How to Become a Motivational Speaker (As a Side Hustle)

As the name suggests, motivational speakers (also called inspirational speakers) give speeches or presentations designed to encourage and motivate people. They appear at all types of events, including:

• Business meetings and conferences
• Government functions
• School and university graduation ceremonies
• Nonprofit organization and charity events
• Leadership and team-building retreats
• Professional development workshops, seminars, and webinars
• Community events and festivals
• TED Talks and other platform-based speaking events
• Self-hosted events

If you want to start a side hustle as a motivational speaker, these six tips will get you a foothold in the industry.

Step 1: Define your area of expertise

Motivational speakers need a niche or area of expertise. This can’t be just anything—you need to choose something you have genuine knowledge of.

We spoke to Kelly Swanson, an experienced motivational speaker. She explained that, “You can specialize in a topic, an industry, or even in a certain area of expertise” and cited the examples of “teambuilding” as a topic, “teambuilding for attorneys” as an industry-specific topic, and “strategic storytelling” as an area of expertise.

Other popular motivational speaking topics include:

• Relationship skills
• Leadership development
• Personal finance
• Wellness
• Mindfulness and stress management
• Sports or fitness
• Diversity and inclusion

When you’re choosing a niche, think about what makes your perspective unique. What special experiences have you had, what knowledge can you share, and what are you excited to talk about?

Picking a specialty will put you on the map for potential clients who need a motivational speaker on that topic, and it’ll give them confidence about your ability to deliver what they’re looking for.

What’s your message?

In addition to knowing which areas of people’s lives you want to change, Swanson says you need to know what types of changes you want to bring about. Here are a few examples she provided:

• Motivating people to see beyond their obstacles and get clarity on their objectives and outcomes.
• Motivating teams to reach peak performance by focusing on their mindset.
• Teaching people how to hang on to a sense of calm when the rest of the world is falling apart.

According to Swanson, “Different is gold in this business,” and choosing a unique niche and message is one way to stand out. “A motivational speaker is born every minute,” she said. “You need to differentiate yourself.”

Step 2: Identify your target audience

Next, think about who will most benefit from what you have to offer. When you picture yourself sharing your life experience and wisdom, who comes to mind as a potential audience? How old are these people, and where do they live? What jobs do they do?

Swanson’s advice was, “Get specific about what problems you help solve. Then see what industries are really struggling with that, and that might be a good target audience.”

Alternatively, she recommended using your own past experience to decide what kind of audience you want to target. “For example, if you came from the world of hospitality management, then you have an advantage in speaking to these groups because you’ve ‘been there,'” she said.

Once you know your target audience, you’ll be able to market yourself and target the best speaking opportunities for your expertise. You’ll also be able to adapt your speeches for different audiences.

Swanson’s clients tell her what she needs to know about an audience when they book her, and she uses this information to adapt her speeches. “Your content doesn’t have to change with every speech,” she advised. “Simply change the way you apply it to that particular audience.”

Step 3: Hone your skills

At this point, you’ve got an idea of what you want to say and who you want to say it to. Next, you need to work on how you deliver your message.

Practice public speaking

To deliver motivational speeches, you need to be comfortable speaking in front of an audience.

You’ll have a head start if you already have experience with public speaking (e.g., if you teach for a living, you’re a member of your local community theater, or you regularly host trivia nights).

If you don’t have any experience, don’t worry. It’s possible to go from a shy mumbler to a confident public speaker with enough dedication and training.

One of the best first steps you can take is to practice your skills informally. Try testing out speeches on your family and friends. You should also record yourself speaking so that you can review your own performance and see whether anything needs improving (e.g., your body language, vocal tone, pacing, or overall delivery).

If you’re just getting started, some basic points to remember about public speaking are:

• Dress professionally.
• Avoid pacing or fidgeting too much.
• Engage with your audience.
• Make eye contact with audience members.
• Gesture with your hands for emphasis.
• Use visual aids or props, if appropriate.
• Finish off with a clear and impactful conclusion or call to action.

As Swanson pointed out, motivational speakers aren’t paid simply to deliver information, as everyone already has plenty of information at their fingertips. Instead, you’re paid for how you present that information and for the experience that you create on stage with your audience.

Learn from the pros

Where better to learn how to succeed as a public speaker than from well-known leaders in the field? Here are some easy ways you can learn from the best motivational speakers:

• Watch TED Talks.
• Watch other motivational speeches online.
• Subscribe to motivational podcasts.
• Read books by other motivational speakers (e.g., Tony Robbins, Brene Brown, or Simon Sinek).
• Follow other motivational speakers on social media.

Some excellent resources for learning about speech writing include “The Art of Public Speaking” by Dale Carnegie and “Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World’s Top Minds” by Carmine Gallo.

Consider taking a motivational speaking course

Although you don’t need any formal training to be a professional motivational speaker, taking a short course could strengthen your skills and improve your confidence.

If you want to build your skills at home, you can sign up for online courses or webinars, including:

• Introduction to Public Speaking on Coursera
• You Can Become a Motivational Speaker on Udemy
• Public Speaking: How to Write a Speech That Inspires on Udemy

When Swanson was starting out, she took classes in storytelling, improv, and comedy. Another opportunity—which she didn’t know about until later in her career but highly recommended—was Toastmasters. This is an organization that offers online, offline, and hybrid educational opportunities to help people improve their public speaking and leadership skills.

You may also be able to find in-person courses at your local community college or find a public speaking group in your town that you can join.

Practice your speech writing

If speech writing isn’t something you’re confident in, practice. Swanson emphasized that this is the most important part of becoming a motivational speaker. “The speech is your product,” she said. “Just as any company would spend a great deal of time and energy creating an amazing product, so should a speaker.”

You should be able to write speeches that are well organized, guided by an overarching theme from start to finish, and clearly defined in their message and purpose. Make sure your speeches address the concerns of your target audience and offer practical, actionable solutions or advice.

Swanson’s tip is to leverage humor and storytelling. “The most memorable and marketable speeches in our profession are story driven,” she said. On that note, you can use other speakers for inspiration, but don’t copy them too closely. You want your message to be fresh and authentic—something people haven’t heard before.

As Swanson pointed out, “The one thing that nobody can copy is your own story.” Sharing your experiences allows others to connect and engage with you on a personal level.

Step 4: Establish an online presence

To get work as a motivational speaker, you’ll need to have an online presence to promote yourself. This will also help you gauge whether people are interested in the topics you plan to speak about.

Here’s how to build a robust online presence:

• Create a website: You don’t need to invest much time or money to make a website for your new motivational speaking business. You can use platforms like Wix or WordPress.
• Use social media: This is an important step for any type of freelance work. LinkedIn is an ideal channel to promote yourself, but you can also use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
• Create a podcast or YouTube channel: This will allow you to practice your speaking skills and also reach the types of viewers or listeners who will make up your target audience. By sharing tips and insights, you can connect with more people and build a loyal community. Swanson has her own podcast and also posts the video version on YouTube.
• Share written content: You can also write articles or blog posts and publish them on your website to attract more online attention to your services. This will increase your chances of appearing as a top result when someone searches for a motivational speaker in your field. Swanson also recommended writing ebooks, as this will give you credibility as an expert in your field.
• Contribute and collaborate: As well as writing content for your own social media pages and website, look for opportunities to write guest posts for popular blogs or collaborate with established professionals from your field on online projects. Doing this will allow you to expand your reach and connect with more people.

Step 5: Make a demo recording or video

Also known as a “speaker reel,” your demo recording or video is an important tool for showcasing your speaking abilities. This will serve as a portfolio when you apply for speaking opportunities.

Until you land your first motivational speaking gig, you may need to use practice material to create your demo. You can use recordings from pro bono public speaking work you’ve done or from informal practice speeches.

Use your demo to support your pitch when you apply for gigs. You should also share your demo on your website and social media pages—or anywhere it’s likely to be seen by event organizers, conference planners, talent agencies, and others involved in selecting speakers for events.

To make a good demo video, Swanson recommended keeping it simple. “A good quality video that shines you in your best light on stage is worth far more than fancy music and graphics that buyers don’t really care about,” she said.

Step 6: Book your first gig

Landing your first motivational speaking gig will take time and effort. It’s likely you’ll have to pitch to many organizers or venues and get turned down repeatedly before you succeed. Try to keep your expectations realistic, and don’t get disheartened.

We asked Swanson about her first gig, and she said she couldn’t remember when or where it was. However, she said that she was sure that she didn’t get paid, and she remembered being a nervous wreck but still getting a good reaction. “I could tell a story and make them laugh, and they loved it anyway,” she said.

She also said that she found churches to be the easiest place to get speaking jobs and practice, initially, particularly women’s events at churches. In addition, she recommended associations as a place to find speaking opportunities. “There are a lot of associations in the United States,” she said. “Most of them have meetings, and most of them book speakers.”

She added that, “When you speak for an association, there are often corporate vendors or corporate audience members who can book you to speak for them.”

Additional tips for breaking into the industry

We’ve already mentioned some of the ways you can spread general awareness about your public speaking services online. Here are more strategies you can use to land your first gig:

• Look for events that hire speakers: Look for events that regularly host speakers and offer your services as a speaker or workshop facilitator. For example, local associations, professional organizations, or community groups might host regular events or conferences.
• Use your connections and experience: Ask people you already know to refer you to associations or companies they belong to. If you have extensive experience in a particular industry, look for relevant opportunities there; your experience will make it easier to connect with people or groups in an industry where you already have credibility.
• Network at local events: This is a good way to network and connect with event organizers, fellow speakers, and participants. Talk to these people and say you’re interested in speaking opportunities.
• Network with other speakers: Join online groups or professional associations for public speakers (e.g., the National Speakers Association or the Public Speakers Association). Swanson endorsed this strategy, since many speakers will refer each other and cross-promote. She joined the National Speakers Association early on, and she said that the resources they provided were great and that their local chapter meetings and annual convention were worthwhile.
• Advertise locally: Print promotional materials that describe your speaking topics and areas of expertise. Include your contact information. Ask if you can leave them at local business centers, community bulletin boards, libraries, and other places where they’ll be seen by people who organize events.
• Create an email list: Swanson told us that she considers every audience to be “a room full of potential buyers” and recommended finding creative ways to get their emails and then following up on leads (which she regretted not having done more herself as a newbie). “Build a list and gather emails every time you speak,” she said. “Your email list will be your greatest asset.”
• Market yourself to the right clients: Swanson’s top tip for new motivational speakers was to create a list of 100 groups that you think or know book speakers and then market and sell to them consistently over and over until someone books you.
• Offer your services for free: It may seem counterintuitive if you want to earn quick money, but giving speeches for free when you’re just starting out is a good way to secure jobs in the long run. This will show people what you have to offer and build your reputation.

It may take time for you to book gigs as a beginner motivational speaker, but don’t give up. Like many other side hustles, you’ll probably need to put in a good bit of work initially before you establish yourself and start getting consistent work as a motivational speaker.

Motivational speaking is a great side hustle for people who aren’t afraid of the spotlight. Here are some of the reasons motivational speaking works well as a side job:

• Flexibility: You can choose which speaking engagements to take on according to your availability and preferences. You have total control over when and where you work.
• Scalability: If your side hustle is successful, you can easily scale it up and reach a larger audience by creating online webinars and podcasts or even writing a book.
• Complements other careers: If you speak on a topic related to your professional experience, public speaking will nicely complement your main career. It can improve your credibility as an expert in your field and provide you with a means to network with other professionals in your industry.
• Long-term earning potential: Although you probably won’t be earning a fortune when you start out as a motivational speaker, once you’re established, you can earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars for events.
• No specific qualifications required: Anyone can do motivational speaking, even without a degree or other qualifications. To succeed, you just need good verbal communication skills.

All of that said, motivational speaking isn’t a perfect gig. Regularly speaking in public can be stressful and tiring, even if you have a gift for it. It can also be slow to get your business going, and it may take a while before you start earning any money from it at all.

Swanson agreed that building a business is challenging. “The hardest part is running the business and figuring out how to get the business,” she said. “The travel is brutal too once you’re on the road all the time.”

However, don’t let these downsides put you off working part-time as a motivational speaker; just make sure you have realistic expectations going into it.

Alternatives to motivational speaking

If you’re not sure you want to become a motivational speaker after all, there are several similar jobs you can do on a freelance basis:

• Life coach: Like motivational speaking, life coaching is geared toward inspiring people and helping them reach their goals. Unlike motivational speaking, which involves speaking to large crowds, life coaching involves long-term commitment and one-on-one collaboration with a few specific clients.
• Corporate trainer: This is another type of speaking role—one that’s similar to teaching but in a corporate setting. Unlike motivational speakers, corporate trainers don’t get on a stage and do a keynote. Instead, they go to companies and spend a day or longer facilitating workshops and other activities.
• Sports coach or personal trainer: These professionals help people to achieve goals related to sports or health and fitness. Sports coaches prepare athletes for competition in a specific sport, whereas personal trainers often work in gyms and fitness centers. These roles are best for people who love sports and physical activity and enjoy helping others to improve their athletic performance and general well-being through exercise and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Spokesperson: This role involves public speaking on behalf of a company, organization, or brand. A spokesperson spreads the brand’s messages, represents its interests, and communicates with the media or the general public.
• Speechwriter: If you prefer writing speeches to actually delivering them, consider becoming a speechwriter. This involves working with politicians, executives, or other public figures who need help writing persuasive and impactful speeches.

Many of these jobs are also relatively easy to get into with no degree or experience, which makes them good alternative side hustles to motivational speaking.