Pulling this out of a reply because I think it's worth saying for the record:
Speaking at a conference is a form of highly visible, legible social capital.
Many people overestimate the economic leverage of it, which is IMHO relatively low for non-professional speakers.
Speaking at a conference is a form of highly visible, legible social capital.
Many people overestimate the economic leverage of it, which is IMHO relatively low for non-professional speakers.
Disclaimer: I've spoken at a few conferences, can calculate pretty directly the economic return from doing so as a consultant, and while it is a large number relative to my expectations growing up it a small number relative to working in the tech industry in relative obscurity.
Will also point out that many people think that conference talks are a way to get promotions or consulting gigs and that sales is a far, far more effective way of getting both of those things, and very few conference speakers have the relative investment in sales that implies.
