How To Find Keynote Speakers For Your Next Event

When planning an event in your industry, you may be at a loss for how to find and book your keynote speaker. After all, your keynote is something like an event headliner. You will promote this person along with your event, and their talk will (hopefully!) draw in a substantial audience. So finding the right person and the right topic is important.

So how do you find the right person to serve as keynote speaker for your event?

Develop your topic idea

While your keynote speaker will ideally develop their final presentation on their own, your keynote address often sets the tone for your event and makes a crucial statement about the topic at hand. If you’re not sure yet who you want as your keynote speaker, deciding what you want the keynote speech to be about can help you narrow down your list.

Work with your event organizers to discuss what the main focus of your event will be. Are you providing networking opportunities for professionals in a particular field, hoping to educate professionals about a new technology, or showing off what your company is doing in a particular niche? Once you know what your event’s focus is, you can begin to discuss who would make an ideal keynote speaker.

Make sure your keynote isn’t repeated with other presentations

Your keynote address should set the tone for your event, and other events and presentations should expand on the initial topic, but should not repeat it. For example, if your keynote speaker discusses the state of CRM technology in generating sales leads, additional presentations might talk about implementing a CRM, the benefits of an on-site CRM versus cloud software, or how to get your sales team on board with a new CRM.

Look for influencers and thought leaders

The ideal keynote speaker will add gravitas and interest to your event. This is especially true if your event doesn’t have much history in your industry. The goal of publicizing your speakers, after all, is to bring their specific audiences to your event.

While current industry professionals are often accomplished and fascinating speakers, looking for those who also have an online presence through social media or blogging is also important. Those who already have an online platform will have an easier time publicizing their participation in your event, which will make them more valuable partners for your event.

Search online

Your event is not the first one to search for a speaker, and there are many different online resources to help you find someone who is ready and excited to connect with your event. From people who have websites devoted to their availability as keynote speakers, to cruising through your LinkedIn contacts, to websites that allow you to post your topic and receive proposals, there are a wide variety of options out there for events organizers. Take a look to see if something speaks to you.

Connect with your Chamber of Commerce

This can be especially useful if your event is centered on the local community. Asking at your Chamber who might be interested in speaking at your event can help you begin networking your overall event, and also connect you with an interested and exciting speaker. Business owners are often looking for chances to improve their reputation and reach in their area.

Ask at the local University

Professors, leaders of local business incubators, and the heads of MBA programs, are often great candidates for keynote speakers. These individuals have a lot of insight into the business community in general, with a special focus on the local community. Depending on your event topic, this can leave them in an ideal position to present a balanced and interesting point of view to kick off your day or weekend of talks and events.

Be open to surprises

Many events begin with a dream speaker and right location, someone who you think would be absolutely perfect and give your event the perfect tone. If you can book that person, fantastic, but the initial people we think of for these roles are often too expensive, too busy, or too important to make it to a smaller, or more locally focused, event.

If this is the case for your dream keynote speaker, don’t feel like you’re settling by booking someone else. Remember that your dream speaker was unknown once. By finding someone different and new, you are potentially opening an entirely new door in your event and your career, learning more about a new facet of the industry, and discovering more diverse perspectives on your favorite topic.

Finding and booking your keynote speaker should be fun and exciting. Explore the possibilities and find someone who will work well with your event.