The Secret to Building Your Platform: Create a Speakers Group in Your Community

How to Start a Local Speakers Group

Public speaking is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can use to grow your business and expand your personal platform. Whether you speak for free or for pay, every time you get in front of an audience, you gain visibility, build credibility, and create new opportunities. One of the best ways to leverage this potential consistently is to start a local speakers group — and here’s why doing so can transform your business and influence.

Building Your Platform Through Speaking

Speaking is not just about sharing information — it’s about positioning yourself as an authority in your field. When you speak regularly, you get noticed by your peers, potential clients, and even media outlets. This increased visibility naturally leads to more business, partnerships, and opportunities you wouldn’t have encountered otherwise.

By forming a speakers group, you create a consistent platform where you can practice your skills, share your message, and be seen as a leader in the local business community.

Attracting Experts and Building a Community

One of the most powerful benefits of starting a speakers group is the type of people it attracts. Your
group will likely draw two main types of attendees:

• Subject Matter Experts – Professionals who want to add speaking to their marketing toolkit and gain confidence presenting their ideas.

• Seasoned Speakers – Experienced presenters who are looking for ways to sharpen their marketing skills and mentor new speakers.

This creates a unique environment where everyone benefits: experts gain exposure, beginners gain guidance, and you gain notoriety as the organizer and facilitator of this valuable community.

Creating a Successful Meeting Format

Consistency is key. A monthly meeting held on a set day and time — Saturday mornings tend to work well — builds trust and makes attendance easier. A simple, proven agenda might look like this:

• 30 minutes – Networking and introductions

• 30 minutes—one-minute elevator pitches from each attendee.

• 15 minutes – Break for refreshments, restrooms, and more networking

• 45 minutes – Marketing-focused presentation by a guest speaker

• 30 minutes – Mastermind session where attendees share business or marketing challenges and receive group feedback

This structure balances learning, interaction, and practical problem-solving — ensuring that every attendee leaves with value.

Managing Costs and Adding Value

While you can run meetings at low or no cost, consider charging a nominal fee to offset room rentals,
refreshments, and supplies. Libraries, churches, or hotel conference rooms are great low-cost venues.

You can also allow speakers, authors, and marketers to rent a small table at the back of the room to display their brochures, books, and materials for a small additional fee. This not only helps cover expenses but also gives attendees extra opportunities to connect with valuable resources.

Marketing Your Group for Growth

Attracting attendees requires a bit of promotion, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. Here are some easy ways to spread the word:

• Post flyers in community centers, coffee shops, and libraries

• Promote events on social media — Facebook, LinkedIn, and local business groups work well

• List your meetings on event platforms like Eventbrite, Events.com, or Nextdoor

Over time, word of mouth will become one of your strongest marketing tools as attendees share their positive experiences.

Creating the Right Environment

Finally, make sure the logistics are taken care of. A good meeting space should have adequate lighting, comfortable seating, and enough space for networking and breakout sessions. These small details go a long way toward making attendees feel welcome and engaged.

---

Final Thoughts

Starting a local speakers group is more than just organizing an event — it’s about creating a thriving community where ideas, connections, and opportunities can flourish. When you consistently provide value through education, networking, and collaboration, you elevate your own platform while helping others do the same.

I started the Hartford/Springfield Speakers Network in the Hartford, CT area many years ago. I picked a
hotel that was located between the two largest area cities. The first meeting attracted about a dozen people and within a few months, meetings were 50+ strong. I charged a fee of $45 per person and waived the fee for the speaker of the meeting. To find featured speakers in the beginning, I would do searches on Linkedin and send them invitations to present, especially if they offered a service to other business people, such as coaching. Then, after a while, I opened up the opportunity to anyone who was a regular attendee.

If you’re ready to grow your influence, expand your network, and sharpen your speaking skills, consider launching a group in your area. The benefits will ripple far beyond the monthly meetings — and you’ll become known as the person who brought it all together.

Bill Corbett is an accomplished author, speaker, and media producer whose career reflects both creativity and resilience. The author of eight books, including the best-selling From the Soapbox to the Stage: How to Use Your Passion to Get Paid to Speak, he has inspired audiences worldwide with lectures and classes on compassionate parenting and entrepreneurship. He has delivered international keynotes, including the opening address at a Dutch conference on behavior issues in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

In addition to writing, he produced and hosted a public access television show and founded his own publishing company, giving a platform to fresh voices and important conversations. Recognized for his excellence in communication and leadership, he earned the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation, Toastmasters International’s highest level of certification.

Blending professional achievement with a spirit of adventure, Bill even took home a demolition derby victory— driving a 1975 Buick LaSabre. His diverse experiences embody both passion and determination, leaving a lasting impression on every stage, page, and arena he enters.