Content Marketing
How to Choose Your Next Event’s Keynote Speaker

How to Choose Your Next Event’s Keynote Speaker

March 19, 2018
11 min read

The one secret that every marketing event organizer knows – a good keynote speaker can make or break your event.

Why?

Because your opening keynote sets the tone at the beginning from which the entire event will unfold. And your closing keynote keeps people engaged in your event until the very end. Yep, your keynotes are your conference’s “key” to success.

All the rest – the venue, the technology used to create a better experience, even your much-loved event giveaways – serve as supporting functions to the prime goal of your event. Which is, ultimately, to use content to inform, inspire and to leave the right impression on your attendees.

Look at it this way. Event marketing is potentially your single most effective marketing channel – most event marketers believe it packs more punch than digital advertising, email marketing and digital content marketing.

But, your live events are only as impactful as the content they provide. Which is why, if you want to harness the potential of this marketing channel, you’ve got to start with the perfect keynote.

Has your company tasked you with finding the keynote speaker for an upcoming industry conference? Even if you’re not a professional event planner, you can learn how to identify the best keynote speakers in your industry and entice them to accept your invitation.

As someone who speaks at conferences for my industry regularly, I’d like to share some tips that will increase your chance of success. Here’s how to snag your industry’s top speakers.

Quick Takeaways:

  • Look at current industry influencers and thought leaders for prospects.
  • Understand your audience and bring on speakers who they’re likely to identify with.
  • Choose speakers who blend inspiration with practical advice.

The Marketing Advantage of a Good Keynote

The mistake some event organizers make is settling for ‘good enough’ when it comes to the keynote speaker. You can settle for good enough free coffee or good enough event lighting – but don’t make that error for the main event.

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Finding the right keynote speaker for your next event isn’t just about seeking out a known industry expert or influencer. It’s about finding someone who:

  • Is relevant to the theme, character, and intention of the event
  • Can attract the attendees you want to sign up to your event
  • Has the skill and experience in professional speaking that will allow them to engage your audience
  • Has the expertise  to be able to offer something unique, something with vision, which will leave your attendees feeling like they were standing on the shoulders of giants at your event

“There are certain things in which mediocrity is not to be endured, such as poetry, music, painting, public speaking.”

-Jean de la Bruyere, 17th century French philosopher.

When you do pull off finding ‘the one,’ the advantages are enormous.

  • A good keynote will drive up the value of your event, making attendees feel as if the time and money they put into showing up was well worth it.
  • You’ll increase the buzz around your event. Here’s a good litmus test. When you announce your keynote speaker – will the choice be noteworthy enough to excite people or will it garner a shoulder shrug?
  • A good keynote takes a lot of pressure off the rest of the event. It’s true, if people are wowed at that first impression, they are more likely to forgive other hiccups like your 3D light show’s technical difficulties or another speaker who shows up a few minutes late.
  • And, you’ll boost the reputation of your live event. If your brand holds an annual conference, you want it to shine out as a worthwhile experience so more people will be interested in attending next year. Start your event with a bang and your attendees will be reminiscing about the fireworks.

The Distinction Between Good and Great Keynote Speeches

Look at the killer keynotes from the past. These are the speakers people go to digital marketing conferences for. These are the speeches and presentations attendees talk about long after the event. They spark conversation. They attract attention months and years later as a source of inspiration and invaluable information.

Like these movers and shakers:

Gary Vaynerchuk at ICON

Kate Santore at Content Marketing World

Futurist Patrick Dixon at Future Digital Marketing

What makes them stand out? All of these keynote speakers, whether their speech is fifteen minutes or an hour, do two key things:

  • Enthrall with their story
  • Offer something new

Not everyone can do that.

You know how much your event’s keynote speech matters. You know how challenging it is to find someone who truly has what it takes to set the tone for your event’s success.

So, how do you go about finding your speaker?

Laying the Groundwork for Your Keynote Search

Before you begin searching for the speaker you want to present at your next event, you need to first define precisely what it is you are looking for. You may not get your ideal, but when you know the characteristics, speaking style, industry specialty, reputation, and level of expertise you are looking for, you are more likely to get as close to what you want as possible.

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By exploring top speakers first, before knowing exactly what you are looking for, you could fall into the trap of choosing someone well-reputed and then revolving your event around your speaker, rather than the other way around.

This identification process is just as important as it is to understand other aspects of your marketing like your buyer personas and your brand story. Take the time to flesh out what you are looking for in a keynote speaker and what qualities are important for finding someone who can best express the theme and messaging of your live event.

Use this checklist to help you clarify what you want, aside from speaking skill and industry knowledge:

What is the primary objective of the event?

Reveal your intentions and I know who you are. The same goes for your conference. The goal and intent defines what the event is – and will help you narrow down who may be a good fit as your keynote speaker.

For example, if the intent is to provoke conversation or innovation in your industry, then your keynote should be a provocative innovator, ideally someone who has already pushed boundaries with some degree of success.

Who is your audience?

With today’s data analytics giving event planners the ability to look into everything from social media likes to online behavior and demographics, there is really no excuse for not digging into that data to find registered attendees’ preferences and pain points.

Keep that data in mind as you sift through potential speakers. If 70% of your audience struggles with digital transformation, perhaps a guest speaker from a top IT company might be a great choice. Once you’ve chosen a speaker, though, be sure to market your speaker’s expertise in those areas your audience struggles with.

You can even use your target audience’s data to buy segment-targeted social media ads, create content on your blog that centers on the keynote speaker’s areas of expertise, and retarget those who fit your industry’s target attendees’ profile once they express interest online.

Your keynote speaker will undoubtedly appreciate the thoughtful publicity—and so will your attendees, who might not have attended otherwise.

What personality will align with your event?

The character of your speaker matters. Do you want engaging but professional, or someone who may have a very personal, even edgy style – ‘telling it like it is’ to get people’s attention. You want the personality of your speaker to be able to mesh well with your audience. Think about who will be listening – what energy will they resonate with the most?

What is the goal of the keynote speech?

Are you looking for someone to start off the event entertaining your audience? Should they break the ice with lighthearted energy or captivate with a revolutionary idea or a new perspective? Do you want them to set the tone with inspirational content? A good story?

What presentation style are you looking for?

This is something you want to figure out before you start vetting and interviewing speakers. A common mistake event marketers make is to choose a speaker and then later determine their schedule and layout – which is when they find out their ‘perfect’ speaker’s 90 plus minute presentation style isn’t going to work for your 20-minute keynote time limit.

How much time should your keynote speaker take up? Are you expecting them to use screens, props and other visual aids?

What is your budget?

In the US, speakers can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $30,000, sometimes more, depending on how much clout they have. Major industry players, celebrities, and political figures for example, may cost well over $50,000.

How much budget your organization has set aside for your keynote speaker will, of course, impact your potential pool of candidates. When looking at the ROI of your speaker, think about who would attract more people to want to attend your event – and who will leave your attendees feeling like your event was worth it and they want to come back next year.

If you have a small budget, don’t feel like you can’t still land a great keynote. In order to grow their own brand as a thought leader, some people may be willing to present at your event, especially if your audience is perfect for their personal brand, for a negotiated fee.

Celebrity, Expert, Motivational Speaker or Influencer?

Another important question to answer is what type of speaker do you want? There is a huge difference in the impact, experience, and draw that your speaker will achieve depending on how they themselves are identified.

Celebrities

Celebrity keynote speakers will be your big-budget option. For example, Michelle Obama at Inbound 2017 in Boston was a brilliant marketing move. While not a marketing expert, her resume certainly speaks of expertise in communications and connecting with people. By choosing her as keynote, Inbound also positioned itself as more than a marketing conference, but rather as a platform for the overarching ideas that are currently impacting society. This gives Inbound a competitive edge, offering attendees a sense that they were a part of something special, simply by being there.

Industry Thought Leaders

Thought leaders are ideal for B2B event marketing. Look for individuals who have a lot of clout within their industry – the influencers – and those who have experience speaking at events. These people are usually your industry innovators and are the ones that are able to leave your attendees feeling inspired about the field they work within when they leave.

Professors, Journalists, Authors

These people may not work specifically in your industry, but their academic or intellectual background is what people are willing to pay to experience. Also, they are often professional speakers, which means they usually know how to work a crowd. They also can have higher fees as they can usually pick and choose what speaking fees they want.

Professional Speakers

This category includes motivational speakers and other professionals whose entire career is speaking engagements. These individuals can be excellent for drawing attention to your conference. They may be your TED talkers and futurists. They can be expensive as, like your professors and authors, they are often in high demand and can choose what events they want to speak at. But, they may or may not have the industry expertise you are looking for.

How to Identify the Best Speakers and Bring Them to YOUR Event

Once you know exactly what you want, it’s time to find your keynote speaker, narrow down your top picks, interview and then book the person who is going to launch your event with flying colors.

Set Aside Months, Not Weeks, to Find Your Speaker

For in-demand speakers, they often have their engagements booked months ahead of time. You want to figure out who you’d like to present as your keynote speaker as early as possible. Figure out your date and time, as well as the logistics early on. It’s not abnormal for event organizers to have their keynote booked, accommodations arranged, and the details of the presentation sketched out six months to a year in advance.

Wait until three or four months ahead of time and you may have to go to your third or fourth choice simply because your top picks are already booked. And worse, planning your event will end up becoming a lot more stressful.

Before you scope out potential speakers, know what budget you’re working with. That way, you can limit your search to those speakers your organization can afford.

Aim to Bring in Your Industry’s Thought Leaders

Look for a dynamic speaker who can set the tone for the entire conference. If you can afford him, former US president Barack Obama is one of the nation’s most popular–and riveting–speakers. However, unless your conference dovetails with areas within the former president’s expertise, there won’t be many practical takeaways your attendees can use.

For example, if your event is a gathering of urban planners, President Obama would be one fantastic speaker to snag. As someone with a keen interest in that field, the former president would provide your crowd with some insights they could apply to their work back home.

Not so much if yours is a gathering of tech entrepreneurs or car dealers. Techies might rather hear from Jeff Bezos or Bill Gates, while car dealers might line up for miles if former racer Derek Daly were the headliner. Not only would they inspire with their words, but their industry expertise will provide plenty of actionable advice for their business.

Ask your friends and colleagues who work for other companies in your industry if they’ve heard conference speakers who knocked their socks off with inspiring words and industry expertise. If they produce some great prospects, it’s well worth the time it takes to give them a call or pay them a visit.

If you’ve chosen a few names from your industry’s influencers and thought leaders, run them by your industry colleagues to see if they’ve heard them speak. This step can help you narrow down your list, making it easier to find the ideal speaker for your upcoming event.

Watch Your Speaker in Action

To whittle down your shortlist, you need to actually attend other events in the same industry that compete with you for attendees. This is the best way to get a clear idea of how they engage a crowd and if they would fit with the character and goals of your event. Look for industry experts that can go above and beyond the usual motivational dribble to inspire your attendees to become better versions of themselves.

It’s also worthwhile to attend industry events in general when you can, even when you aren’t scoping out a potential speaker. The more you experience stellar public speaking, the better you can understand the impact a really good speaker can have. You might even get a chance to network with potential speakers in person. You’ll also have an opportunity to market your own event informally as you meet others in your industry.

Fortunately for event organizers, the digital age makes scouting multiple speakers a lot easier. You can watch speakers present on YouTube or other platforms. For your short list, you can also request a professional reel. Speakers who are keynote worthy should have a reel already prepared and edited.

Make Sure They Have Experience with an Event Like Yours

As you narrow down your prospects, work closely with the other event planners to find a speaker that fits with your event’s chosen theme. For example, let’s say that you’re planning a conference for auto dealers, and your theme is “2024: Power and Speed.” For that theme, Derek Daly might be a great keynote speaker.

On the other hand, suppose your theme was “Luxury Elevated.” In that case, perhaps the CEO of one of your industry’s luxury car brands might be a better choice.

This is critical, especially if you are hiring a keynote speaker outside of your industry. Thought leaders will usually have specific experience with your events, as well as in-depth industry knowledge. If you are looking for a celebrity or motivational speaker, you need to do a little more digging to ensure they align with your conference.

If you find someone who isn’t necessarily in tune with your audience’s needs but may offer a good deal and a lot of promises, you may be doing more harm than you realize to your brand.

Enlist Their Help in Pre- and Post-Event Marketing

As the main feature of your event, you’ll squeeze a lot more orange juice out of your keynote speaker if they participate in the lead-up and the after effect. Someone who unleashes on the podium for half an hour before their grand exit isn’t going to make as positive of an impression as an individual who is 100 percent engaged.

The more time they can spend with your audience the better. Pre-event social posts and video interviews, answering questions at a special conference luncheon or networking dinner, doing a podcast interview after the event.

My good friend Andrew Davis is one of my favorite speakers (and this year’s keynote for Content Marketing World.)  He puts a lot of energy into his keynotes, engaging not just during the event, but before, after – he’s non-stop! And it pays off.

Check References

Contact the organizers of past events your keynote has spoken at. Were they easy to work with? Did they do enough research to create a spot-on presentation for the event? How did the collaboration process go for the speech – were the organizers left in the dark or was the content worked on together? How did the audience respond?

While your speaker may have a list of references to call, you may want to get in touch with unlisted references as well. Your organization is likely investing thousands of dollars into your keynote. Spending a little more time researching your candidate can give you peace of mind that you made a smart choice.

The Power of a Good Keynote

Never settle. Don’t stop until you’ve found a speaker who will make your event the one everyone will put on their calendar next year.

Once you’ve chosen your speaker, go out of your way to make her or him feel welcome. Don’t forget your full-press marketing strategy to ensure that your speaker has an attentive audience primed to hear what he or she says.

There’s something so much more impactful about watching a presentation from a skilled speaker than reading a book or blog post. Take advantage of the power of the spoken work with an incredible speaker who can address issues that keep your attendees up at night. Your event will gain a reputation that surpasses anything in your industry.

And with that, here’s a few clips of me having some fun on stages all around the world. I hope you enjoy. (And of course, if you’re looking for a keynote speaker, let me know.)

2 thoughts on “How to Choose Your Next Event’s Keynote Speaker

  1. Heidi Cohen

    Michael–

    Thank you for breaking down choosing a keynote. It’s useful for conference producers and speakers as well as content marketers.

    At the end of the day, talks are live content marketing. To succeed you must engage your audience, hopefully with a story.

    Happy marketing,
    Heidi

    Heidi Cohen – Actionable Marketing Guide

  2. Michael Brenner

    Thanks Heidi, that’s absolutely right. It’s not about the person on the stage but it’s all about the impact we can have on the audience!

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Michael Brenner

Michael Brenner is an international keynote speaker, author of "Mean People Suck" and "The Content Formula", and Founder of Marketing Insider Group. Recognized as a Top Content Marketing expert and Digital Marketing Leader, Michael leverages his experience from roles in sales and marketing for global brands like SAP and Nielsen, as well as his leadership in leading teams and driving growth for thriving startups. Today, Michael delivers empowering keynotes on marketing and leadership, and facilitates actionable workshops on content marketing strategy. Connect with Michael today.

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