How to Find a Speaker for Your Event

The right conference speaker can educate and inspire your audience, making your event one to remember. That’s why it’s so important to find the perfect fit!

Whether you’re organizing a corporate conference, a company retreat, athletic camp, or any other type of event, this article will help you find speakers that will elevate your next gathering.

Understand Your Audience

Depending on your event, your audience’s interests and preferences may vary. It’s important to understand their demographics, expectations and the type of content they find most valuable.

Here are a few ways to gather intel about your potential participants:

• Know the age, gender, location, and profession of your target audience.
• Create audience personas that include their goals, pain points, and preferences.
• Understand their values, beliefs, and motivations to select speakers who align with their mindset.

Define Your Event’s Objectives

Establish clear and measurable objectives before finding a speaker for your event. Define what you want your conference speaker to achieve. For example, are you hoping to educate attendees about emerging industry trends, motivate them to take a specific action, or treat them to a comedy bit?

Start Researching

Proper research will help you make an informed decision on your speaker. You can do this using the following strategies:

• Get Online: Check out TED Talks, YouTube, and industry-specific websites for inspiration on speakers who have already left an impression on your field.
• Get Recommendations: Seek recommendations from colleagues, peers, and industry associations. They can offer suggestions that they have first-hand experience, which is valuable insight for you.
• Get Social: Social media platforms are a great place to follow potential speakers, observe their interactions and track their influence within your industry.
• Get Answers: Use event apps and platforms to gather feedback from your audience about potential speakers.

Check Speaker Credentials and Past Performances

Once you’ve narrowed down your potential speaker pool, check out past performances and online reviews. This will help you evaluate their expertise, while also gauging previous attendee satisfaction.

Choose a Speaker That Fits Your Budget

Before you sign on the dotted line with a specific speaker, make sure you understand their entire fee. Does it include travel expenses, accommodations, or additional presentation materials? Feel free to discuss the specifics with a speaker that you’re thinking about hiring, especially if you’re on a budget. And keep in mind, hiring speakers early can often lead to discounts.

Talk Logistics With Your Speaker

A pre-event meeting will help solidify logistical arrangements. This should include discussions on travel needs, technical requirements and a thorough review of the speaker’s presentation materials to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch on the big day.

It helps to remind your speaker about your event’s objectives, theme, and desired outcomes to ensure their content is in alignment and also resonates with your audience.

Don’t Forget, We’re Here to Help!

Our event management team can help you make your next special occasion extra special. We offer on-site catering, A/V services, equipment rentals and lodging for a seamless event experience.

Talk to us about your event today! We will work hard to bring your unique taste, style and budget together for an event that leaves a lasting impression!