ATTENTION SPEAKERS…
If you are hired to speak at an event, SPEAK UP!
When conference managers hire a speaker, they are looking for three main things:
1) Someone to attract attendees.
2) Valuable, engaging and thought-provoking content.
3) Someone who leaves their audience wanting more from them next year.
If you do get hired, it is important that you deliver results, or you risk not being invited back. Here are some tips to help ensure that you get the gig and the recommendations you need for future speaking engagements.
Attract attendees (promote yourself and the event at the same time)
1) Put out a press release to relevant industry publications announcing that you are speaking at the event.
2) Announce your session on your website and promote the event with a link to registration from your website.
3) Provide a well-written session description with your picture and bio to the event manager for them to post on the event website. Share any handouts, videos, or slideshows you have.
4) Offer to write a guest blog post for their event or association website that talks about tips and trends related to the event and your session.
5) Take advantage of social media networks and engage in tweets and posts with the event audience before the event.
Tips for delivering valuable, engaging and thought-provoking content
6) Don’t hold back. When a speaker dances around the main point, teasing the audience, and then announces “If you buy my DVD, you can get the complete story, ” attendees are turned off. If you want to prove your value, give your audience everything you have – and if they want to buy your DVD to recall or share your valuable information after your session, they will.
7) Engage your audience with questions, breakout groups, games and problem solving sessions. Remember, those who hear will learn some, those who see will remember more, and those who engage will take action and use their experience in the future.
How to leave your audience wanting more
8) Good sessions push limits. They force people to think outside the box. If you can challenge your attendees by engaging them to solve a problem or share an idea or solution, at or even after the event, you can implement change. Give them something to think about; something actionable. Make your audience feel a part of something bigger than themselves.
9) Use the momentum built by your session to follow up on social networks, your website, and the remainder of the event. If you are able to keep engagement going after the event ends, you will increase your value to the show organizer and your audience.
As a speaker, your voice makes a difference. Don’t be quiet: SPEAK UP and get noticed. By helping others you are also helping yourself grow.
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