HIRING SPEAKERS FOR EVENTS EXPLAINED: WHAT MEETING, EVENT AND CONFERENCE PLANNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT KEYNOTE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Hiring speakers for events doesn’t have to be expensive, difficult or time-consuming to boot. Nonetheless, of course, booking inspirational and motivational public guest speaking keynote presenters requires a bit of finesse. That noted, selecting an experienced thought leader as you go about hiring speakers for events who engages with your audience and conveys the messages you want to get across is crucial for success. For reference, our team put together an overview of factors to consider when booking opening and closing headliners:

Research Potential Speakers Thoroughly – Start the process of hiring speakers for events early, especially if you hope to land a well-known industry leader. Check past conference schedules and do online searches to create a wish list. Visit speakers’ websites to watch past presentation footage to get a feel for their style. Read biographies to learn their background and areas of expertise.

Set a Budget and Expectations –  Experienced professional speakers charge anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000 or more. Celebrity speakers can command fees starting from six figures. Set a realistic budget considering your event size, ticket costs, sponsors, and production expenses. Define what you expect from the speaker – keynote speech only or breakouts, traveling days, rehearsal time, etc.

Review Speaker Reviews and Ratings – As part of the hiring speakers for events process, kook beyond testimonials on presenters’ websites and dig deeper to get objective feedback. Check sites which rate presenters’ quality. See if your network or industry peers have insight from first-hand experience hiring someone.

Hold Conversations Before Committing – Have a discussion to determine if a presenter properly aligns and can speak knowledgeably on issues that resonate with your audience. Inquire if they will help promote the event through their social platforms and contacts. Discuss options for customizing content.

Handle Logistics and Accommodations – Take care of travel, hotel, and audio/visual arrangements. Discuss equipment needed, attendee demographics, event theme and messaging goals. Provide detailed schedules and information plus instruction for presentations uploads.

Prepare Attendees – Don’t forget during hiring speakers for events to give your audience background on the expert so they understand why this presenter was selected and are primed to listen to the message delivered.

Follow Up Post-Event – Gather feedback, share the presentations with sponsors and your team, and consider how to apply insights gained moving forward. Analyze response to the speaker and their impact on metrics like attendance, engagement on social media, ticket sales or client leads for the next similar event. Send thank you notes and be willing to serve as a future reference.

Selecting and working with the right presenter has many moving parts but is one of the most important choices when planning a conference, leadership forum or workshop. Do your homework when hiring speakers for events so you end up with an expert voice who hits the mark for both you and your attendees.