Big events need big speakers. Whether they be for client sales or employee morale, a large company event is better with a solid keynote speaker.
Finding the best keynote speakers for any event isn’t as easy as you may think. There are a lot of little details to consider and the worst risk you can take is to hire the first person you find.
To beat the risks and hire the right keynote speaker for your event, you will need the 10 tips below. Read along and you’ll understand what your event needs in no time.
Where and How to Find the Best Keynote Speakers
Guest speakers should be the binding glue of your event. They shouldn’t hog up the spotlight, but instead be their own spotlight on the points and products you were trying to showcase.
Finding that right balance between showmanship, sincerity, and professional class is hard. Knowing what you want and how to trim the unwanted options out is key.
There is a lot to finding the perfect guest speakers, you need to know how to look.
1. Know What You and Your Company Need
When you have a major business event that needs a speaker, remember that this event is not a personal project, but a broader company deal. As such, getting the opinions of the stakeholders is vital.
The vision of any one company is often a shared idea. As such, even something as simple as a speaker at an event should be the combined company’s vision.
2. Understand the Type of Event
Not every speaker works for every event. The feel and scope of an event can change the appeal of a speaker. If someone does big events well, they might be a wrong fit for an intimate in-house deal.
The location and size of your event are the two biggest factors. The difference between an audience of a few dozen versus an audience of a few thousand is massive.
The size of the stage, the personal feel of the event, how you want the speech in general to go are all pieces that matter when picking a speaker.
3. Discuss Topics Ahead of Time
Knowing the right topics you want your speaker to cover is big. If they have a great reputation but have no connection or idea on the items or topics you need to cover, then they may be a poor choice.
These topics should be simple. You want broad strokes to make it easier to convey your meaning. Experts in your field may be your best bet for the strongest connection.
4. Find Video Footage of the Speaker First
It is easy for someone to say they are a good speaker or even have experience as a speaker, but you need to know if someone’s style works for you.
The way people present and speak can be hard to describe, and even harder to judge. As such a video of their past performances can help get their style across to you.
It can be impossible to see how a joke works or a dramatic piece go off until you hear the delivery. Delivery means the world when it comes to public speaking.
5. Check Their Published Work
Books can also be credible sources of a public speaker’s work. While their strength may be in how they deliver their speeches and what they are about, the books they write gives great incite into what they are capable of speaking about.
Check their published history and see how their written thoughts match their spoken words and what you may be looking for in a speaker.
6. Get Testimonials
Their work may speak for itself, but having testimonials can help bridge the gap. Especially for a company event, you want to hear from the previous companies that worked with a particular guest speaker.
Be careful of vague testimonials on a blog. It can be easy to fake certain quotes or to even misplace company logos to make it seem like an endorsement. Getting actual, reliable testimonials is key.
7. Follow Their Blogs and Social Media
While digging for testimonials and information on the speaker, check out their social media presence. How someone carries themselves on social media is a massive sign to look out for.
You also want to be mindful of someone who is outspoken on controversial topics on social media. If they have a penchant for spewing out ideas you don’t support, that can mean mixed signals for your event.
8. Word of Mouth on Their Speeches
Big brand testimonials are good for the overall picture, and videos of their speeches give solid ideas on their skills, but an in-person reference to how well their speeches work in person can be invaluable.
Find a person you trust and either send them to one of your keynote speaker’s events or find one who has already been.
Speeches like these are best when they are live and the feeling and response from the room can be a major factor in whether the speaker works well or not.
9. Figuring Out the Contract Details
Once you have one, or a few, potential speakers in mind, you need to consider how best to form a contract for them. Use as much legal advice as you desire.
The biggest details to keep in mind here are the important information that needs the speaker’s attention. The other key is the benefits for both the speaker and your company.
If the expectations for the event aren’t set in stone, it can be a quick leap of logic to burn the entire event to the ground.
10. Speaker Bureaus
With all of these tips, you still might have trouble as to where you can find these perfect guest speakers. Speaker bureaus can help solve this issue in one quick swoop.
Finding the right speaker bureaus can be tough. Many take an extra fee on top of the event and you may have limited options to choose from with them. The time and frustration you save, though, can be well worth the risk.
The Right Speaker for Your Right Future
The best keynote speakers are ones who drive an audience and play to the strengths and themes you want to cover with your event. They should be the fundamental core of your event.
With these tips, you’ll find the right person for the job. Eager for more tips about business and success? We here at The Phat Startup can show you the way. Check out our other articles today.
