Tips for booking your first TEDx Talk

The checklist for booking a TEDxTalk used to be limited to:

• Are you famous?

• Do you have a number one best-selling book on your topic?

• Are you the head of a thriving business?

• Are you the top thought leader in your field?

And while these things are important and will help you book multiple speaking events around the world, TEDx has substantially changed in the past few years as more and more local TEDxTalks are popping up in every major city around the world.

A TED speaker’s worst nightmare

Many people think you need a best-selling book, a thriving business enterprise, or a slew of advanced degrees in order to talk at a TEDx conference, but that is simply not the case.

You can talk at TEDx if you have a good pitch.

Colin Robertson did a TED Talk where he barely said anything.

He didn't make a point or attempted to share a world-changing message, but his TED Talk made waves at the 2012 conference.

Some people call the talk by its original title, which was “Solar-powered crowdsourced health care solution”, but it’s been officially named the “TED speaker’s worst nightmare”.

The point is that you don’t need a message that will change the world, get creative and offer something new that will energize and engage the audience.

Here are 6 tips for booking your first TEDxTalk

1. Work on the subject of your talk for a long time

Napoleon Hill spent almost 20 years researching his book before he wrote the one of the top ten bestselling books in the United States, “Think and Grow Rich”.

Can you imagine the difference between a TEDxTalk from Napoleon Hill after his first year of research and again after his twentieth year?

Whatever you intend to talk about, make sure it something that demands thought and attention.

Even if you are only talking about why people have a tendency to oversleep in a morning, you need to give it some deep, in-depth, passionate thought and research before you present it.

Try to show people a side of an issue that they haven't seen before.

2. Make sure your title is attention grabbing - in a mature way

If you are not famous, if you do not have a number one best-selling book, and if you are not the head of a thriving business, then what you need is a fantastic pitch for your talk.

You need an attention-grabbing title that is more mature and honest than the attention-grabbing titles you see on spam/clickbait/fake-news ads. Don’t opt for, “6 secrets that big insurance companies don't want you to know,” and instead opt for something such as “Do schools kill creativity?” and “This is what happens when you reply to spam email.”

3. Gather support on social media

This strategy didn't seem to work until just recently.

Place a series of polls/surveys on social media asking people if they would watch and support you if you gave a TEDxTalk, and then outline your pitch to them.

A few polls and a lot of people supporting you from social media is not a guaranteed way of getting a slot at TEDx, but it can help.

It is an achievable element that you can add into the mix when requesting a slot at TEDx.

4. Don’t worry about the quality of the TEDx event

There are 4,500 TEDx events in 166 countries.

While some of the events are a little more lackluster than others, don’t worry about it, because it doesn't really matter.

When your video is published online, it will have a similar impact as any TEDxTalk. When it comes to getting booked for future events, having done a TEDx Talk helps.

A typical TEDx event receives between 50 and 250 applications to fill 10 to 15 spots, which is not bad odds.

It is a great stepping stone to getting on the TEDGlobal stage.

5. Apply to as many as you can

You can apply for as many talks as you like, and you can apply all around the world.

If you didn’t get a place in your local TEDx event, don’t be discouraged, try the same event next year or the TEDx event in a nearby town or state.

If you are having a lot of trouble writing your pitch our creating the outline for your talk, then try a writing service or get the help of a more experienced speaker or mentor who can work with you on preparing a strong pitch and application.

6. Get a personal friend or colleague to host a TEDx Event

While event organizers are not allowed to talk at their own TEDx events, if you are really stuck and you have tried everything to get a slot in a TEDx event, then, while helping provide the funding, have a colleague or friend arrange a TEDx event in your city.

It is a long way to go in order to get a position to speak at a TEDx event, but it is probably one of the only sure-fire ways of getting a spot.

About the Author:

William Grigsby started his career as HR manager. Now he works mostly for students, but has also been published in the academic press and on several high ranking websites, which include Business Insider, Windman,  LiveStrong, New Scientist, and BBC.