If you are speaking more but not getting booked from your site, you aren’t alone. There is a gap that many health and fitness professionals fall into: the gap between a polished site and a persuasive one. It is easy to build a website that looks professional—clean lines, high-resolution photos of healthy food or gym setups, and a “Work With Me” button. But many professionals stall here, unsure of what actually moves the needle when trying to transition from “coach” to “speaker.”
This is about more than design. It is about your clarity, positioning, and authority.
Before we dive into the tactics, take a moment to reflect: How do you want to show up as a speaker, and what kind of work are you trying to attract? The answer to that question changes everything about how your website should be built.
Is a speaker website good for marketing?
You might view your website as just a brochure… a place to house your credentials (RD, CPT, MD) and a few links to your services. But in the speaking world, your website either reinforces or weakens your credibility before you ever get on the phone with an event organizer.
Speaking bios and PDF promo sheets are useful tools, but they are not substitutes for a website. A PDF is static; a website is an immersive environment that frames your voice, your values, and your thought leadership.
I’ve built dozens of speaker websites, and if you want to be known as a thought leader (author, speaker, podcaster, working with brands…) your website has to do more than list your coaching packages or meal plans. It needs to carry your point of view, because thought leadership isn’t about aesthetics or “good vibes.”
You’re going to need more authority signals and more personality. If your site looks and reads like every other wellness influencer’s, you’re invisible to the people booking stages, podcasts, and bylines.
That minimalist, clean, basic “this works fine” site isn’t enough.
Your website should make it immediately clear what you stand for, what you challenge (e.g., diet culture, hustle culture, outdated science), and what you’re known for. That usually looks like:
- A clear point of view that shows how you think, not just what you offer. Less “I help with weight loss…” and more “I’m the leading voice in sustainable performance nutrition…”
- Content that lives somewhere intentional—blogs, podcast episodes, or long-form resources that show range and substance beyond a 60-second reel.
- Photos and/or videos that show you on stage, with a mic, behind a camera, or on-set… whatever is relevant to the “lane” you’re going after.
- An About page that leads with credibility and lived experience.
- A media or speaking page (even if it feels premature). Include logos of features and clients, and include a speaking reel if you have it!
Do speakers need their own website?
This is one of the most common questions I get from experts who wear multiple hats. The answer depends on how distinct your audiences are.
- Scenario A: The “Same Audience” (One Website) If you coach high-performing executives on nutrition and you also speak to high-performing executives on nutrition, keep it on one site. Your speaking builds authority for your coaching, and your coaching proves you have current, in-the-trenches experience.
- Solution: Use a robust “Speaking” tab in your main navigation.
- Scenario B: The “Different Audience” (Separate Websites) If you run a local gym or a clinical practice (B2C) where you treat patients for gut health, but you want to speak to Fortune 500 companies about leadership and energy management (B2B), you likely need a separate site (or a very distinct landing page).
- Why? A corporate meeting planner might be confused by a site full of “Book a colonoscopy” or “Sign up for Yoga” buttons. It dilutes the perceived value of your corporate keynote.
- Solution: Build a dedicated “microsite” (e.g.,
YourNameSpeaker.com) or a completely distinct sub-brand that focuses purely on your corporate thought leadership.
When is it time to get a speaker website?
You need to decide if you are building a “speaking-only” brand or integrating speaking into your main clinical or coaching practice.
- The Pure Speaker: The site is the product. The goal is the keynote fee.
- The Integrated Expert: Speaking is a channel to drive 1:1 coaching, group programs, or book sales.
As a web designer who’s built dozens of speaking websites, I can tell you that your answer shapes the structure and voice of the site, because problems usually come up when you try to “split the difference” without a strategy. You end up with a homepage that confuses a potential coaching client (“Do they actually take patients?”) and confuses a corporate event organizer (“Are they a professional speaker or just a personal trainer who likes to talk?”).
Try the Clarity Test: Can a stranger land on your site and tell exactly what kind of speaker you are—and who you speak to—in under 10 seconds? If they have to scroll past three recipe posts and a transformation photo to figure it out, you’ve already lost them.
How is a speaker website different from a coaching website?
While a coaching website is designed to convert individuals, a speaker website is designed to convert organizations. This shift in audience requires a fundamental shift in structure and messaging.
- The Hero (Focus):
- Coaching Site: The focus is on the client’s pain. The imagery often shows the client looking happy or the result (e.g., a healthy meal, a gym setting). The copy feels intimate: “Are you tired of dieting?”
- Speaker Site: The focus is on your authority. The imagery must show you commanding a room or holding a microphone. The copy feels expansive and confident: “Helping organizations redefine workplace wellness.”
- The Call to Action (CTA):
- Coaching Site: “Book a Discovery Call” or “Apply for Coaching.” The barrier to entry is low, and the sales cycle is personal.
- Speaker Site: “Inquire for Availability” or “Check Dates.” This signals scarcity and professionalism. You aren’t asking for a chat; you are asking if they have the budget and dates to book you.
- The “Product”:
- Coaching Site: You are selling a process (a 12-week program, meal plans). You detail the “how-to.”
- Speaker Site: You are selling an event experience and a transfer of knowledge. You detail the “outcomes” and the “energy” of the room.
How many keynote topics should you list on your website?
The amount of keynotes listed on your website does not equal value. Curating your talks builds significantly more authority than listing every nutrition or fitness topic you’ve ever discussed.
When you list ten different keynotes ranging from “Keto Basics” to “Corporate Burnout” to “Post-Partum Fitness,” you dilute your expertise. Organizers are looking for a specialist, not a generalist.
Position your talks around outcomes and insights, not just catchy titles. Instead of a laundry list, choose your top three “signature talks.” If you have overlapping topics (like “Stress Management” and “Sleep Hygiene”), consolidate them. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel; you just need to package your existing expertise into distinct buckets that solve specific problems for the audience.
How do event organizers evaluate speaker websites?
When a meeting planner or conference organizer lands on your site, they are usually in a rush, and they are balancing a high-stakes risk. If they hire a bad speaker, they look incompetent to their boss or board. They evaluate your site through a lens of risk mitigation.
They are scanning for three specific signals in the first 30 seconds:
- “Have they done this before?” (Proof of Stage): They look immediately for video or photos of you on a stage. If all they see are selfies, podcast screenshots, or photos of you in a kitchen, they assume you are an amateur. They need visual proof that you can handle a crowd, not just a webcam.
- “Are they safe?” (The Vetting Check): They scan for logos of past clients, clear testimonials from other organizers, and professional branding. In the corporate wellness space, they are also looking for scientific credibility (e.g., credentials like RD, MD, PhD) to ensure you won’t preach fad diets that could cause HR liability issues.
- “Will they fit my theme?” (Relevance): They read your talk titles. If your titles are vague (“Be Healthy”), they will pass. If your titles are specific and outcome-driven (“The Science of Stress Resilience for Sales Teams”), they know exactly where to slot you in the agenda.
What makes a speaker website more effective?
Organizers represent an audience. They want to know: Will this person fix a problem? Will they wake the audience up after lunch? Will they leave the attendees with actionable habits?
Spotlight the impact of your work without sounding salesy.
- Bad: “I have a PhD in Nutrition and I speak about macronutrients.”
- Good: “I help high-performing teams avoid the 3 PM energy crash so they can finish the quarter strong.”
Reflect on what organizers are really looking for when they visit your site. They aren’t looking for a resume; they are looking for a sure thing.
What should a speaker website include?
Don’t build pages just to fill space on your website. Every section of your site should serve a specific purpose: creating trust or driving a booking.
1. The Essentials (Must-Haves)
- The “Sizzle” Reel: A 60–90 second video montage showing you on stage, high energy, interacting with audiences. (If you don’t have a reel yet, use high-quality clips of you teaching or being interviewed).
- Signature Talk Descriptions: 3 distinct topics. Not just titles, but outcomes. (e.g., “The Sleep Solution for Corporate Leaders”).
- Authority Logos: A “featured in” or “trusted by” banner with logos of past clients, media outlets, or conferences. Place this high up.
- High-Res Speaker Headshots: Professional photos that look like a speaker (not just a fitness model). Think: confident, approachable, polished.
- The “Short” Bio: A 150-word version of your bio specifically designed for event programs and introductions.
- A Clear Inquiry Form: Don’t just list an email address. Use a form that asks: Event Date, Budget Range, and Audience Type.
2. The Differentiators (Thought Leadership)
- Your Methodology: A section or graphic that explains how you get results. (e.g., “The 3-Step Vitality Framework”).
- Meeting Planner Resources: A downloadable link to your “One-Sheet” (a PDF summary of your talks) and AV requirements. Make the organizer’s life easy.
- The “Credibility” Signal: Specific mentions of your credentials (RD, MD, CSCS) woven into the copy, proving you are science-backed, not just a trend-follower.
- Testimonials from Decision Makers: Quotes from HR Directors, Event Planners, or CEOs—not just attendees.
3. The Content Engine
- Recent Media/Press: Links to podcast interviews or articles where you have been featured.
- Blog/Articles: Content that proves you have a unique Point of View (POV) on industry hot topics.
How to use testimonials as a speaker
There is a distinct difference between a client review and a credibility signal.
A testimonial says, “She helped me lose 10 pounds and I feel great!” A credibility signal says, “Her keynote fundamentally changed how our executive team views recovery and performance.”
You must edit and structure your testimonials for clarity and resonance. Bold the key phrases. Cut the fluff. And remember, the source of the quote matters as much as the content. A quote from a satisfied gym member is nice for “social proof,” but a quote from the HR Director at a Fortune 500 company is a “trust signal.”
Ask yourself: Who could offer a powerful quote beyond your typical 1:1 clients? A conference organizer? A fellow author in the health space? A corporate wellness director?
How to setup your Home page as a speaker
Your website acts as a velvet rope, so it should gently signal the types of events or audiences you do not serve. If you only speak to corporate executives about high-performance health, your copy should repel requests for free community center workshops. If you only do paid keynotes, your site should implicitly filter out “exposure only” gigs.
Making your “No” easier starts with your copy. By being hyper-specific about who you help (e.g., “I speak exclusively to women in leadership”), you save yourself the time of replying to inquiries that were never going to work out.
When an organizer lands on your home page, they scan it in a “Z” pattern. They are looking for reasons to rule you out. Here is how to structure your homepage, from top to bottom, to keep them engaged.
1. The Hero Section (Above the Fold)
- Visual: You with a microphone, on stage, or commanding a room. No generic stock photos of fruit or dumbbells.
- Headline: Your primary promise or title (e.g., “The Nutrition Strategist for High-Performance Executives”).
- Sub-headline: Who you help and the transformation you provide.
- CTA: “Inquire to Speak” or “Check Availability.”
2. The Trust Bar
- Visual: A grayscale or muted strip of logos.
- Content: “Trusted by,” “As seen in,” or “Keynoted at.” This answers the question: Is this person legit?
3. The “Thought Leader” POV Statement
- Content: This is where you separate yourself from the influencers. A brief paragraph stating what you believe or what problem you solve differently.
- Example: “Wellness isn’t about doing more; it’s about recovering better. I teach organizations how to use biology to fuel business growth.”
4. The Sizzle Reel (Video)
- Content: Embed your speaking reel here. If you don’t have one, feature a high-quality clip of a podcast interview or a workshop.
- Context: Add a caption: “See [Name] in action.”
5. Signature Talks (The Menu)
- Structure: A 3-column section highlighting your main keynotes.
- Content: Title of the talk + 3 bullet points on what the audience will learn.
- CTA: “View Full Descriptions.”
6. The “Guide” Bio
- Visual: A friendly, professional portrait (perhaps in a more casual, “lifestyle” setting, like a kitchen or gym, but still polished).
- Content: Establish empathy and authority. Why are you the person to deliver this message? Mention your degrees/certs here.
7. Testimonials
- Structure: One or two powerful quotes with the headshot of the person giving the quote.
- Focus: Focus on the impact of the talk on the organization.
8. Footer / Final CTA
- Content: “Ready to energize your next event?”
- Button: “Book [Name] for your next event.”
What I see when speaker sites don’t convert
I’ve reviewed dozens of websites for health and fitness professionals who want to speak. When a site isn’t generating inquiries, it is rarely because the person isn’t talented. It is almost always because the site is failing to signal “Professional Speaker.”
Here are the three most common failures I see:
1. The “Coach” Trap The homepage is 90% focused on 1:1 coaching, meal plans, or app subscriptions. The “Speaking” page is buried in a drop-down menu or treated as an afterthought.
- The Result: Organizers assume you are a full-time clinician or trainer who is too busy to travel, or that speaking is just a hobby for you.
- The Fix: If you want to be booked, “Speaker” needs to be a primary identity on your homepage, not a footnote.
2. The “Influencer” Aesthetic The site is beautiful, but the imagery is all gym selfies, food photography, or lifestyle shots of you laughing at a salad.
- The Result: You look like an influencer, not an expert. Corporate decision-makers hesitate because they can’t visualize you in a suit or business casual attire commanding a boardroom or a conference stage.
- The Fix: Swap the “lifestyle” shots for “authority” shots. You need photos of you holding a microphone, standing at a lectern, or teaching a group.
3. The “Passion” Pitch The copy focuses entirely on your passion for health, your personal journey, or your philosophy.
- The Result: This works for coaching clients who want to like you, but it fails with organizers who need to hire you. They don’t pay for passion; they pay for problems to be solved.
- The Fix: Stop selling your story. Start selling the impact your story has on their audience.
If you want to turn a passive website into a booking engine, the single fastest shift you can make is renaming your talks.
Move away from clever, vague titles (e.g., “Balance and Bliss”) and toward outcome-driven titles that solve expensive problems (e.g., “The Burnout Antidote: How to Sustain High Performance Without the Crash”). When an organizer sees a title that solves a problem they are currently losing sleep over, they stop browsing and start inquiring.
You don’t need a perfect website to get booked; you need a clear one. And the beautiful thing about digital real estate is that you can refine it over time. As you speak more, your site will evolve.
A stronger website makes it easier to close deals and shortens the trust gap.
If you are ready to stop leaving bookings on the table, I can help. Work with me to make sure your website is carrying that weight and helping you get invited into bigger rooms.
FAQs About Building a Speaker Website
What if I speak on multiple topics (e.g., Nutrition, Movement, and Mindset)? Find the “Red Thread” that connects them. Perhaps your overarching theme is “Longevity” or “Executive Performance.” Market the philosophy, and offer the specific topics (food, movement, stress) as the different lenses through which you teach that philosophy.
Do I need a separate speaker website or can it be part of my main coaching site? If speaking is a pillar of your main business (e.g., you are a dietitian who speaks to get clients), keep it on one site under a “Speaking” tab. If speaking is a distinct business with a different audience than your clinic (e.g., you treat patients locally but speak corporately), a separate site might be clearer.
What if I’m early in my speaking career? Lean on your “subject matter expertise.” You might not have 50 stages under your belt, but you have years of experience in the clinic or the gym. Lead with your unique perspective and the value you bring, rather than the number of gigs you’ve done.
Should I include pricing or speaker fees on the site? Generally, no. Speaker fees vary based on travel, customization, and event type. However, you can use phrases like “investments starting at…” to qualify leads if you are getting too many low-budget inquiries.
Can I use a template, or does it need to be custom-designed? You don’t need to blow up your business or leave Squarespace to do this. Most of the time, the structure is fine. The site just isn’t carrying its share of the weight.
