x 60 minute sessions
Working document and strategy framework
Each week we will cover the following areas:
Week 1: How to clarify your personal brand identity: Unearthing your story, defining your purpose and discover what sets you apart.
Week 2: Crafting brand messages: Developing signature talks that connect with audiences. We will practice tone and deliver style.
Week 3: Visual & verbal branding: Align your visuals, tone of voice and style across platforms for instant recognition. We will also identify which key creative elements need work i.e. photography, styling etc.
Week 4: Polish your digital presence: Audit and upgrade your website, LinkedIn, speaker profile and online bio.
Week 5: Build visibility & get booked: Strategies to pitch yourself, build credibility and attract speaking gigs with ease.
Clients who prefer face to face sessions will meet at a location in the royal docks area of East London or a location of your choice subject to covering travel expenses.