How to Find a Presenter that is a Good Fit for Your Event

Is your company planning on running a conference or other event in the near future? You will probably want to hire a speaker to make a presentation. A speaker can really make or break an event. Here are some tips to hire a compelling speaker that will resonate with your audience.

Keep the Purpose of the Presentation in Mind

You will need to consider the purpose of your presentation. Are you looking for a keynote speaker? Are you looking for somebody to speak a few words at a meet and greet? The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers has some great tips to consider here.

Speakers specialize in certain types of venues. You will need to find one that knows how to work the event.

Understand the Mindset of Your Audience

You need to know what your audience is looking for before hiring a speaker. Here are some questions that you will need to ask:

• What is the purpose of my event?
• Who will be attending?
• What problems, fears or challenges are they facing?

You need to make sure that the speaker can empathize with your audience and offer the solutions that they are looking for.

Set Aside Your Own Prejudices

You may strongly support the points that a particular speaker focuses on. Many members of your audience may agree with them as well. However, some of your visitors may also be offended by their position. It is always a good idea to avoid any speakers that take controversial positions on anything, even if you agree with them.

Bernard College had to learn that lesson the hard way. The college got a lot of criticism for choosing a speaker from Planned Parenthood.

Consider Professional Milestones

People don’t want to hear from a speaker that doesn’t have anything meaningful to say. You need to find somebody that is an undisputed authority on what they have to say.

You will want to look carefully at the resumes of every speaker that you are considering. They should highlight any relevant experiences and accomplishments that would make them an excellent speaker. Industry leaders, best-selling authors and people with relevant skill sets can make the best speakers.

Communication Style

Communication styles can vary greatly between professional speakers. Some have a wonderful sense of humor, while others prefer to get right to business.

Once again, you will need to consider your audience’s expectations before choosing them. Linda Larsen specializes in helping her customers find great motivational speakers. This may be what some businesses are looking for, but others really want speakers that can speak in a more formal atmosphere. Decide what communication style would work best for your customers and find a speaker that can deliver.

Ask for a Sample Presentation

It is always a good idea to see the speaker in action before making a decision. You may want to check out their website to see if they have any videos from prior events. You may also want to try attending one of their other events. This can be a great way to see how they interact with a live audience.

Kalen is a entrepreneur and a former member of Toastmasters. He shares tips about public speaking, which you can find at the Leading authorities blog, which discusses tips from some of the best speakers in the profession.