Why Most Speaker Websites Fail in 5 Seconds

Something I learned when I started doing speaking engagements in 2012 that has helped me more than anything is finding out what the event planners are actually looking for.

The number one thing an event planner wants from a speaker’s website is instant clarity.

Not vibes.

Not a cute bio.

Not a résumé from 2014.

Clarity.

They land on the site, and within five seconds, they need to know:

1. What you speak about

Not themes. Not broad categories. Your core message and the specific transformation your talk delivers.

2. Who your talk is for

They’re matching you to an audience and an event. If they have to decode this, they’re gone.

3. Proof you can deliver

Video. Real video. Not a montage of B-roll. A clean 60–90 second sizzle or a strong clip where you’re actually speaking.

It's ok if you don't have one yet; you do, however, need a set of some great photos that show you on stage, mic'd up, and in your zone.

After that, everything else is a bonus.

An event planner has one job that matters: don’t make a bad booking decision.

Your website’s job is to eliminate their risk in under 10 seconds.

Clarity on your message and proof that you can command a room.

If your site nails those two, you will be viewed as a serious option and you’ll get inquiries.

If it doesn’t, you’re just another speaker with a pretty website and no bookings.

Simple messaging is difficult because it means you have to choose who you are for, and for most experts and authors, this is the biggest hang-up.

This is one of my favorite things to help experts become speakers with their online presence. Getting crystal clear is a team effort.

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