By Theyo Team
Who does not know it? You're really looking forward to a conference, but instead of relevant content there are only generalities. You can make a real difference at your event with content and speakers. Both in the positive and in the negative sense. But finding a good speaker is not always easy. We have 5 strategies for you that will make this easy and will definitely enhance your event!
Use the event network: What are the participants interested in?
When looking for a speaker, many people tend to limit themselves to their own environment and circle of friends. However, keep in mind that in your own bubble you may miss out on exciting new insights. If you want to find a good keynote speaker, we advise you to look beyond your own circle of friends.
And: Before you start looking for speakers, you need to find out what the thematic focus should be. If too many lectures on many topics are given by many speakers, after just a few minutes most listeners will find it difficult to continue watching with interest and not fall asleep. So how about you simply ask the participants directly what they are actually interested in? In addition to their preferences, participants may also have tips for potential speakers. You can use platforms such as SurveyMonkey or Typeform to implement this. You can also use the opportunity to get feedback on other program items and entertainment options. For example, you could suggest different ideas for getting together - like a chocolate tasting ;-) - and let the participants vote on what the participants would like most. This way you not only get input and feedback, but you also keep in touch with the participants and get excited about the event early on.
Finding the perfect speaker: Using databases
Speaker databases and lists of speakers offer an uncomplicated way to think outside the box and find a great speaker. You can quickly find the usual pages via Google. If you are looking for specific subject areas, you can limit your search on Google. You can also usually search more specifically in the databases and can often also publish tenders. Since it is usually a little more difficult to find speakers , we would like to refer you to Speakerinnen.org and – for digital topics – to Digital Media Women .
External partners and sponsors
And even if we just suggested the opposite: of course it doesn't hurt to look around the event. Perhaps exciting speakers can be found among the external partners and sponsors or in their environment. Another advantage is that they naturally have an interest in the event being a complete success. But be careful: even if this type of acquisition can lead to great presentations and exciting insights, it also carries risks. On the one hand, the event could have an undesirable “sales atmosphere” if external parties use their lectures (unconsulted) as sales pitches. On the other hand, it can appear to the outside world as if you don't have enough budget to finance independent speakers. So you should definitely stick to a healthy average here!
Do you want to find an unforgettable speaker? Use social media!
Social platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Medium and even SlideShare are a time-consuming but great way to find potential speakers. Search for topics that are relevant to your event and see who publishes posts on the topics. Depending on your goals, you can also filter by the number of views and/or topicality of the posts.
Social networks like Instagram and TikTok are also exciting for finding speakers. On the one hand, you can get inspiration and use the profiles to find potential speakers. Or you can use your accounts (and your reach if necessary) to spread your call for proposals. In contrast to LinkedIn, for example, sponsored content and ads on Instagram are quite cost-effective and you can target the groups of people that are relevant to you.
A suitable speaker is the first step to a successful event (Photo by Find speakers through publications
Articles, blogs, academic journals, Researchgate, news sites, LinkedIn profiles, Xing groups, Quora and so on. The list of where you can find relevant publications and topic-specific content is long. And that's exactly where you can potentially find suitable speakers. Because many editors, scientists, researchers and bloggers are happy when they are asked to speak. And even if they are not interested themselves, they probably know specialist colleagues who would like to be connected with you. It can also be exciting if the speakers not only fit the topic, but have perhaps even built up their own audience through social media or blogs and can therefore even generate additional attention for your event. Win-win 🥳!
FAQ on the topic: 'Finding the right speaker for your event'
What exactly is the meaning of keynote speaker?
A keynote speaker, also known as a lecturer or speaker, is characterized by inspiring, technically well-researched lectures. A convincing appearance and the ability to respond to the audience are also crucial. Keynote speakers usually give lectures in areas in which they have an expert position.
What makes a good speaker?
Central to a good speaker is technical knowledge of the topic of the lecture, a confident appearance and an exciting style of presentation.
How much budget do you have to calculate for a keynote speaker?
As with almost everything, the same applies here: good quality has its price. For a 90-minute appearance by a professional speaker, the cost can be between 2,500 and 6,000 euros.
Header photo by Wan San Yip on Unsplash
