330: 3 Steps to Take Advantage of the Free Stages

Hey movers, it's Sally Koering Zimney with Be Moved. Let's go create some talks that will move this world. We're going to talk with amazing speakers, share tips, tricks, resources, and we are going to be moved so that our audience can be moved. This moved me. What is moving We are diving in today to continue to talk about all of the free stages that are accessible to us. So I sent my email out on Monday. I really set out a theme or a challenge for all of us every week, something to think about in our journey as speakers. And this week I was talking about the free stages that exist all around us, and sometimes when we are focused on trying to grow and leverage our speaking in our business. We're just thinking about that far-off big stage that we want to get on. Okay? The keynotes, the conferences, those big workshops, the big opportunities. And yes, we want to do that, and we are on our way to do that, but we tend to underestimate the power of the free stage, a stage like this. Maybe you have your own Facebook group where you go live sometimes. Maybe you have a podcast. Maybe you're guesting on podcasts. Maybe you're committed to just showing up, and I shouldn't even say just, but to showing up on a free platform like Instagram or TikTok or LinkedIn. To show your face and share your voice. Those are the two things. We want people to see your face and hear your voice at the same time, because when that happens, it really fast-tracks connection, that know, like, and trust factor. You know all this. Okay, I'm just reminding you, but I want for people who are like lost a little bit on, I want to do that, but I'm not sure how. Okay, I have tons of resources for you on this. And the big one is this new Simple Story Framework. You don't have to go grab it if you don't want, but it will really walk you through how to show up, show your face, and speak your story, and how to do it in a way that is persuasively smart, that is intentional in the way that you show up. Okay, because we all know, yep, stories are important, and I know I should be telling stories, and I want to get out there. But when we do not prioritize stories in the way that we show up, we're really kind of missing out, missing out on the opportunities, missing out on the impact that we could really be having. So I want you to grab this, but actually what we're doing today is really thinking about how to leverage these opportunities. And the first thing that we, I, I wanna make sure that you understand The first thing that we do is we really need to commit more fully to the free stages because they're there, they're waiting for you, and they're actually a really powerful lead up to the big stages. Many times when people are looking for speakers, they go and watch them on the free stages first. How are they showing up? Are they engaging in those moments? Are they walking the talk? Are they an authority figure? How engaged are the— is their audience? So it's really a place for you to not just audition for the big stage, which is part of it, but it's also a place for you to practice all of the things that we want to be doing on the big stage. So your free stage is a place for you to— it's a playground. It's a really important, um, way for you to build that authority and the connection that we need and want in those big stage moments. But we need to commit to the free stages. So it can be overwhelming because there's a million things we're supposed to be doing in this world. As we're building our authority and growing our connections. So I'd love for you to, instead of just committing to, I'm going to show up all the time in all of the places, commit to one platform and commit for one week. So one of the resources that I have where we really take advantage and we kind of step-by-step handhold you on the, um, in terms of really how to use the Simple Story Framework. I call it the Speaking Confidently series, and it's awesome because every day— and you can grab it here at bemoove.com/confidently— they really go hand in hand really nicely. Well, here's why I think it's so great is because you will get an email every morning, early in the morning, with what I call a spark for the day. That is a prompt or an idea, a way in which you can show up. So if you commit fully for a week on one platform and you use the Simple Story Framework in this Speaking Confidently series, you have everything that you need, my friend. You have what you need so you can show up and Instead of being like, I don't know what to do, and I don't know how this is going to go, you've got a framework and you've got a spark or an idea for that content. Yes, it makes committing really, really easy. Pick one platform, use the framework, and if you need some additional handholding and support, grab the Speaking Confidently series. You get an email every day with an idea. And some tips on how to do it. So cool. Okay. I'm pretty jazzed about that. So once you are committed and you're on the platform, I think it's really important to be intentional in terms of how you share your content. And that's where these things come in. You've got your framework, you've got your Speaking Confidently series, and the framework here, and together those can really help solve the problem and the question for you on like, what do I share? How do I share it? Help me out. This series can really answer a lot of those questions for you. I also want to share with you a messaging hierarchy is how I think about it. This messaging hierarchy really orients all of your content and all of your messages to make sure that you're building the know, like, and trust factor around a specific idea. So let me explain this hierarchy for you. If you haven't seen it before, if you're listening on the podcast right now and you're not seeing this visual, it's essentially an umbrella. Okay. And underneath the umbrella are 3 big circles and each of those big circles have some smaller circles connected to it. So let me describe this for you. It's an umbrella and it's raining. Okay. The rain is your industry or your topic, right? It's, it's all of the people who also speak about some of the things that you speak about. Okay. And I want you to think of your umbrella. When you open that umbrella up, you're carving out a place that is just for you. For you. So it's like, what do you want to be known for is one way to think of your umbrella. I like to think about it as what's your little slice of the topic of that whole industry? What's kind of your take on that topic? What is your point of view? And that umbrella really creates your own little world underneath it that we are going to develop in terms of your content. So underneath this umbrella are those 3 bigger circles, and those 3 circles are what I call pillars. They are pillars around your content. They're ideas underneath your take, right? So for example, my topic area is speaking. That's a huge topic area, and I wanna carve out a little space that's just mine. That's my particular approach. That's on brand, right? That is very reflective of me and who I am. And my little take on that topic is that authenticity is what moves audiences, right? And your authentic story is the thing that will move your audience. Okay. That's my particular take. People have other takes in terms of how they show up and how they teach, but this is my core belief. In my topic that I want to be known for, and I'm going to build all of my content around that one idea. So underneath that one umbrella, I have a few different pillars around how we can show up authentically, how we can share our story. So those three pillars for me tend to look like storytelling is a huge pillar of mine. Okay. Signature talks and signature stories. What, how those interact and play, and then entrepreneurship and how to really show up in your business fully and authentically. Okay. Those are some examples. Now you might have a few more than 3 pillars, but you want to know what your key pillars are because you can build your stories and your content connected to those pillars. So the smaller circles related to those big circles, right? Your pillar circles are the stories that connect to those pillars. So we are kind of getting into the weeds on this. This is really important content strategy so that you're not just showing up and talking about random things. So if you're at a place in your speaking journey where you're like, okay, I want to, for instance, you're clear on your positioning in your industry, that's really your take on that topic, and you really want to start building authority around one of these pillars, well, you're going to develop and think about some stories related to that. You're going to pitch yourself on podcasts related to that. You're going to build your signature talk so that you are highlighting these pillars and these ideas. So they, they play a really important role in your content strategy and approach. And when you're showing up on your free stages, you want to make sure that what you're talking about is connected to those pillars and the stories that you're telling will ultimately lead and be, be in your message hierarchy so that it's intentional and it's all related and people go, oh yes, this is all connected. Sally, she's all about authentic stories. And that, that's how you move your audience. Okay. She's not into perfection and she's not into like obsessing over, you know, getting rid of all your filler words. Other people do that. That's not Sally's thing. Okay. And so everything is connected together. So when you're ready to show up on those free stages, okay, and you're committed to it, you can be strategic. And intentional around your content. Oh my gosh. So big. So important. Love it. Yes. So we're committed. We're really intentionally using content. And then last but not least, we're going to, and we're going to dip into the Simple Story framework here. Let me make sure everybody knows how to grab that. That's at bmoove.com/simplestory. SSF. The last thing I want you to be thinking about for this is that we follow the simple story framework when we do it. So whatever story you choose to share, whatever pillar it's related to, we are going to make sure that it is, it follows the framework: MMM. Moment, meaning, move. The basic idea around moment, meaning, move. Is it is a story-first approach. You start with the story, you start with the moment, then you connect that moment to the meaning you want your audience to take from that, and you tell them how to move from there. What is next? Moment, meaning, move. Okay. These free stages are here for you. They're waiting for you and they are yours to delve deeply into and to show up and ultimately serve and love your audience. The world is our oyster on these free stages. And so this, I hope, is, is helpful for you. Commit to one. Okay, just to review, commit to one platform. For at least a week. Every day you're going to show your face and share your voice. Okay? And you can, if you need some extra support, grab the framework here or grab the Speaking Confidently series, maybe both. Okay? They, they work really well together. The Speaking Confidently series is every day for a week. You'll get an email that will give you a spark for what content you can share that day. When you're ready, after you have committed and you're ready to be more intentional, you're gonna think about your content strategy and you might even think about your message hierarchy. What is your topic? What's your take on that topic? What are the pillars that live underneath your umbrella? And what are the stories related to those pillars? Even doing some brainstorming around your message hierarchy like this can be really clarifying in terms of making sure that when you're committed and you're showing up, you're being intentional with your content strategy. And then last but not least, whatever content you share, you are going to share it moment, meaning move. In other words, you're going to be speaking. Story first in your approach, which is the essence of the Simple Story Framework. Yes. Okay, my friends, this is a shorty and a goodie. This is really important stuff. This is at the core of your growth and development as a speaker. If you want to be seen as an authority figure on those big stages, you've gotta be doing this stuff in the everyday. Commit, use a content strategy, and moment, meaning, move, story first. Yay! All right, friends, we will see you soon.