Choosing speakers for events requires research and intuition. The right fit will inspire and inform the attendees. The right fit for the wrong will make everyone talk about in the rest of the meeting.
Event planners provide some advice based on their experience:
1. Start with demographics
Audiences consisting primarily of participants under the age of 30 will prefer a more interactive experience to combine discussion or teamwork. Including technology or social media, such as the ability to answer questions through tweets, can work with the group.
Instead, the silent generation (the predecessors of the baby boomer generation) are used to speakers who empower them with wisdom and knowledge in a one-way way. Class discussions are neither needed nor expected.
2. Stay realistic about your budget
Realistic about who you have the ability to invite at the meeting. The fees for celebrity spokespersons range from $10,000 to $150,000. Some speakers may be willing to present at less speed in front of your audience, as this may bring other business opportunities. If the speaker is locally based on your date, you can eliminate shipping and hotel costs, saving money.
3. Define your goals
Your goals will determine the budget or portion of the budget you will allocate to the speaker. For example, if your goal is to build attendance and visibility, introducing top keynotes is the way to go. If your goal is to impart industry knowledge, it is best to choose a thought leader. If you are looking for someone to improve attendance, consider choosing a well-known name in the niche that will bring their own fan base.
4. Beyond your industry
Inter-industry speakers can be very effective because their familiarity with it can make their conversation more relevant even if they don’t work full-time in your field. For example, the Institute of Supervisors of the American Association (ASAE) looks for keynote speakers with strong name recognition that can bring their thought leadership to other areas and apply it to their audience. They have used Jeff Henderson, a New York Times bestselling author and food network star chef who has also served as award-winning chef for brands such as Caesar and Bellagio and understands the association market.
5. Make diversity a priority
One of the biggest complaints about speakers and panels is the lack of diversity. To combat this, some organizations actively seek ways to diversify their rosters of speeches, such as appeals to women’s associations and online groups to promote their speakers.
6. Maintaining the most important thing about other meetings
The industry may choose the same well-known person on the speaker tour. To avoid this, make sure you check the website for additional activity and actively look for unknown presenters to add mixes to keep it fresh.
