How Stories Happen My process for booking keynotes (the engine most overlook)
Dec 19, 2025
Discover the secrets to booking better speaking opportunities! The host reveals why the typical approach to speaking is all wrong. It's all about investing in your signature talk first—this is your highest-return activity. Learn how the inverted commercial model works, where audiences gauge your value before booking you. Find out why stage-side leads are your best prospects and why performance trumps online fame. Plus, get strategic pitching tips to build a sustainable pipeline for lucrative engagements!
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Breakout To Keynote Through One Talk
- Jay Acunzo describes going from breakout speaker to opening keynote at Content Marketing World after refining a signature talk.
- That signature talk generated high ratings, follow-on gigs, and hundreds of thousands in fees and referrals.
Speech As Your Revenue Engine
- Jay argues the speech itself is the highest-ROI business activity for speakers and must be prioritized.
- He says your speech must be undeniable in every room to generate revenue and opportunities.
Speeches Are Sold Backwards
- Keynotes follow an inverted commercial model: audiences experience the full product before they buy.
- Stage-side leads who saw your talk are your most valuable prospects and close faster at higher rates.