Want to use public speaking as a way to spread your message to the world and attract clients that you can support? It can be challenging to come up with a great topic that will resonate with your audience to the point of generating lots of speaking opportunities. Here are a few things to know:

Already have an audience but no topic? Believe it or not, sometimes we get asked to speak without having a topic prepared! No worries, though:

• Do a pre-event interview with 5 potential audience members. Find out what's on their minds and in their hearts.
• Do a survey of the entire group via email, or use an on-line tool like surveymonkey.com
• Read their recent past correspondence (newsletters, message boards, etc.)

Don't have an audience yet?

• Develop your own central message (mine is "The World Needs Your Gift!") and build a speech around your message
• Check the covers of major magazines for topic ideas - the headlines are what's selling these days. This works for both personal magazines as well as business-based magazines
• Tap into chat rooms on-line
• Check the listings of the prominent national speakers (your local speakers association can help or go to the National Speakers Association website)

Want something suitable for most audiences? People set goals in one, two or all of three major areas in their life:

• health
• finances
• relationships