Retention Strategy Speakers

A retention strategy speaker is a subject matter expert who specializes in helping businesses keep their customers longer and increase lifetime value - and they do this by sharing their insights through talks, panels, and workshops.

Unlike general marketing speakers, retention strategy speakers focus specifically on what happens after the sale. They dive into topics like onboarding, customer experience, loyalty programs, churn reduction, and feedback loops. Their goal is to help businesses turn one-time buyers into repeat customers and brand advocates.

These speakers often come from backgrounds in customer success, product management, behavioral psychology, or growth marketing. Some are authors, like Lincoln Murphy who popularized the concept of Customer Success, while others are consultants who've worked with Fortune 500s or fast-scaling startups.

You'll find them at SaaS conferences, eCommerce summits, membership site workshops, and increasingly, on virtual stages. Their talks are typically rich with data, case studies, and frameworks that attendees can apply immediately.

In short, a retention strategy speaker is someone who helps you stop the leaky bucket - and teaches you how to build deeper, longer-lasting customer relationships.

When customer acquisition costs are rising and attention spans are shrinking, knowing how to keep your customers is no longer optional - it's essential. That's where a retention strategy speaker comes in.

Retention strategy speakers bring clarity to a part of business that's often overlooked. Many companies pour resources into getting new leads, but neglect what happens after the sale. A speaker focused on retention flips that script. They show you how to maximize the value of every customer you already have.

They also help you shift from reactive to proactive. Instead of waiting for churn to spike, they teach you how to build systems that prevent it. Think automated onboarding sequences, personalized check-ins, and loyalty incentives. These aren't just tactics - they're strategic levers that can double your revenue without doubling your ad spend.

In global markets, especially in regions like Southeast Asia or Latin America where digital adoption is accelerating, retention strategies can make or break a business. A speaker who understands these nuances can tailor their message to different cultural contexts, making their insights more actionable.

Ultimately, a retention strategy speaker is important because they help you build a business that lasts. Not just one that sells - but one that sustains.

Retention strategy speakers do more than just talk - they teach, challenge, and inspire businesses to rethink how they engage with their customers after the sale.

Here's what they typically do:

- Deliver Keynote Talks. They speak at conferences, summits, and webinars about customer retention strategies. These talks often include frameworks like the 6-stage customer journey or the 100-day onboarding window.

- Run Workshops and Trainings. Many speakers offer hands-on sessions where teams can map out their retention funnels, identify churn triggers, and design loyalty programs.

- Share Case Studies and Data. They bring real-world examples from companies like HubSpot, Netflix, or Shopify to show what works (and what doesn't) in different industries.

- Consult or Advise. Some speakers also work behind the scenes with businesses to audit their retention metrics and build custom strategies.

- Create Content. Beyond live events, they often write books, blogs, or create courses on platforms like Udemy or LinkedIn Learning to reach wider audiences.

Whether they're speaking to a room of startup founders in Berlin or hosting a virtual panel for membership site owners in Melbourne, retention strategy speakers help businesses move from transactional to transformational relationships with their customers.

Becoming a retention strategy speaker isn't just about knowing how to keep customers around. It's about packaging that knowledge into a message that resonates, inspires, and drives action. Here's how to get started:

1. Master the Fundamentals of Retention
- Study customer lifecycle models, churn metrics, loyalty programs, and behavioral psychology.
- Learn from SaaS companies like HubSpot or subscription-based models like Netflix, which are known for their retention strategies.

2. Build Your Unique Framework
- Develop a signature methodology or framework. For example, you might create a '3R Model: Retain, Reward, Reactivate'.
- Use case studies or data from your own work or public sources to validate your approach.

3. Create a Speaker Page
- Use platforms like Talks.co to build your speaker profile. Include your bio, topics you speak on, testimonials, and a speaker reel.
- Make it easy for event organizers to find and book you. Add a clear call-to-action and contact info.

4. Start Speaking Locally and Online
- Offer to speak at local business groups, online summits, or webinars. Podcasts are great too.
- Use Talks.co to connect with hosts looking for experts in retention. Even unpaid gigs help build credibility.

5. Collect Testimonials and Refine Your Talk
- After each talk, ask for feedback and testimonials. Use these to improve your delivery and content.
- Record your sessions to build a speaker reel. Highlight moments where the audience reacts or engages.

6. Pitch Strategically
- Reach out to event organizers in industries that rely on retention: SaaS, eCommerce, membership sites, etc.
- Tailor your pitch. For example, for a fitness membership conference, focus on how to reduce churn in monthly plans.

7. Scale with Virtual Events
- Host your own virtual summits or workshops. This positions you as a leader and helps grow your email list.
- Collaborate with other speakers on Talks.co to co-host events and cross-promote.

Becoming a retention strategy speaker is a mix of expertise, positioning, and visibility. Start small, stay consistent, and let your results speak louder than your slides.

To be a retention strategy speaker, you need more than just a good stage presence. You need a blend of subject matter expertise, communication skills, and a platform to share your message. Let's break it down:

1. Subject Matter Expertise
Retention strategy is about keeping customers engaged, loyal, and coming back. You need to understand:
- Customer journey mapping
- Churn analysis and metrics (like NPS, LTV, CAC)
- Loyalty programs and user engagement tactics
- Behavioral psychology and habit formation

Whether your background is in SaaS, eCommerce, or membership communities, you should be able to speak to real-world retention challenges and solutions.

2. Communication Skills
Being a speaker means translating complex ideas into clear, actionable insights. You'll need:
- Storytelling ability to make data relatable
- Confidence in public speaking (virtual or in-person)
- Slide design and visual communication skills

3. A Platform to Share Your Message
You can't wait to be discovered. Build your own stage:
- Create a speaker page on Talks.co. This acts as your digital resume.
- Use social media and email to share your ideas and attract event organizers.
- Join virtual summits or podcasts to get your voice out there.

4. A Clear Niche and Message
You're not just a speaker. You're a retention strategy speaker. Define what makes your approach unique. Maybe you specialize in retention for mobile apps, or you've built loyalty programs for brick-and-mortar businesses.

5. A Way to Connect with Hosts and Audiences
Talks.co is a great tool to match with event hosts looking for experts. You can also network through LinkedIn, speaker bureaus, or industry-specific groups.

In short, to be a retention strategy speaker, you need to know your stuff, communicate it well, and position yourself where the right people can find you.

Yes, retention strategy speakers do get paid, but how much and how often depends on several factors like experience, niche, and event type. Let's break it down:

Paid vs. Unpaid Opportunities
- Paid Gigs: These are more common at corporate events, industry conferences, or private workshops. Experienced speakers can command fees from $2,000 to $25,000+.
- Unpaid Gigs: Many virtual summits or podcasts don't pay speakers but offer exposure, lead generation, or affiliate commissions.

Factors That Influence Payment
- Expertise Level: A speaker with a proven track record in reducing churn or increasing customer lifetime value can charge more.
- Audience Size: Speaking at a 10,000-person SaaS conference pays more than a 50-person local meetup.
- Industry: Tech and finance events often have larger budgets than nonprofit or education sectors.

Pros of Paid Speaking
- Direct income.
- Validation of your expertise.
- Often includes travel and accommodation.

Cons of Paid Speaking
- Competitive to land high-paying gigs.
- Requires a strong personal brand and speaker reel.
- Some events prefer speakers who don't pitch products.

In summary, retention strategy speakers do get paid, especially those who position themselves as experts and build a strong presence on platforms like Talks.co. But early on, unpaid gigs can still be valuable for building authority and generating leads.

Retention strategy speakers have multiple income streams, and the smartest ones diversify. Here's how they typically monetize their expertise:

1. Speaking Fees
- Keynote speeches at conferences, corporate events, or summits.
- Workshop facilitation or breakout sessions.
- Rates range widely: from $1,000 for emerging speakers to $20,000+ for top-tier names.

2. Consulting and Advisory Services
- Many speakers offer consulting packages after their talks.
- Example: A speaker at a SaaS event might be hired to audit a company's onboarding flow.

3. Online Courses and Memberships
- Turn your framework into a course. Platforms like Teachable or Kajabi make this easy.
- Some speakers run paid communities or masterminds focused on retention.

4. Affiliate and Partner Revenue
- Promote tools or platforms related to retention (e.g., email automation, analytics).
- Earn commissions through affiliate links shared during talks or on your Talks.co speaker page.

5. Books and Digital Products
- Write a book or eBook on your retention methodology.
- Sell templates, playbooks, or swipe files.

6. Hosting Your Own Events
- Run virtual summits or workshops. Charge for tickets or offer upsells.
- Use Zoom to co-host with other experts and split revenue.

7. Licensing Content
- License your training material to companies or educational platforms.
- This is especially popular in corporate L&D programs.

Retention strategy speakers who treat speaking as one part of a larger business ecosystem tend to earn more and build longer-term impact.

Earnings for retention strategy speakers vary significantly based on experience, niche, and business model. Here's a breakdown:
Typical Income Ranges

Experience Level	Per Talk Fee	Annual Speaking Income (est.)
Beginner	$0 - $1,500	$0 - $10,000
Mid-Level	$2,000 - $7,000	$20,000 - $75,000
High-Demand Expert	$10,000 - $25,000+	$100,000+

Other Revenue Streams
Many speakers supplement their income through:
- Consulting: $150 - $500/hour
- Online courses: $50 - $500 per student
- Workshops: $2,000 - $10,000 per session
- Affiliate commissions: Variable, often 10%-30%
Variables That Affect Income
- Industry: Tech and finance events pay more than education or nonprofit.
- Geography: US and Western Europe tend to offer higher fees.
- Audience Size: Larger events often mean higher pay.
- Virtual vs. In-Person: Virtual talks may pay less but have lower overhead.
Example: A speaker who does 10 paid talks a year at $5,000 each, plus $50,000 in consulting and $20,000 from digital products, could easily clear $120,000 annually.
Retention strategy speakers who build a brand and leverage multiple income streams can earn well into six figures.

Hiring a retention strategy speaker can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands, depending on several factors. Here's a breakdown to help you budget:
Cost Ranges by Experience Level

Speaker Level	Virtual Talk	In-Person Talk
Emerging Speaker	$0 - $1,000	$500 - $2,000
Mid-Level Expert	$1,500 - $5,000	$3,000 - $10,000
Top-Tier Authority	$7,500 - $25,000+	$10,000 - $50,000+

Factors That Influence Cost
- Event Type: Corporate retreats and industry conferences pay more than community webinars.
- Duration: A 20-minute keynote costs less than a full-day workshop.
- Customization: Tailored content or proprietary frameworks increase fees.
- Travel and Logistics: In-person talks often include travel, lodging, and per diem.
Virtual vs. In-Person
- Virtual talks are more budget-friendly and often range from $500 to $5,000.
- In-person events require more planning and budget, especially for international speakers.
Tips for Hiring on a Budget
- Use Talks.co to find emerging talent or speakers open to barter deals.
- Offer exposure, lead access, or affiliate opportunities in lieu of high fees.
- Consider group workshops or panels to split costs across multiple speakers.
In short, retention strategy speakers can be affordable or premium depending on your needs. Define your goals first, then match the speaker to your budget.

- Joanna Wiebe: Known for conversion copywriting, Joanna's insights into customer messaging and retention through email campaigns are legendary.
- Lincoln Murphy: A pioneer in customer success, Lincoln helped shape how SaaS companies think about churn and expansion revenue.
- Jay Baer: While known for marketing, Jay's focus on customer experience and advocacy ties directly into retention.
- Shep Hyken: A customer service expert who's been speaking for decades on how service impacts loyalty and retention.
- Brian Balfour: Former VP Growth at HubSpot, Brian's deep dives into retention metrics and growth loops are frequently cited in tech circles.
- Tiffani Bova: A growth and innovation evangelist at Salesforce, she speaks on customer experience and long-term engagement.
- Dan Martell: SaaS growth coach who often speaks about retention as a core lever for scaling.
- ChurnZero Founders (You Mon Tsang): Often featured in SaaS events, they bring a product-led perspective to retention.
- Val Geisler: Specializes in onboarding and email sequences that drive retention, especially for subscription businesses.
- Robbie Kellman Baxter: Author of 'The Membership Economy', she's a go-to speaker for subscription-based business models.

These speakers have shaped how businesses think about retention across industries, from tech to retail to services.

- Lincoln Murphy (USA): Globally recognized for his work in SaaS customer success and retention. His talks are data-rich and actionable.
- Robbie Kellman Baxter (USA): Author and speaker on subscription models and membership retention. Her frameworks are used by companies worldwide.
- Tiffani Bova (USA): As a global growth evangelist at Salesforce, she speaks internationally on customer loyalty and experience.
- Dan Martell (Canada): Known for his high-energy delivery and deep understanding of SaaS retention metrics.
- Shep Hyken (USA): A veteran speaker on customer service and loyalty, with a global client base.
- Val Geisler (USA): Specializes in retention through email and onboarding, especially for digital and SaaS products.
- Brian Balfour (USA): Though less active on the speaking circuit now, his past keynotes on growth loops and retention are still referenced globally.
- Chantel Botha (South Africa): Focuses on customer experience design, which directly impacts retention in emerging markets.
- Steven Van Belleghem (Belgium): A European thought leader on customer experience and digital loyalty.
- Annette Franz (USA): Author of 'Customer Understanding', she speaks globally on how empathy and insight drive retention.

These speakers are not only experts in retention but also bring a global perspective, making them highly sought-after at international events and summits.

Myth 1: Retention strategy speakers only talk about HR policies.
This one comes up a lot, especially in corporate circles. The assumption is that if you're a retention strategy speaker, you're just rehashing employee handbook material. In reality, top speakers in this space dive deep into behavioral psychology, data analytics, customer experience, and even AI-driven personalization. For example, speakers like Joey Coleman, author of 'Never Lose a Customer Again', focus on emotional loyalty and customer journey mapping-not just internal HR frameworks.

Myth 2: You need to be a corporate executive to be credible.
Not true. While some speakers do come from executive backgrounds, many successful retention strategy speakers are entrepreneurs, consultants, or even former educators. What matters more is your ability to connect strategy with outcomes. Take Tiffani Bova, for instance. She built her reputation through research and insight, not just titles. Her talks blend Salesforce data with actionable insights for both startups and Fortune 500s.

Myth 3: Retention strategy is only relevant for large companies.
This myth holds back a lot of small business owners from engaging with retention strategy speakers. But customer and employee retention is just as critical-if not more-for small and mid-sized businesses. A speaker who understands the lean realities of a five-person team or a bootstrapped SaaS startup can offer more relevant strategies than someone focused solely on enterprise-level solutions.

Myth 4: All retention strategy speakers use the same playbook.
There's a misconception that these talks are all about loyalty programs and exit interviews. But the best speakers tailor their content to the audience. A speaker addressing a retail chain in Southeast Asia will approach retention differently than one working with a remote tech startup in Berlin. The strategies vary by culture, industry, and customer behavior.

Myth 5: You have to be charismatic to succeed as a speaker.
Sure, charisma helps. But clarity, structure, and relevance matter more. Some of the most impactful retention strategy speakers are data-driven, calm, and methodical. They win audiences not with hype, but with insights that stick. If you're an introvert or more analytical, don't count yourself out.

When you think of successful retention strategy speakers, it's not just about who gets the biggest applause. It's about who drives change. One standout example is Jeanne Bliss. She's spoken on stages across the globe, helping companies reframe retention from a reactive metric to a proactive culture. Her work with Microsoft and Lands' End shows how storytelling and customer empathy can shift entire retention models.

Then there's Dan Gingiss. He's known for turning customer experience into a retention engine. In one of his keynotes for a fintech conference in Singapore, he broke down how a simple tweak in onboarding language reduced churn by 18%. No gimmicks. Just smart, customer-first thinking. His talks are packed with real-world examples, from insurance to e-commerce.

In the startup world, Lincoln Murphy has carved out a niche. His talks on customer success as a retention strategy have influenced SaaS founders from San Francisco to São Paulo. One of his most talked-about sessions was at SaaStock, where he mapped out how early-stage startups can build retention into their product design-not bolt it on later.

Even in the nonprofit sector, speakers like Sheena Greer have brought retention strategy to the forefront. Her sessions on donor retention have helped small charities in rural Canada rethink how they communicate with supporters. It's not about flashy tech-it's about consistent, human connection.

These speakers didn't follow a single path. Some came from marketing, others from operations or customer service. What they share is a deep understanding of what makes people stay-whether it's customers, employees, or donors-and the ability to communicate that clearly to diverse audiences.

Retention strategy speakers are stepping into a new era. The days of one-size-fits-all loyalty programs and generic employee engagement tips are fading. What's emerging is a more nuanced, tech-savvy, and culturally aware approach to retention-and speakers are evolving fast to keep up.

One big shift is the integration of AI and predictive analytics into retention strategies. Speakers are no longer just talking about why people leave-they're showing how to predict churn before it happens. Expect more talks that include live dashboards, machine learning models, and case studies from companies using AI to personalize retention efforts at scale.

Another trend: the rise of employee experience as a retention driver. With hybrid work becoming the norm, speakers are focusing on how to retain top talent in distributed teams. This includes everything from asynchronous communication strategies to digital wellness. Think less about perks, more about purpose and autonomy.

We're also seeing a growing demand for culturally contextualized retention strategies. A speaker addressing a Latin American audience might focus on community and family values, while one speaking in Japan could highlight long-term loyalty and group cohesion. The best speakers are adapting their frameworks to fit regional mindsets, not just translating slides.

Here are a few key trends shaping the future:
- AI-powered personalization. From customer segmentation to employee feedback loops, AI is changing how we understand retention.
- Experience-led retention. Whether it's customer onboarding or employee training, the experience itself is becoming the strategy.
- Micro-communities and niche loyalty. Speakers are exploring how brands can build retention by creating tight-knit, value-driven communities.
- Sustainability and values alignment. Especially for Gen Z audiences, retention is tied to whether a company lives its values.
- Data storytelling. The best speakers are turning complex retention data into compelling narratives that drive action.

Retention strategy speakers who stay ahead of these trends will not only stay booked-they'll shape the next generation of business thinking.

- Talks.co. A smart platform that matches speakers with podcast hosts. Great for building your authority in the retention space without needing a massive stage. Tip: Filter by industry to find shows that align with your niche.

- SparkToro. Use this to research your audience-what they read, watch, and listen to. If you're crafting a talk on customer retention for e-commerce founders, this tool helps you tailor your examples and language.

- Slidebean. For those who want clean, professional slide decks without hiring a designer. Their templates are especially useful for data-heavy presentations on retention metrics.

- Miro. A collaborative whiteboard tool that's ideal for mapping out retention frameworks visually. Use it during workshops or to co-create strategies with clients.

- CustomerGauge. A retention analytics platform that helps you understand Net Promoter Scores and churn patterns. Even if you're not a user, studying their case studies can give you fresh content ideas.

- SpeakerHub. A directory and booking platform where you can list your profile, browse events, and connect with organizers. Make sure your bio clearly states your retention expertise-specificity wins.

- Harvard Business Review. Not a tool, but a goldmine of research-backed articles. Use it to stay sharp on leadership, retention psychology, and organizational behavior.

- Canva. For quick, branded visuals that reinforce your message. Create infographics that summarize your retention models or frameworks-great for social sharing post-talk.

Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, these tools can help you craft smarter content, reach the right audiences, and deliver talks that stick. Pair them with real-world insights, and you're on your way to becoming a go-to name in retention strategy.