This was a great conversation with Kathryn Yarborough because I had questions. We talked about payment or paying for speaking engagements, we talked about whether or not to use slides. We talked about the time involved. We talked about the backgrounds of speaking, and she had a lot of great advice and perspective on how she runs her. Speaking and what she’s done and things that we can think about.
Timeline
01:20 Getting to Know Kathryn
03:29 Kathryn’s Sweet Spot
04:48 Hosting Summits: Kathryn’s Passion
08:15 The Women Loving Life Summit Series
09:36 The Origin of ‘Small Business Sweet Spot’
11:47 Benefits of Speaking for Small Businesses
14:37 Getting Started with Speaking
19:32 Engaging Your Ideal Audience
21:25 Payment for Speaking Engagements
26:41 Overcoming the Fear of Public Speaking
28:53 Effective Use of Slides and Backgrounds
34:13 Optimal Presentation Lengths
37:25 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
If you’d like to learn more about Kathryn’s work or join her community, you can find her at:
Website: speakerswithheart.com
Facebook Group: Speakers With Heart
Listen On Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
If you’ve ever wondered whether public speaking is worth exploring as a small business owner, or you’re quietly curious but not sure where to begin, this conversation with Kathryn is packed with insights and encouragement.
She isn’t just a speaking coach; she’s a purpose-driven entrepreneur who knows exactly how visibility can elevate both your business and your message.
We started things off with a random question… Do you work better with music in the background or in total silence? For Kathryn and me, it’s all about quiet, especially for deep, focused work. It’s a great reminder that productivity isn’t one-size-fits-all. What really matters is finding the rhythm that works best for you.
From there, we got into Kathryn’s version of her “sweet spot.” I ask every guest about their sweet spot because it highlights that place where your passions, strengths, and value to others intersect. For Kathryn, that means coaching women coaches, healers, and on-purpose solopreneurs who want to use speaking as a way to attract clients.
While she’s built a career around mentoring and visibility, what really lights her up lately is hosting virtual summits. She’s hosted eight summits since May 2023, and she’s not slowing down. In fact, she’s now testing a new format… the Women Loving Life summit series, which includes five shorter, half-day summits centered on themes like purpose, healing, entrepreneurship, self-care, and manifestation.
What stands out most is her why. Kathryn thrives in the role of host because she gets to be fully present with each speaker, holding space for the energy of the room and keeping things engaging and meaningful. That’s not a job everyone can do well, but for her, it blends all of her strengths, deep listening, being visible, and connecting people with aligned opportunities.
If you’re like me and thinking about how speaking could support your business growth, there’s a lot to take away here. Let’s break down some of the highlights.
Speaking Builds Connection Quickly
One of the biggest benefits of speaking is how quickly it helps people get to know, like, and trust you. In a 20 to 30 minute presentation, an audience can feel your personality, energy, and values in a way that’s hard to replicate in a short-form social post or 30-second pitch.
As Kathryn puts it, when we show up as our full selves, vibrant and authentic, with valuable content to share, people connect with us on a deeper level. That connection builds trust, which often leads to new client relationships.
You Don’t Need a Perfect Setup to Begin
Getting started with speaking doesn’t require a polished keynote or a TED Talk-style performance. Kathryn recommends looking for simple, supportive ways to begin. That might be:
- Speaking at a small networking event
- Joining a group like Toastmasters to practice
- Applying to speak at an online summit, like the ones Kathryn hosts
In her summits, she guides speakers step-by-step through the process, from planning their presentation to sharing a free or VIP gift. It’s a low-pressure, high-support environment that makes it easy to get your first talk under your belt. And yes, you can absolutely be a beginner.
You Might Not Need Slides
Kathryn has strong opinions on this and they’re helpful. Most slide presentations are either too cluttered, poorly timed, or used as a crutch. If you don’t absolutely need slides to support your message, you’re better off going without them. Especially for virtual events, slides can take attention away from the speaker and reduce engagement.
If you do use slides, make sure you’re practiced and confident switching between them and your camera view. Otherwise, the technical fumbling can distract from your message.
Speaking Isn’t the Right Fit for Every Industry
If your business relies heavily on visuals or location-based services, like photography or local trades, speaking might not be the strongest marketing channel. In those cases, strong social content, visual storytelling, and community engagement may deliver better results.
But if you offer services where connection and trust are key, coaching, consulting, wellness, digital services, and similar industries, speaking can be a powerful way to grow your audience and client base.
If your topic is technical, like website design or traffic generation, consider how you frame your talk. Instead of a how-to walkthrough, focus on results, strategy, or storytelling. You can still educate, but do it in a way that connects emotionally and keeps your audience engaged.
Paid, Free, or Pay-to-Play? Here’s the Breakdown
We also talked about the often confusing topic of speaker compensation. Kathryn’s take is grounded in experience:
- If someone is offering to pay you and the audience is aligned, take the opportunity.
- If you’re speaking to attract clients, especially in the entrepreneur space, it’s often unpaid.
- In some cases, you may be asked to pay a speaker fee. Kathryn views this as a marketing expense.
Her own summits require a deposit that you can earn back by promoting the event. It’s collaborative, strategic, and gives speakers visibility, lead generation, and even client conversions when done well.
The Most Common Barrier is Fear
One of the biggest reasons people hold back from speaking is fear. Fear of being visible, fear of messing up, fear of not knowing what to say. Kathryn encourages anyone in that place to find safe ways to practice and build confidence. Toastmasters is a great resource for that. So are smaller community events or podcast guest appearances.
Kathryn herself doesn’t focus on helping people overcome stage fright, but she’s happy to support those who show up with courage and are ready to stretch. Once you’re past the initial nerves, she helps you become a more authentically vibrant speaker, someone who shows up fully, uses their natural voice, and connects with clarity and confidence.
What About Backgrounds and Setup?
We touched on the visuals too… backgrounds, camera quality, and setting. Kathryn prefers real, simple backgrounds over fake ones. She asks her speakers to keep it clean and uncluttered. Zoom backgrounds, while convenient, often distort your image or gestures, which can pull attention away from your face and your message.
Your setting should support your presence, not distract from it. That might mean adjusting your lighting, simplifying your shelves, or choosing one strong visual behind you that feels aligned with your brand.
Timing Tips for Your Talk
If you’re creating your own talk, here’s a quick guide from Kathryn on presentation length:
- For Facebook Lives or Reels, keep it under 2 minutes unless you’re teaching something specific.
- For event talks, aim for 20 to 30 minutes to deliver value and introduce a free or low-cost offer.
- For 45-minute sessions, you can go deeper or include a short exercise or journaling moment.
- For anything more expensive (like a program or 1:1 offer), invite people into a conversation instead of trying to sell on the spot.
The Takeaway
Kathryn’s takeaway is simple and solid… If you care about your message, if visibility matters for your business, and if connection is part of your growth strategy, then it’s worth developing your speaking skills. Whether that means starting with a summit, practicing in a safe group, or recording a few short videos, take the first step.
You never know who’s listening, and what it might open up for you.
If you’d like to learn more about Kathryn’s work or join her community, you can find her at:
- Website: speakerswithheart.com
- Facebook Group: Speakers With Heart
Whether you speak once or speak often, learning how to communicate with confidence is a skill that pays off for life and for business.
