Many professionals would love to speak at conferences and conventions. If you've established yourself as a capable speaker, you may be able to find gigs that pay well. But when you're first starting out, speaking for free is a perfectly reasonable strategy: It will let you practice and hone your skills, and it will get you in front of audiences who could hire you in the future. There might be other, more tangible benefits too, such as the opportunity to travel. Some conferences will cover your travel costs even if they don't pay a speaking fee. Once you're offered a talk, consider asking the organization to film it so that you can use the video to find new clients. Ask for a testimonial for your website, too. Even if you aren't being paid, speaking connects you with people who care about the same things you do, which is an invaluable experience.
Adapted from "How Much Should You Charge for a Speech?," by Dorie Clark
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