I really get it. You have a burning desire to give a TEDx talk.
It's the ultimate way to make an impact and gain exposure. You love being on the stage. You want to share your voice and be seen and heard. For so many of the entrepreneurs, coaches, authors and professionals I work with, a TEDx talk sits right at the top of the wish list.
Here's the problem. Most people start in the wrong place. They search for events, fill out applications and hope. But by the time you apply, the organizers are judging work you should have done months earlier.
So let me walk you through what I'd want you to have in place before you ever hit submit, and what to do after the talk so it actually pays off.
How TEDx Works
TEDx events are independently organized under a free license from TED. Each event has its own local organizing team, its own theme and its own way of choosing speakers. Some events accept open applications, some take nominations and some invite speakers directly. Talks are usually short, often well under 18 minutes, and TED's guidelines ask speakers to share an idea rather than sell a product, service or book from the stage.
That means there's no single front door. The practical route is to find events in your region or industry, follow them, learn how each one selects speakers, and show up ready when their window opens. Always check the specific event's own website for its process and timelines. We've even hosted a free class with TEDx coach Brian Miller on exactly this, because so many of our speakers asked.
What every organizing team is looking for is the same: a clear idea worth sharing, from someone who can deliver it well. Everything below is about becoming that speaker.
What You Need Before You Apply
1. Know Your Message First
All of this starts with one thing: your message.
The biggest mistake I see is people setting out to write a talk before they know what they actually want to say. When I take speakers through the process of amplifying their message, we start with their values. Then we clarify the impact they want to make. Then we go deep on the message and refine it until it's sharp. Only then do we look for the stories that deliver it.
Before you think about which event to apply to, write your message in one sentence. If you can't, that's your first job.
2. Make It Clear and Universal
A TEDx talk is built around an idea, not a biography. A personal story has to carry a message that is clear and universal. Your audience should leave with something that applies to their own lives, even if they've never lived anything like your experience.
Here's a test I love. Can someone who has never met you repeat your idea to a friend the next day? If the idea only makes sense with your whole life story attached, it isn't ready yet. Narrow it until it stands on its own.
3. Find Your Signature Story
Once the message is clear, choose the story that delivers it. Working in that order keeps the talk focused, and it's how we coach every speaker in our Momentum Membership.
On a short stage, you have room for one strong story, told as a specific moment rather than a summary of your life. And please, skip the long setup. Go right into your story. Be captivating. Be entertaining.
The landscape has shifted and the name of the game is attention. You need to grab it, and hold it!
4. Get Stage Experience and Footage
Organizers are taking a risk on every speaker they invite. Video of you delivering a talk to a live audience is one of the best ways to reduce that risk. It shows you can hold a room, keep to time and handle nerves.
And you will have nerves. Everyone does. The answer is reps. Every live talk you give before your TEDx makes the big day feel more familiar. Learn your talk so well that you never need your phone or your notes. Keep your eyes up, and your connection to the audience.
This is one of the things I love most about Speaker Slam®, which Dan and I have been running since 2016. Competition raises adrenalin... it brings out the best in people. Our speakers deliver a short talk on a real stage, in front of a live audience and judges, and they leave with professional video, stage photos and the confidence that comes from doing it. Our speaking competition is less about the immediate win, and more about the long term victory.
Our speakers have gone on to TEDx stages. Our 2017 champion, Joze Piranian, went on to take the TEDx stage. Marjorie Aunos, our 2021 Inspirational Speaker of the Year, worked with Brian Miller on her TEDx talk. You can see more of what our alumni have gone on to do on our success stories page.
5. Build Momentum
Momentum is the name of our membership for a reason. Your personal momentum begins the minute you start.
Momentum can come through social media, award nominations, press and publicity, podcasts, blogs, documentaries, and paid and unpaid speaking. Every one of those is visible proof that you're doing the work.
When an organizer looks you up, momentum is what they find. A speaker with recent talks, published ideas and visible engagement is an easier yes than a speaker with a strong application and nothing behind it. If you want a stage to start on, take a look at our upcoming competitions.
After the Talk: Leverage It
Now for the uncomfortable question.
But... Who's paying you???
At the end of the day, none of these pieces are life-changing unless you leverage them.
I believe paid speaking is 80% marketing. It's about leverage. It's taking a win and building upon it.
And what does leverage look like?
It means building your network of people who can provide you with opportunities.
It means building your credibility and expertise so that you become a bookable speaker.
It means building momentum so that people pay attention to you and recognize your greatness.
A TEDx talk is a powerful asset, but it does nothing sitting quietly online. Before your talk goes live, plan how you'll use it:
Put it everywhere a buyer looks. Your speaker page, your one-sheet, your LinkedIn profile and your email signature.
Turn it into a paid talk. Your TEDx idea can become the core of a longer keynote or workshop that organizations will pay for. That's exactly the kind of work we do in our speaker training.
Follow up with everyone in the room. Organizers, fellow speakers and attendees who reached out are the start of your network.
Keep creating. One talk is a spark. A steady stream of clips, posts and appearances is what keeps the opportunities coming.
A Quick Readiness Checklist
Before you apply to any TEDx event, see if you can say yes to each of these:
- I can state my core message in one sentence.
- My idea makes sense to someone who doesn't know my story.
- I have one specific story that delivers the idea.
- I have recent video of me speaking to a live audience.
- If an organizer searched my name today, they'd find evidence of my work.
- I know what I'll do with the talk once it's published.
If you answered no to any of them, you know where to start. So, which one is yours?
Keep reading: How to Find Your Signature Story for a Speech · How to Get Over Stage Fright: What Experienced Speakers Do Differently · How to Build Momentum as a Speaker After One Big Win
Your Next Step
The fastest way to get stage experience, professional footage and real momentum is to take a stage that's built for it. Apply to compete at Speaker Slam® and start building the foundation every TEDx organizer looks for.