A Blogger’s Guide to Conquering Public Speaking
Congrats! You’ve built a successful blog. Your words resonate with your audience. Your expertise shines through your writing. But now, speaking opportunities are knocking at your door – and instead of excitement, you feel that familiar knot of anxiety in your stomach. Sound familiar?
As a blogger who’s made the journey from writing to public speaking, I understand this fear intimately. Today, I’m sharing practical strategies that helped me (and countless other bloggers) make this transition successfully.
You know that feeling when your heart starts racing at the thought of speaking in front of people? Trust me, I’ve been there. As a blogger, I spent years feeling safe behind my keyboard, letting my written words do all the talking. But then something happened – I started thinking…what if people started asking me to speak at events about my blog topics. It scared the “beejeezus” out of me…but only a little because I had some public speaking experience.
Let me tell you my experience…
My first real test at speaking to people wasn’t in front of a big crowd – it was standing at someone’s front door, feeling like my heart was going to jump out of my chest!
I am a Real Estate agent and my job is to talk to families about selling their houses. You know how nervous you get when you have to give a presentation? Well, imagine doing that while sitting at someone’s kitchen table! And instead of just reading from your notes, they could ask you tough questions at any time…uggghhh! (BTW: if you click Real Estate agent above and get “content isn’t available” just click “Go to News Feed” and click my avatar in the top left hand corner of the page).
I remember one time, in the beginning, my hands were so sweaty I almost couldn’t ring the doorbell. My potential clients were waiting inside, ready to ask me all kinds of questions about how I would sell their house – the biggest thing they owned. Talk about pressure!
It wasn’t like talking to a whole room of people, but in some ways, it was even scarier because they were right there, looking straight at me. But you know what? All those scary moments taught me something super important: talking to just a few people or talking to a whole crowd both come down to the same thing – just having a conversation and sharing what you know.
One thing that set me apart was being authentic…if I didn’t know something, I would say so and tell them that I would research it and get back to them. They appreciated my honesty. That saying, “the truth will set you free” is gold…do it…always be truthful with your audience because they are smart little buggers and can smell a rat a mile away!
Later, when I started writing my blog, I realized something cool. All those times talking to families about their houses? That was like practice for the bigger stuff! This experience made all the difference in the world, but if you don’t have any experience in public speaking then let me tell you a strategy that will help.
If you get butterflies in your stomach when you have to speak to people (and trust me, most of us do!), I want you to know something: every time you push through those nervous feelings, you’re getting stronger at it. Even if you don’t notice it right away!
Think about it this way: every time you write a blog post, you’re already giving a speech. The only difference is that you’re typing it instead of saying it out loud. It’s a different way to look at the “glass half full” scenario. Pretty cool way to look at it, huh?
What you can do is…and you might feel this is a little silly – grab your phone and record yourself talking about one of your blog posts. Just you…in your room, pretending you are telling a friend about it. No pressure, no audience, just you and your phone. Now…watch it…you know what? You will see that it wasn’t nearly as bad as you thought it would be.
After that, then start making short videos, like really short – just a 30 second to a minute – talking about stuff you’ve written about. Share these with your blog audience, and their supportive comments will help you to feel more confident in public speaking. You’ll find that It’s amazing how a few kind words can boost your courage and confidence.
One thing I did also as a new realtor was what I like to call the “friend experiment.” Ask your best friend to listen to you give a short talk. Just one person, someone you trust. Then, when that felt okay, invite two more friends over. Before you know it, you’ll find it very comfortable speaking to a small group of people who wanted to hear what you have to say.
Here’s a tip! ? Start with topics you know inside and out. You know those blog posts that you could write in your sleep because you know the subject so well? Those are perfect for starting your speaking journey. When you really know your stuff, it’s like talking about your favorite movie – the words just flow naturally.
Want to know something that might surprise you? Those nervous feelings you get? Believe me…they’re actually a good thing! That energy can make your presentation more exciting and engaging. It’s like having extra fuel for your talk. The trick isn’t getting rid of the nervousness – it’s about making friends with it.
You might be wondering why you should bother with all this. Well, speaking about your blog topics can open up some amazing opportunities. You can connect with your audience in a whole new way, maybe make some money from speaking gigs, and become known as an expert in your field. Plus, speaking gives you tons of new ideas to write about on your blog.
Remember, every person you’ve ever seen give a speech started exactly where you are right now. The only difference between them and you is practice. They kept at it, and so can you.
I’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below about what scares you most about public speaking. Let’s talk about it together. We’re all in this journey together, moving from behind our screens to behind the podium, one small step at a time! ?
Conclusion
Here’s something most bloggers don’t realize: You’re already halfway there. Every post you write is essentially a speech waiting to be delivered. You know how to structure ideas, engage an audience, and share valuable insights. The only difference? The medium of delivery.
The goal isn’t to eliminate nervousness – it’s to channel it into energy that enhances your presentation. Even seasoned speakers feel butterflies; they’ve just learned to make those butterflies fly in formation.
Remember: Every accomplished speaker started exactly where you are now. The only difference between them and you is practice and persistence. So…what are you waiting for? ?♀️
About the Author: Carolyn A Best is a blogger and Life Coach turned public speaker who helps content creators amplify their message through both written and spoken platforms.
