By Tim Arnold
You’re a professional event planner who has successfully planned and executed numerous large-scale events. You want this next one to be no exception and the stakes are as high as ever – especially when it comes to finding the right keynote speaker.
The problem is there are so many keynote speakers out there, and it can be difficult to know which one will resonate with your audience. If you only rely on their websites, investing in a keynote speaker could feel like a gamble. After all your hard work preparing for this event, the last thing you need is a high-maintenance keynote speaker or your audience cringing at a clear miss.
Your keynote speaker should partner with you to make your event a success. Don’t risk letting the wrong keynote speaker bring you unnecessary stress. Read my top three criteria to consider before you hire anyone for the important role of keynote speaker.
Your Checklist for Success
1) Competence – First, ask whether this individual is actually a keynote speaker. There are a lot of trainers and facilitators out there but remember that they serve a different purpose than a keynote speaker.
As you curate a shortlist, ensure your candidates have enough practical experience to be a thought leader for your audience. Do they have the necessary level of understanding of your industry and organization to speak from a place of empathy and experience?
Action Plan: Call at least three references from the candidate’s most recent events to ensure there are glowing reviews all around.
2) Chemistry – Next, decide what personality would best suit the organization or industry culture you’re representing. Know your au- dience so you can give them what they need from a keynote speaker (humour, motivation, emotion, savviness, etc.).
Equally as important – what characteristics would not be accept- ed in the event culture you’re creating? What is happening in your work culture right now and who will be able to establish trust with your audience in your current climate? Is some light-cussing appro- priate in your work culture? Are there any taboo topics you should ensure will not make their way into a keynote speech?
Action Plan: Conduct an audit of the candidate’s social media con- tent, videos, blogs and any online reviews to assess their tone.
3) Customization – Finally, when you think about the goals of your event, is there a specific topic you need your keynote speaker to address? Or are you more focused on the feeling they can create in your audience? The first option may require more customization, so check with the candidate to make sure they can tailor their talk to address your event goals.
Be wary of keynote speakers who are just looking for opportuni- ties to market themselves. Their goals should align with your goals of delivering value to the event audience, not their book sales.
Action Plan: Learn what materials the keynote speaker will bring with them. Will they leave your audience with valuable takeaways? Ask if and how these materials have been modified with past clients to suit their audience or event theme.
How This Checklist Will Help You
After all your hard work, you deserve to feel great about your event before, during and after. Following these three prompts will help you find a fantastic keynote speaker who delivers for your event attendees. When you don’t have to worry about the success of your speaker, you’re free to stay on top of the day’s timeline, your attendees will have a memorable event, and your boss will be thrilled with the positive feedback. BL
Publisher: Business Link Media Group, Volume 17, Issue 08, Published on August 2019
The Business Link Niagara is published 12 times per year and distributed to all
businesses in the Niagara Region via Canada Post
About Tim Arnold
Tim Arnold is passionate about helping people understand the chronic issues that limit leadership and teamwork, so they can thrive. He’s the author of the book The Power of Healthy Tensions and speaks to organizations around the globe on how they can overcome chronic issues and conflicting values. Go to www.leadersforleaders.ca.
About Business Link Media Group
Business Link Media Group is a premier multi-media firm that’s committed to enhancing your business performance by providing in-depth information, broad market exposure and dedicated marketing expertise. Our wide range of powerful media solutions include social media marketing, brand marketing, blockchain and NFTs marketing.
Founded in 2003, Business Link Media Group has always been dedicated to meeting the succinct advertising needs of the local business community. Since 2019, Business Link Media Group has expanded its services substantially in order to meet the growing needs of the global marketplace. Our leading-edge services now include digital media marketing, social media marketing, event organization, blockchain and NFTs marketing, and marketing consulting.
If you’re ready to increase the exposure of your product or service – right now – call one of our dedicated marketing experts today. Business Link Media Group isn’t just your road to profitability.
We’re the Link to your success.
www.businesslinkmedia.com
