6 Things to Consider when Choosing a Keynote Speaker
Choosing the right keynote speakers can make or break your event. It is probably the most important decision you need to make to organise a successful event. Location is important but most people may decide whether or not to attend based on the speaker, even if they have to travel to get there.
Those attending your event will remember the impression the speaker made. They will post about it on their social media profiles. So you will need to choose very carefully to make the best impression.
You may want to start by considering these 6 key things when choosing a keynote speaker:
1. Do you know your audience well enough?
You need to choose a speaker that will resonate with your attendees. But to do so you need to not only think about who is coming but also know what are they looking for and what will surprise them. Consider the ages, profession, interests, and goals of your audience. Why are they coming? What do they hope to get out of the occasion? And more importantly, what will motivate them to connect with your brand?
2. How to find the right industry expert for your area of expertise?
You need to choose a speaker that is an industry expert within a very specific area of expertise, and that’s not an easy job. But to help you organise a successful event you can use Aurum Speakers Bureau, an international agency that represents a catalogue of the world’s most captivating speakers.
They can offer you speakers in more than twenty trendy topics such as Big Data, climate change, entrepreneurship, cybersecurity or psychology among many others. A great example is world-leading authority on consumer behaviour, Dan Ariely. You can review each speaker’s profile and if you think they are a good fit for your event, you can request their availability to speak in your event.
3. How much are you willing to invest?
The budget you have available is an important question. You can’t start inquiring about speaker availability until you know which speakers are within reach of your budget. Can you afford a celebrity speaker, or do you go with a more modest choice?
Research speaker fees for several speakers. Remember to ask what is included in the fees. Does the named fee include travel and board expenses and any assistants or equipment the speaker will need? Or are those things extra expenses you need to cover on top of the speaker fee?
4. Does the Speaker Have a Good Reputation?
You need to do some research to find out what the speaker’s reputation is, even with volunteer speakers. Remember that big fees don’t necessarily mean the speaker is valuable for your audience. Does he or she have experience speaking in public about the area which they are covering? Are they interesting and engaging to listen to? Check testimonials and reviews. Watch videos online, or drop in at another speech they are delivering.
Are they easy to work with, or do they have a diva attitude that will be more trouble than they’re worth? To find out these things you may want to get references. Be sure to check that they don’t have a major scandal in their background that will have a negative effect on your gathering.
5. What is the physical setting of the event?
Consider the physical setting as well as the type of occasion. How big is the room? How many people are expected? Will the audience be eating dinner while the speaker is talking, or sitting in a theatre-type room? Is the speaker going to be sitting on the stage the whole time, or will be there a reception at which they need to be available? If they have a book or recording they want to sell, is that okay, and is there space available for that?
6. When is the event taking place?
If your organization has their minds set on a particular speaker, you may need to choose a different date or pay extra for scheduling difficulties. If the date is set in stone, you are choosing according to who is available on your date and may not get the exact speaker you want.