Speaking at Summits: a guide to grow your creative buisness fast with the magic of virtual summits

Speaking at Summits is an opportunity that designers can use to rapidly and effectively grow their businesses. Of all the collaborative marketing opportunities discussed in this series, this one is head and shoulders above all the rest for growing an email list. And also one of my personal favourites.

In this post, I will cover what virtual summits are, why they are so beneficial for designers, crafters, and etsy sellers. I will look at how speaking at summits will help you grow your business, as well as where to find opportunities and coming up with ideas for topics, what you need to do, step by step if accepted as a speaker at a summit, and the pros and cons of speaking at summits.

This is post 4 in a series on collaborative marketing for designers. You might also want to check out blog hops and roundup posts.
This post is ideally for any crochet designer, knitting designer, sewing designer, quilting designer and anyone else who teaches a craft and sells or distributes instructions or patterns. It is about how you can use speaking at a summit to grow your email list and your business. It is not about running a summit, which is a whole extra topic. As with the rest of this series, this post is aimed at the newer designer confused by all the many marketing opportunities, wanting to know which is right for them.

Tl/dr (‘too long, didn’t read’ summary)

Speaking at virtual summits is the most effective way for designers to grow their email lists quickly. Summits are multi-day online events with talks, community engagement, and tiered access (free vs. paid passes). As a speaker, you’ll gain 100–400+ new newsletter subscribers per summit, build credibility, and potentially earn affiliate income or speaker fees. All while connecting with a highly engaged audience. The key? Align your topic with your business (e.g., teach crochet techniques if you sell crochet patterns) and prepare a strong lead magnet (freebie) to capture emails. Opportunities are often shared in designer forums (e.g., Ravelry, Facebook groups). The process involves submitting a topic proposal, creating a 20-minute presentation, and offering tiered freebies

What is a Virtual Summit?

A virtual summit is a large, multi-day online event that gathers an audience united by a shared interest in a specific topic. It features daily talks and presentations, often with a community element. This is typically a Facebook group or another online space. Here participants can engage, ask questions, and connect with speakers and each other.
Summits usually operate on a tiered access system:
• Free tier: Participants can view presentations live (or for a limited time) but have restricted access to downloads and extras.
• Paid tier (upsell): Attendees who purchase a “pass” get extended access to presentations, plus additional downloads, freebies, or bonus content.
Understanding this structure is key to maximizing your impact as a speaker.

The participants experience of a summit

I attended quite a few summits as a participant, before I ever spoke at one. What stands out for me is this. A summit needs to give a lot. Because it asks a lot of its participants, too. Even for a freebie seeker like me, who is rather frugal, and unlikely to shell out for the extra pass. I come out the other end of a summit utterly exhausted. It’s 3 days on average of high impact learning. And a bit more socialising than I would like. So even those participants who aren’t paying, are still giving. They are giving their precious energy, their precious time. It’s a far higher stakes event than the blog hops or round up posts we have covered already.

That said, I have loved the experience of some of the summits I’ve attended as a participant. Some on crafts such as knitting or crochet, some on blogging, some on specific aspects of running a business and marketing. I’ve really learned a lot from each one. Summits give great value!

How will speaking at summits help my business?

The short answer is: Newsletter sign ups! If your business needs more newsletter subscribers right now, then 100%, speaking at Summits is the right opportunity for you, more than any other. See the quote below from A Bee In the Bonnet, where she says she has gained between 200 and 400 new newsletter subscribers per summit. She is doing better than me. At summits I’ve spoken at, I’m more likely to get 100 to 200 new sign ups. That’s still a big growth in one day.

But thats not the only benefit.

Lauren Rad, knitting designer behind A Bee In The Bonnet says:

“Speaking at summits has become one of my favorite ways to market my business. It’s a great way to establish credibility quickly, both because I have a presentation people can check out and because other designers are sharing me with their audience. An introduction from a trusted person is so much more effective than a cold introduction! Each summit has grown my newsletter list by 200-400 subscribers.”

While Julie, the Crochet Designer and Tech Editor behind ACCROchet says

“Summits have allowed me to add newsletter subscribers to my list and make *some* money. It also lets me point and say to my people ‘see, I know what I’m talking about!’ and build my credibility =) “

Julie has a great point about the confidence boost of speaking at summits. There is no uni course to be a knitting designer, no apprenticeship to be a crochet designer. We designers often muddle through, battling imposter syndrome more than we would like. Speaking at a summit can wield great positive feedback which is harder to get when chugging along selling our PDFs. It can help you realise that many crafters out there really do value and respect your skills and want to learn from you. I’ve seen several designers gain in confidence, which slowly helps their business more and more over time, after speaking at a virtual summit

Julie, with her great sign up rate, also highlights the social proof from speaking at summits. Firstly, being introduced by one of the biggest names in your field (the kind of people who usually host summits) is social proof. Being part of a well respected summit will build respect for you, very quickly.

And finally, earnings—the cold, hard reality of cash.

Some summits will pay you a basic speaker fee; others won’t. For those that do, it’s a refreshing change to get paid for your work instead of the endless grind to make sales and/or generate views. If you speak at a summit, you’ll also have the opportunity to sell affiliate links for the upgrade. How many you sell depends on your reach, audience size, and how closely aligned they are with the summit’s topic. There’s no guarantee you’ll earn money—if you’re newer with a small following, you might not sell any affiliate links. But of all marketing opportunities, this one has among the best chances of earning while growing your future audience at the same time. Better to earn even a small amount than pay for ads!

Where does recruitment happen for virtual summits? Where do I find this opportunity?

As with blog hops and roundup blogs, opportunities for taking part in speaking at summits are promoted in the behind the scenes social media spaces where designers hang out and support each other. For knitting and crochet, the same 2 spaces i’ve mentioned before, the Ravelry designer forum, and the facebook groups for knitting and crochet designers are important to watch.
If you come across a good summit, and think you would like to participate as a speaker in future years, you can consider emailing tge organiser and asking to be added to their email list to hear about future speaker calls.

The nuts and bolts of speaking at a summit – what do I need to do, step by step.

Speaking at a summit isn’t difficult, but it does involve more work than other collaborative marketing opportunities. Here’s how to tackle it:

Step 1. Responding to the Call for Speakers

If you spot a call for speakers, it will likely include:

Don’t rush! Deadlines are usually generous, so take a few days to brainstorm. At first it can feel like ‘what do I have to say about my craft thats different to what any other knitter/crocheter/sewer/craftsperson can offer?’ Think back to when you were starting out, and big ‘Aha!’ moments of learning. Think about what you wished you knew sooner. Inspiration on great topics often hits in the shower (or so I find). Offer multiple topic suggestions if possible, it increases your chances of being selected.

Step 2. Writing the Presentation

Your presentation will be a 20-minute recording, which can include:

When I create presentations, I start with the slides, and work out all my headings. You may want to start in your word processor and write out the full text first. Or even start with your crochet hook, knitting needles or sewing machine, and create your sample that demonstrates the skill you will teach, breaking it down into the component steps as you do, and photo or video your actions.
Whether it’s slides, text on paper, photos or video clips, you now have a plan for your presentation, and can bring it together.

From plan to presentation. My process (adapt as needed):

I create the slides in Canva. Alternatively, you can use PowerPoint or another app.
A 3 day process, I find, is best for creating the plan and content. Don’t try and do it all in one day. Better to do it in an hour or 2 a day over a few days.

Step 3. Recording the presentation

Options for recording:

Example presentation: watch Nicola of Eilmee designs give her ‘Make it bigger‘ presentation here. An excellent example of a summit presentation to give you a sense of what a recorded presentation might look like.

Set aside half a day for recording—it often takes a few tries to get it right!

Recording in Canva

If you create your slides in Canva, you can also record there. As long as you have a laptop or computer to work on. It does not have this function in the mobile app, for those of us working on tablets. Also, Canva won’t save a recording that runs over the 20 minutes, not even by a second. The frustration! It won’t even give it to you with the last few seconds cut off. It just eats your work! So my advice is, if there is any risk you will run over time, move it to another app to do the recording.

Recording in Zoom

A second option is to go to Zoom. Open a meeting, share screen, record meeting, and talk to your slides. Then save and upload. If it’s too long here, you can trim it, and cut out a few little sections. The problem I have with Zoom is that I currently must do all my work on a tablet since my laptop died last year. And the more limited controls in Zoom on a tablet don’t let you do this.

Recording on a tablet

A third option for those unfortunately working on a tablet, such as myself, is to simply open the presentation on your tablet, record screen, and record voiceover. The downside of this is that you cant show your face talking in a part of the screen, like you can in Canva or zoom. But that might also be an advantage if the thought of showing your face on camera freaks you out.

If you are anything like me, it will take you a few goes to get one good recording where you don’t flub your words, so set aside half a day to do this.

Step 4. Creating the Freebies (Lead magnets)

Speaking at virtual summits is all about getting sign ups to your email list, and you will probably have 2 options to do so. A basic free offer for all participants, and a more valuable free offer for people who buy the upgraded pass. We call a free gift in exchange for an email sign up a ‘lead magnet’.

For the basic free offer you can probably use an existing ‘lead magnet’ if you have one. I use my ‘Lavender socks’ free knitting pattern over and over. It converts well. Make sure you have given the organiser this link, and made clear what it is! Remember, if you don’t have a link, no matter how good your presentation, no one will sign up, because no one can. I made that mistake once. Just once. Lesson learned!

Make sure however that your freebie aligns with the topic of the summit. For example, if it was a crochet summit, my knitting pattern would be no good. I use my Henley crochet pattern instead. (Although it doesnt convert nearly so well). Even if it was a beginners knitting summit, socks might be too adventurous a pattern. So you might choose a different pattern to offer for free. A lead magnets also does not need to be a pattern. A chart, a cheat sheet, a conversion table can all work. Any downloadable that gives a small amount of valuable information, as relevant as possible to your topic.

The bigger freebie

In addition to the freebie for everyone, you have a second chance to get the most valuable email addresses of all. The ones from the participants who are willing to put down money, not just view the basic package for free. (These are the ones most likely to convert to paying customers for you, too)
Maybe they didn’t sign up just to get yet another sock knitting pattern. So now I need to offer another freebie that’s more valuable. Some organisers specify it should be at least $20 USD in value.
A bundle of patterns of about 20 quids worth is a quick way to do this.
But I’ve also spent over a week creating a custom ebook on the topic of my presentation, such as this one about sleeve shaping, with 4 unique patterns. That was a gigantic undertaking. But now I have a valuable resource I can sell, or publish extracts from to my blog, or both.

Pros and cons of speaking at summits

Speaking at Summits is, as we have covered, probably the best method to populate an email list with happy, aligned and interested followers who will stick around and value your email newsletter.

However, as with any strategy, it has its pitfalls.

For example, in the quotes below from other designers, both Nicola and Tuula point out that if your presentation topic is not directly related to the topic you sell, you may be disappointed. I recall being fascinated by a presentation from Tuula at a crochet designers summit, all about being a ‘digital nomad’ and how occupations such as being a designer can free us up to travel. I loved every minute of it! It wasnt until she said it however, that I realised Tuula provides tips and tutorials for crocheters, not business advice (usually) so my love of her presentation didn’t encourage me to buy anything from her, or even spend more time on her you tube chanel.

Nicola of Eilmee Designs (whoes summit presentation is linked above as an example) says:

In my experience summits are immensely fun to take part in, however your ROI (monetarily or otherwise) depends on how aligned the topic is with your target audience.

(Note: for those new to marketing a buisness, ‘ROI’ = ‘Return on Investment’)

Tuula of Crochet with Tuula Maaria says

When speaking at summits, they only benefit you on the long run if the subject of your talk is directly about what your main business is. For that reason my experience has been that they have brought a bit of affiliate income but there hasn’t been much long-term effect on my business. This is because in the summits I spoke about how I did my business, not about the things that bring me income.

Other pros and cons touched on already include:

Pros:

✅ Rapid email list growth: Gain 100–400+ new subscribers in a single event—far more than blog hops or roundups.
✅ Credibility boost: Being introduced by a respected host or sharing a stage with industry leaders instantly builds trust with your audience.
✅ Social proof: Participants see you as an expert, which can lead to more engagement, sales, and opportunities down the line.
✅ Potential earnings: Some summits pay speaker fees, and you’ll earn affiliate commissions for pass upgrades.
✅ Content repurposing: Your presentation can be reused as a YouTube video, blog post, or even a paid workshop later.

Cons:

❌ Time-intensive: Creating a 20-minute presentation + freebies takes 3–5 days (or more if you’re new to it).
❌ No guaranteed ROI: If your topic isn’t aligned with your business (e.g., teaching business tips when you sell patterns), you may **attract sign-ups but few long-term customers.
❌ Technical hurdles: Recording, editing, and formatting can be tricky, especially if you’re working with limited tools (e.g., tablets).
❌ Audience fatigue: Summits are high-energy events for participants, so your presentation must stand out to hold attention.
❌ Dependent on host promotion: If the summit isn’t well-marketed, your reach may be limited, even if your content is great.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need a huge audience to speak at a summit?

A: No! Summit hosts often seek fresh voices and niche expertise. A small but engaged audience can still convert well, especially if your topic is unique or highly relevant.

Q: How much time will this take?

A: Plan for 3–5 days total:
– 1–2 days to brainstorm and outline your presentation.
– 1 day to create slides/content.
– 1 day to record and edit.
– 1 day for proofreading and finalizing freebies.

Q: What if my topic isn’t directly tied to my products?

A: You can still speak, but prioritize alignment. For example, if you sell knitting patterns, teach a knitting technique rather than general business advice. Misaligned topics may drive sign-ups but fewer long-term sales (as Nicola and Tuula noted).

Q: What’s the best format for my presentation?

A: Slides + voiceover (with or without camera) works well. Tools like Canva (for slides), Zoom (for recording), or screen capture (for tablet users) are all viable. Avoid Canva for recording if you risk exceeding 20 minutes. It won’t save overages!

Q: Do I have to offer a freebie?

A: Yes! This is how you capture emails. Use an existing lead magnet (e.g., a free pattern) for the free tier, and a higher-value offer (e.g., a pattern bundle or ebook) for the paid pass. Ensure it’s relevant to the summit’s theme.

Q: Will I make money from speaking?

A: Maybe. Some summits pay speaker fees, and you’ll earn affiliate commissions for pass upgrades. However, focus on list growth first. The real value is in the long term audience you build.

Conclusion

Speaking at summits is a high-impact, low-cost way to supercharge your email list, gain credibility, and even earn a little extra income. While it requires more effort than blog hops or roundups, the payoff. This is likely to be hundreds of new, engaged subscribers in a single event. Start by attending a summit or two to get a feel for the format, then dive in with a topic that showcases your expertise and aligns with what you sell.

Your next step: Join designer forums (like Ravelry or Facebook groups) to spot speaker calls, and repurpose existing content (e.g., a popular blog post or tutorial) into a summit talk. Remember: the designers who see the most success are those who leverage summits as a springboard, not just for immediate gains, but to nurture a loyal audience over time.