Get Speakers to Say Yes! How to Secure your Dream Speakers
Finding high-quality speakers for your event is vital. Both you and your manager hope to secure reputable crowd-pulling names!
Having great speakers on your agenda can help set the event’s tone and make it an unforgettable experience for your audience. Selecting speakers who are thought leaders in their respective fields will add authenticity to your event.
So how do you get top speakers to talk at your event?
Michaela Ridgway, leading Content Editor, shares her 7 top tips:
- Ask your target audience who they want to hear from, and on what topics. Telephone research works best for this.
- Write an agenda that pushes the conversation in new directions.
- Start early. Aim high.
- Put short expiry dates on invites and do not wait forever for a ‘no’. Move on!
- Build your LinkedIn network. Post, connect and engage with potential speakers throughout the year, not just when you need them.
- Understand and tap into what motivates people to speak. E.g. communicating the corporate/government/NGO mission; professional ambition and passion.
- Everything is interesting. Be interested.
Research, Research, Research
Your telephone research is essential when compiling speaker lists. Zoom and phone calls can provide fresh input which is often honest and accurate. These calls will often provide the latest hot names and topics in the industry which you can validate, and if suitable, invite them to speak.
Push the Conversation
Find out what companies and organisations are doing that is innovative and new. Tap into this source to identify and secure new speakers that could bring a different dimension to an agenda.
Utilise your Network
Issue a ‘call for speakers’ to your network by announcing your event, leading to speaker recommendations or speakers themselves reaching out to you directly. To do this, you can utilise your social media network (such as LinkedIn).
Get Perspective
Invite speakers to join your prestigious event advisory board. Advisory boards offer professionals an opportunity to share their expertise, network and contribute to the direction of the event.
Get Speakers Involved
Encourage speakers to get involved with content development. Leverage their expertise to create captivating narratives and provide presentations bursting with cutting-edge information and relevant real-life case studies. These knowledgeable conversations and industry insights are essential for the content direction.
Aim High
A simple piece of advice is to aim high and go to the top speakers first. Be bold, brave and persuasive!
How do you attract and secure brilliant speakers to talk at your conference? I would love to hear what works for you!
Email: helen@jbrecruitment.co.uk
Telephone: 0203 488 2620
About Jackson Barnes Recruitment
Jackson Barnes Recruitment delivers international recruitment solutions within the events, media, and publishing sectors. Jackson Barnes recruits Graduate to MD level in the following positions:
• Researcher
• Conference producer
• Event Marketing
• Sales – delegate, sponsorship & Business Development
• Event Manager
• Editor
We recruit for organisations in the UK and overseas with success in London, Dubai, New York, Singapore and Australia
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