When you think about networking and becoming known in your community, one thing that may not have come to mind is teaching. Many local communities have organisations that need experts from the community to teach on different subjects.
Look for the Center for Lifelong Learning. You likely have a local one that you can start with. In addition, find local groups that need speakers to teach something.
College Clubs
These clubs often need free speakers to teach something to their groups at their monthly meetings. This will help you practice your skills, but it will also help connect you with the college in a new way as an expert.
Organisations
Look for a list of business organisations (often they’re Chamber Members) in your area, then send each one a list of the things you can teach their members along with examples of your work if you’ve recorded yourself. You will more than likely get called the first time to replace someone last minute. Be ready.
Networking Events
In some cases, people who plan networking events also need speakers or people who will act as an MC. You can get yourself on the list by joining your local speaker’s bureau or by directly contacting event organizers.
Learning Centres
We mentioned the Center for Lifelong Learning, but there are other learning environments locally that may work for you. For example, some communities have women business centres, minority business centres, and so forth. You can teach something even if you’re not part of the specific community.
Online Courses
You can also set up online courses using software like Teachable.com. Then target your local community with the lessons by using a targeted Facebook advertisement to get the word out.
Publish a Book
Another great way to teach what you know is to write and publish a “how-to” book of some kind. You can fit this into any niche. ItÂ’s also very easy to self-publish today. You can do it right through Amazon Kindle.
Churches
Sometimes smaller churches have openings for speakers on Sunday. The reason is they may have a pastor who is on break and they want to bring information to their congregation. You’ll want to look for slightly alternative churches to send your information to, along with your book and one sheet so that they know what you’ll talk about. Some churches even pay you by sharing the plate or by allowing you to set up a table to sell your books and information before and after your talk.
These are all ways that you can teach what you know to get known better in your community.
If you think of any talk or speech as simply teaching what you know, it may be easy for you to do it if even if you’re nervous. You can practice at home, on YouTube, via Facebook Live or other means to get more comfortable teaching what you know.
