Jaimie: Let’s talk about something I know way too well—speaking for free. Now, if you’re nodding along like "Ugh, yes Jaimie… that’s me," don’t worry—you are not alone. I used to say yes to every speaking opportunity. School groups. Conferences. Local business breakfasts. And almost always it came with the line: "We don’t have a budget, but it’ll be great exposure!" I bought into that. I thought if I was visible enough, the paid gigs would eventually find me. But here’s what actually happened: I built a reputation as the "yes girl"—the one who would always show up for free. And surprise… that kind of brand doesn’t magically turn into $10K keynotes. It’s a trap. And if you're in it—I promise, there's a way out.
Jaimie: Let’s be crystal clear. Speaking for free sends a message—whether you realise it or not. It tells organisers you don’t value your own expertise. You’re not running a business—you’re doing a favour. You’ll probably keep saying yes if they ask again next year. But most importantly, it devalues the entire industry. If one speaker keeps showing up for free, it becomes harder for all of us to charge what we’re worth. And look, I get it. Sometimes you think, "Well, this will lead to more gigs!" But will it? Only if you have a plan to leverage that gig, and 90% of people don’t. You’re not being mean or ungrateful by expecting to be paid. You’re being professional.
Jaimie: So how do you stop speaking for free—without burning bridges or ghosting your inbox? Let’s break this down.
Jaimie: First, know your value. What transformation do you create? What’s the outcome for the audience? Event organisers aren’t paying for your time—they’re paying for the result.
Jaimie: Second, create a speaker toolkit. You need a killer speaker bio, a professional one-sheet, and a clear list of your talk topics. This positions you as worth paying for.
Jaimie: Third, set a rate—and stick to it. Pick a number you’re comfortable saying out loud. And if it scares you a little, good. That’s growth. You can always negotiate up or down from a position of confidence.
Jaimie: Fourth, have a script ready for "freebie" requests. Here’s a line you can steal from me: "Thanks so much for thinking of me. I’d love to support your event—my speaking fee for this kind of presentation is [insert your fee]. Let me know if that aligns with your budget." No apologies. No awkwardness. Just clarity.
Jaimie: And if they truly can’t pay? You can offer alternatives. A recorded keynote they can license. A group rate for other services. Or say, "I’m not available, but here’s someone I recommend." You’re not rejecting them—you’re reframing your time as valuable.
Jaimie: Now, let me be real. There are times when speaking for free can be a strategic move. But only when you decide it’s worth it—not because someone asked nicely.
Jaimie: Here’s when I personally consider it: I’m launching a program and the room is full of potential clients. There’s guaranteed media exposure, like TV, press, or podcasting. It’s a major event I’ve been dying to speak at, and I want it on my speaker reel. Or I’m deeply passionate about the cause. But even then—I look at it as an investment, not a favour. And I always make sure I’m getting something out of it.
Jaimie: So next time someone says, "We can’t pay you, but you’ll get great exposure," I want you to ask: Is the ROI worth it? If not, the answer is no—with love and professionalism.
Jaimie: If this episode hit home and you’re nodding along like, "Yep, I need to stop speaking for free but I don’t know where to start…" then I’ve got the perfect next step for you. I want to invite you to my FREE 3-Day Speak & Earn Challenge. Inside the challenge, I’ll walk you through how to create a professional speaker bio, how to pitch yourself with confidence, how to find and land highly paid speaking gigs, plus you’ll get my done-for-you pitch templates to copy and paste.
Jaimie: You don’t need to be famous. You don’t need a fancy agent. You just need the right strategy—and I’ve got it ready for you. Head to www.jaimieabbott.com.au/speakandearn or just comment the word EARN if you’re seeing this on socials, and I’ll send you the link. Let’s stop speaking for free—and start getting paid to speak.
