Speaking to Sell: How Entrepreneurs Can Use Their Voice to Grow Their Business
Speaking to Sell: How Entrepreneurs Can Use Their Voice to Grow Their Business
By: Marta Sprik
If you’re a coach, consultant, or service-based entrepreneur, you’ve likely been told that public speaking is a great way to build authority.
But what if I told you that speaking isn’t just a visibility tool — it’s a powerful sales strategy?
As a TEDx speaker, performance coach, and visibility mentor, I work with business owners every day who feel stuck when it comes to using their voice strategically. They’re creating content, attending events, maybe even doing podcasts — but they’re not seeing results.
That’s because they haven’t learned how to Speak to Sell.
In this article, I’ll break down what that really means, why most entrepreneurs are doing it backwards, and how you can start speaking in a way that actually grows your business.
What Is Speaking to Sell?
Speaking to Sell is the ability to use your voice — whether on stage, on Zoom, or on social media — to create connection, build trust, and guide your audience toward working with you.
It’s not about pitching all the time.
It’s about learning how to:
- Share your story in a way that positions you as the expert
- Deliver a message that resonates deeply with your ideal clients
- Tie your visibility efforts directly to your offers and business goals
When done right, speaking becomes the fastest path to brand awareness, lead generation, and consistent sales.
Three Speaking Mistakes That Are Costing You Clients
Let’s look at the most common ways entrepreneurs unintentionally sabotage their speaking strategy.
1. Believing Speaking Only Happens on Big Stages
This is one of the most limiting beliefs I see: the idea that you have to “make it” before you can start speaking.
The truth is, you don’t need a TED Talk or a paid keynote to grow your business with your voice.
Speaking happens everywhere — in your Instagram stories, your DMs, your podcast interviews, and at your local networking group.
When you stop waiting for the perfect stage and start using the platforms you already have, you begin to create consistent traction.
2. Treating Speaking and Marketing as Separate Things
Many entrepreneurs treat speaking as optional — a side project that sits outside their core marketing efforts.
But if you want people to buy from you, they need to hear your message over and over in a clear, compelling way. That’s what speaking — and especially your signature talk — does.
Your talk becomes your content engine: you can repurpose it into emails, social posts, podcast pitches, and more. It becomes the foundation of your visibility and sales funnel.
3. Waiting for Paid Speaking Gigs Instead of Converting Free Ones
Getting paid to speak is exciting, but if you’re not turning free speaking opportunities into clients, you’re not ready to monetize the stage.
Free opportunities — like workshops, guest trainings, or interviews — can lead directly to sales when you know how to present your message and make aligned offers.
This is where a signature talk that converts becomes essential.
The Three Keys to a Speaking Strategy That Sells
If you want to use speaking to grow your business, stop chasing “big breaks” and start building these three foundational elements.
A Dialed-In Message
What you believe, who you help, and how you help them — spoken with clarity and conviction.
A Clear, Confident Offer
An offer you can invite people into naturally when you speak — with no pressure, just alignment.
A Signature Talk That Converts
A strategic, story-driven talk that moves your audience from “interested” to “I need this.”
When these three elements work together, every platform becomes the right stage, and every talk becomes a growth opportunity.
Final Thoughts: Speak with Purpose, Not Just Passion
You don’t need more content.
You don’t need a massive audience.
And you definitely don’t need to wait for someone to hand you a mic.
What you need is clarity, confidence, and a strategy behind your message.
When you learn to Speak to Sell, you stop hoping people “get” what you do — and start guiding them to say yes.
About the Author
Marta Spirk is a TEDx speaker, recording artist, and visibility and performance coach. She helps entrepreneurs grow their confidence, clarity, and client base by using their voice — online and on stage. Learn more at www.martaspirk.com
