Finding the Right Speaker for Your Next Event
Making your next company event something to remember may depend on finding the right speaker; is the goal to bring in someone educational, motivational or inspirational? Know your audience demographic to find a person they will be open to hearing from, as this can make or break your entire event.
What’s the Goal?
Before booking any type of speaker, first define the outcome or goal of the event; Is the purpose to provide training and education for your staff? Advance the message or mission of the company? Or perhaps this is an external audience; Are you seeking to build goodwill with your customers or employees?
Having clear and measurable goals will help you focus on who the audience is, messaging for the event and determining your theme. Additionally, there are some logistical considerations; What is your budget? What will the program format look like? From there, you can begin looking for the best type of speaker for your event.
Internal Options
Sometimes the best person to deliver your message is one of your own employees. Expertise on the topic, company knowledge and experience might be the deciding factors, but when using someone who does not present often, it’s also important to ensure the speaker is set up for success by giving advance notice, setting expectations and providing all of the necessary event information for them to properly prepare.
External Options
When looking for an external speaker, it’s always a good idea to start thinking back to any events you’ve attended in the past – could one of them be a good fit for this event? Check in with colleagues to see if anyone has a good connection or suggestion. Are there any great industry leaders that might be a draw? Or if the budget allows, reach out to a speakers agency for some expert advice!
Research Speakers
Do your research! If using an external speaker, watch videos of their previous talks and have a conversation with them and/or their agent. If you are looking for a motivational or inspirational speaker for your event, be sure to look beyond message and availability; Is the speaker promoting a book or promotional item that they will want to be able to sell at your event? Does the person have specific transportation, lodging or other requirements that your company will have to pay for? Finally, make sure you have a clear understanding about what the speaker is going to talk about to ensure it aligns with your event message or company’s vision.
The best speaker is always someone who will connect and relate to your audience and leave a lasting impression. Whatever kind of event your company is holding, Swank Events Boston can help with planning and execution – Contact us today!
Photo credit: Bosse Studios.
