Think about the times you’ve seen a great speaker: they were funny, they were engaging, they taught you a new way to look at the world.
It’s frustrating, then, to engage the services of a great speaker for an event that only a handful of people attend. That’s why we’re going to talk today about some steps you can take to choose the right speaker for your next gathering.
- Know your objectives for the event. When you determine what you want people to get out of the gathering, you’ll be able to identify who you want/need to be your speaker. It may be that you’re launching a fundraising effort and need to inspire donors, or hosting a seminar where you need to educate colleagues. You should be able to communicate to them the goals of your event, so they can design their speech accordingly.
- Plan out your schedule for the event. A guest speaker typically needs about an hour or so to deliver the keynote address at your event or to close out the day with a speech that reaffirms your message.
- Determine what your budget is, and research the market to see what different speakers will cost. You may need to pay for travel and other expenses, and some speakers may require more money to customize their speech to your audience.
- If money is tight, you may find that you’re better served by getting an in-house speaker
who knows your audience. Or, you may know of a colleague who regularly speaks to groups. They could be members of your local Chamber of Commerce or Toastmasters group. - If your event is centered around a topic that’s industry-specific, you will need to find someone who speaks your business’ language.
- Does your event have to happen on a certain date? Do you need to find a speaker who will be available then, or can you schedule your event around the speaker?
- Study the speaker’s website to get a better grasp of their expertise. Look for references and testimonials. Their website might include videos or clips of past talks they’ve given. If not, go to YouTube to see if anyone else has gotten one of their speeches on film.
- Ask the speaker if they work with a contract. If so, find out the terms involved. You’ll feel better if both you and they understand what’s expected on both sides.
- Try to talk to the speaker – and not a representative – before they arrive so you can get a sense of who they are. Beware of speakers who don’t ask about their intended audience. They should be wondering who they’ll be speaking to: age group, career, other demographics.
Do You Need A Speaker For Your Next Event?
If you’re looking for a speaker for an event, IQnection is happy to oblige. We enjoy telling the story of inbound marketing and can adapt our presentations to meet the needs of whatever group engages our speakers.
Our team includes IQnection founders Greg Cawood and Bob Campbell, as well as Klaas-Pieter Jimmink, a respected thought leader in the field of digital business transformation.
You can view a sample presentation on our website. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need a speaker for your next event.
