Public Speaking for Solopreneurs: Grow on Social

A lot of solopreneurs treat public speaking like a “nice-to-have.” The reality is harsher: if you’re the business, your voice is the marketing channel. And in 2026, when organic reach is inconsistent and paid ads are pricey, the ability to communicate clearly on camera, on a podcast, in a webinar, or on a stage is one of the few advantages you can build that competitors can’t copy overnight.

That’s why SPI Media bringing Nausheen I. Chen into its Experts in Residence program matters for anyone building a solo business—especially if your growth plan includes social media marketing in the US. Nausheen is a public speaking coach, a three-time TEDx speaker, and a former Fortune 50 manager who helps entrepreneurs and executives communicate with more impact.

This post is part of our Small Business Social Media USA series, and I’m going to make a direct argument: better speaking is better social media. Not motivationally—mechanically. When you speak well, your content gets clearer, your hooks get sharper, your offers sound more confident, and your audience trusts you faster.

Why public speaking is a social media growth skill (not a separate thing)

Public speaking for solopreneurs isn’t limited to conference stages. It shows up in places you’re already trying to win:

• A 30-second Instagram Reel explaining your offer
• A LinkedIn video where you teach one idea
• A live Q&A where you handle objections in real time
• A podcast interview where you need to sound credible fast
• A sales call where you need to lead the conversation

Here’s the simplest way to think about it: every piece of content is a mini-presentation. The platform changes, but the job stays the same:

“Hold attention, make a point, and earn the next step.”

Nausheen I. Chen’s background (TEDx + executive coaching + Fortune 50 experience) is relevant because solopreneurs need both sides of communication:

• The performance side (clarity, confidence, presence)
• The strategy side (structure, persuasion, message discipline)

If your content doesn’t convert, it’s usually not because you chose the wrong platform. It’s because your message isn’t landing.

The 2026 reality: attention is expensive, clarity is cheap

In the past year, I’ve seen more creators in the US shift from “post more” to “say it better.” Frequency still matters, but clarity compounds. Clear messages:

• get shared more
• get remembered longer
• lead to fewer “Can you explain what you do?” DMs
• convert lurkers into leads

And that last point is the whole campaign goal: LEADS.

What an “Expert in Residence” actually gives a solopreneur

SPI Media’s Experts in Residence Program (within SPI Pro) is built around a straightforward idea: entrepreneurs grow faster when they can get guided by people who’ve already solved the problems they’re facing.

That matters because solopreneurs don’t usually have:

• a communications director to polish messaging
• a PR team to prep interviews
• a coach to run rehearsal reps before a webinar

Expert mentorship fills that gap. It compresses the timeline between “I think I know what to say” and “I can say it on demand, under pressure, and it lands.”

Nausheen’s clients have included LinkedIn creators and executives from major companies (as noted in SPI’s announcement), and many have spoken on platforms like TEDx and in major media. The important takeaway for you isn’t celebrity. It’s process.

“Confidence is often just competence you can repeat.”

When you get coaching, you stop guessing.

Community is the hidden distribution channel

This is the part most small business owners underrate: a strong community isn’t just support—it’s testing and feedback at scale.

Inside an entrepreneur community, you can:

• workshop a hook before posting it publicly
• practice a talk before pitching it
• get real critique on delivery (not just “Looks good!”)
• borrow frameworks that already work

For small business social media in the US, that’s huge. Platforms reward consistency, and communities help you stay consistent because you aren’t creating alone.

The “solo business speaking stack”: what to improve first

If you’re building your brand on social, you don’t need to become a motivational speaker. You need a repeatable system.

Here’s the stack I’d prioritize (and what I’d expect a strong public speaking coach to help with).

1) Message: one sentence that’s hard to misunderstand

Most solopreneur bios fail because they’re written for peers, not buyers.

A better target is:

• Who you help
• What problem you solve
• What outcome they get

Example (template):

“I help [specific person] go from [painful problem] to [measurable outcome] using [your method].”

Now translate that into social content pillars. If you can’t say it cleanly out loud, you won’t write it cleanly in captions.

2) Structure: the 45-second “micro-talk” that fuels content

For social media marketing, your best asset is a repeatable structure for short-form video. Try this 45-second format:

1. Hook (5–8 seconds): name the problem in plain language
2. Reframe (10 seconds): explain what most people get wrong
3. Fix (20 seconds): give one actionable step
4. Next step (5–7 seconds): invite the right CTA

This prevents rambling—rambling kills retention.

3) Delivery: calm, specific, and a little faster than you think

Most people speak too slowly on camera because they’re “trying to be clear.” The result is the opposite: they sound uncertain.

A practical delivery checklist for video:

• End sentences decisively (no upward “question tone”)
• Use fewer filler words; replace with a 1-second pause
• State numbers cleanly (e.g., “three steps,” “two mistakes,” “one rule”)
• Look at the lens on key lines (especially the hook and CTA)

Good delivery isn’t theater. It’s control.

4) Objection handling: your content should answer doubts on purpose

Leads don’t stall because they need more tips. They stall because they don’t trust the outcome or the fit.

Build content that speaks directly to the objections you hear:

• “I don’t have time.”
• “I tried that already.”
• “Will this work for my niche?”
• “Do I need a big audience?”

Turn each objection into:

• a Reel
• a LinkedIn post
• a live segment
• a webinar slide

Public speaking skill shows up here as composure: you can address objections without sounding defensive.

How to turn public speaking into a lead engine on social media

You want a system that creates leads without adding 20 hours of content work. Speaking skills help because they increase output quality with the same time.

Build one talk, then atomize it

Create one 12–15 minute “signature talk” that matches your offer.

Example talk outline:

• The costly mistake your audience makes
• The simple model to fix it
• A quick win they can implement today
• A case example (even if it’s your own story)
• The offer as the next logical step

Then atomize:

• 10 hooks from the opening minute
• 5 “myth vs reality” clips
• 3 teaching clips (30–60 seconds)
• 2 story clips (before/after)
• 1 full recording for YouTube

This is where public speaking for solopreneurs directly becomes small business social media content.

Use a “confidence CTA” that doesn’t sound needy

A lot of CTAs fail because they’re either too vague (“Let me know your thoughts”) or too aggressive.

Try a confident, specific CTA:

• “If you want my checklist for this, comment ‘CHECKLIST’ and I’ll send it.”
• “If you’re trying to fix this in the next 30 days, DM me ‘PLAN’.”
• “If you want help applying this to your business, I have two consult slots next week.”

Notice: clear action + clear fit.

People also ask: public speaking and social media for small business

Do I need to be extroverted to do public speaking?

No. Extroversion isn’t the requirement—structure is. Introverts often perform better because they prepare. The win is having a repeatable talk format you can rely on.

What’s the fastest way to sound more confident on video?

Script the first two sentences (hook + promise) and rehearse them until they’re automatic. Most shaky delivery happens in the opening 10 seconds.

How often should a solopreneur post video?

If your goal is leads, I’d rather see 2 strong videos per week than 7 rushed ones. Consistency matters, but clarity drives conversions.

What should I talk about if I feel like I’m repeating myself?

Repeat yourself on purpose. Your audience isn’t seeing every post. Strong brands are built on useful repetition, not novelty.

Why Nausheen I. Chen’s role matters for solopreneur marketing

SPI Media’s announcement is a signal: serious entrepreneur communities are treating communication as a core business skill, not a soft skill. Nausheen I. Chen joining SPI’s Experts in Residence lineup brings focused support for entrepreneurs who want to speak with impact and confidence—the kind that shows up in content, sales, and partnerships.

If you’re a one-person business, you don’t get to hide behind a brand voice. You are the voice. Improving how you speak will improve:

• your short-form video retention
• your webinar conversions
• your podcast guest performance
• your sales calls
• your referrals

And if you’re building within the Small Business Social Media USA ecosystem, this is a durable advantage: algorithms change, but clear communication stays valuable.

What would happen to your 2026 pipeline if your next 10 videos were 20% clearer—and your next webinar sounded like you belonged there?