28 Jan HOW TO INVITE PUBLIC GUEST SPEAKERS FOR EVENTS – WHAT TO PUT IN THE INVITATION
Securing guest speakers integral to impactful events requires thoughtful invitations conveying professionalism, event details and consideration of their time and needs. An ideal invite warmly welcomes while ensuring speakers understand commitments, can assess involvement feasibility and have information facilitating participation if interested. A number of important details deserve highlighting.
Introductions including event/organizational overviews provide helpful context upfront. Sharing background around founding stories, milestones, values and causes championed lets speakers gauge affinity. Conveying reach and community size also helps speakers assess opportunities to spread messages and exposure benefits of participation. These connections elicit greater intrigue.
Early on as well, the invitation should highlight precise date, location, expected attendee count and type, plus event theme and objectives related to the speaker’s specialty. Outlining why their contribution matters based on expertise and influence is additionally useful for convincing busy prospects by tying to legacy and goals. Any associated media publicity, award ceremonies or ancillary opportunities also deserve mention to showcase scope.
Logistics around required speaker deliverables like presentation length/format, option for virtual involvement, use of teleprompters, slides/multimedia capabilities etc. likewise require detailing to guide expectations. Technical and staff support specifics offered let speakers determine necessary preparations too. Any speaker briefs for framing discussions offer helpful steering.
Clarity around offered travel expense coverage, honorarium amounts and IP rights regarding presentation recordings or reuse also provide bottom-line incentives and protections that speakers or their agents will want to evaluate or perhaps negotiate if subpar. speakers may forgo fees to champion causes but should still see sincere efforts expressing value of gifts they bring.
Describing post-event opportunities gives another avenue for enduring partnerships if goals fully align beyond single appearances. Outlets to share speakers’ books or products, collaborations on community initiatives and introductions to networks offer mutual reward.
Essentially well-crafted invites convey earnest appreciation, event significance, and the utmost hospitality to woo distinguished guests. Speakers graciously accepting unpaid roles still deserve royal treatment and consideration. Perfect pitches promise memorable shared experiences that presenters will enthusiastically promote among peers too.