Author: Tim Decker

 

 

Most corporate events and conferences will have one or more keynote speakers at the event.

 
These speakers may range from members of the corporate office to a highly sought after keynote speaker. Often times it will be a combination of the two.

When an event spans over the course of multiple days and more than one speaker is needed, supplementing with speakers that already work for the company can be a great resource for conserving the budget. People you can turn to include the CEO and upper level management like department heads.

Department heads can be a great choice since they understand the day to day operations and are better attuned to the needs of the employees.

CEO’s can also be an asset since they rose to their position for a reason. They understand the value of hard work and know what it takes to make a business thrive, so they can share that insight with the crowd. However, when you really want to wow and make an impact, hiring a professional keynote speaker may be just what you need.

Is hiring a keynote speaker necessary?

 
There are a lot of benefits to investing in a keynote speaker. You may be tempted to only use in house speakers at your event, but that could be a big mistake. While the head of the sales department knows the in and outs of the business, a professional speaker knows how to inspire a crowd and elicit change.

Once you start looking into hiring a professional keynote speaker, you may feel a little overwhelmed. There are probably a lot of questions running through your mind. How do I find the right speaker? What topic should they speak on? What does the speaker need from me?

This guide has you covered. The process doesn’t have to complicated. Let’s get started with just some of the countless benefits of hiring a keynote speaker.

 

What are some of the benefits of hiring a keynote speaker for your corporate event or conference?

 

Create a buzz about your event.

Hiring a unique or well known keynote speaker is a great way to get people talking about your event before it even happens. This interest will draw people in and, in turn, increase attendance numbers.

Drive home a point.

Keynote speakers are a great way to reinforce an objective. Sometimes it can be hard to get people to understand the importance of your message, but this is where a professional speaker shines.

Show that challenges can be overcome.

Using their own stories about facing obstacles, a keynote speaker will show the crowd that perseverance pays off.

Promote creativity.

Every job requires some level of creativity even if you are not in a field that is typically thought of as creative. Creativity is needed everyday to come up with new ideas and solve problems. A keynote speaker can get people to think outside the box.

Offer encouragement and boost confidence.

When people feel like they are seen and appreciated, so much can be accomplished. A keynote speaker will remind them that they too are capable of doing great things.

Inspire & motivate the crowd.

A keynote speaker has built their career from the ground up. They have experienced both highs and lows and come out on top. Using real life stories about their experiences, they can get the audience excited about facing whatever comes their way.

Share knowledge on a subject.

There are many areas that a keynote speaker can specialize in and they are experts at sharing that information in an understandable and relatable manner.

Increase productivity.

A great keynote speaker is able to give attendees the extra push they need to take things up a notch. They can help instill a sense of pride that will result in better work habits.

Promote change.

Many people are afraid of change, but change can be a wonderful thing.  A keynote speaker knows that if you don’t change, you can’t experience personal or professional growth.

Bring in a new perspective.

A keynote speaker can bring in a fresh take on old topics. They are great at looking at things from the outside and inspiring new ways of thinking.

Reward guests with a good time.

Many keynote speakers incorporate humor and other talents to supplement their speech. Choosing a speaker with an entertainment factor is a great way to show employee or client appreciation. This can be accomplished with an act like globally touring Speed Painter and Speaker Tim Decker. He combines a high energy speed painting show with an inspirational message and the result is truly motivating!

You should never overlook the impact a keynote speaker can have on your corporate event or conference. There are just too many benefits to ignore. Finding the right speaker will truly inspire guests and take your event to the next level.

Remember this event is about more than sales numbers and new product lines, it is also about making people feel motivated, appreciated, and ready to tackle any task.

 

What are some possible keynote topics for your event?

Before you to start your search for a keynote speaker, you should have an idea about the purpose of the corporate event and the message you are trying to portray. Has morale been down and you just want some general motivation? Maybe there have been too many squabbles in the office and you want to emphasize the importance of teamwork. Here are just some of the topics that keynote speakers can address.

Motivation

Every workplace can benefit from a motivational speaker. It’s a proven fact that happy employees make productive workers. There are times when the conditions at a job don’t feel as ideal as one would like and when as a whole, the group has hit a slump or doesn’t feel appreciated. This would be a great time to hire a motivational speaker. A motivational speaker will be someone who has experienced lows and challenges themselves and through time, effort, and positivity has achieved great success. They will have what it takes to get the crowd pumped and see things from a new perspective.

Inspiration

An inspirational speaker is someone who has an uplifting story to tell about how they personally overcame obstacles in their own life through the power of positivity. Through the telling of their harrowing story, the inspirational speaker will help audience to realize they surely can overcome the everyday hitches in their own lives. This is a great way to re-energize and inspire people to be grateful for the positive experiences in their lives and always strive to give it their all.

Leadership

Addressing topics like leadership can be very useful in any workplace whether geared towards managers within a district or hourly staff that you wish would take more initiative. A keynote speaker on this subject will touch upon the many areas that an individual should work on in order to be a good leader. These include concepts like listening to ideas from all levels, innovative thinking, and keeping the team motivated and united.

Teamwork

There is no I in team…as the saying goes. To be successful, most companies rely upon a group of people working together as a team to achieve a common goal. A keynote speaker on the topic of teamwork will express just how much more can be accomplished through the sharing of ideas and combining of strengths.

Change

Albert Einstein once said, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” This is very much true in both our personal and professional lives. If a company and its employees are not willing to mix things up and adapt with the times, the business will surely suffer. This may mean anything from incorporating more technology to a change in management. A keynote speaker can show people that being open to change keeps things fresh which will in turn increase sales and productivity.

Innovation

A keynote speaker on innovation knows that creative thinking is the best way to get ahead and stand out in the crowd. They can speak about how the most successful businesses and people are those who think outside the box and bring new ideas to the table. Attendees should leave ready to challenge the old ways of thinking and ready to try out new approaches to achieve greater success.

Branding

Creating brand awareness is more than having a cool logo. It’s creating a company that has a consistent message and listens to the needs of consumers. Branding is about creating an experience that people cannot find elsewhere and, in turn, give you loyalty. A keynote speaker on branding can provide tips on how to create a strong brand that will resonate with consumers for the long haul.

Creativity

When people think of creativity they often think of people like artists, actors, and writers, but the truth is all jobs require some level of creativity. Whatever your company specializes in there is always a need for people to problem solve and come up with new ideas, both of which are best done by creative people. Having a keynote speaker talk on this subject can help people think about everyday things in new ways and help them to realize their full creative potential, leading to higher motivation and productivity.

Growth

A keynote speaker on growth is someone who has built a business from the ground up. They know the secrets of starting with just an idea and creating a successful, thriving business. They can share the importance of setting goals, solving problems, and believing in yourself in order to see your business reach it maximum potential.

Overcoming Adversity

There are many situations in which a company may face challenges that affect staff. Perhaps a bad economy or increased competition is leading to low sales or maybe you are trying to launch a new idea that no one else believes in. Overcoming adversity is something that many keynote speakers have done themselves to get to their current standing. They can offer insight on how pushing on and sticking with it pays off in the long run.

Entrepreneur

An entrepreneur keynote speaker knows what it’s like to start with just a dream and build something amazing from absolutely nothing. Through their real world experience, they will be able to share how they stuck with it even when things weren’t easy and did things their own way to become the success they are today.

Entertainment

Lastly, sometimes people just need a chance to relax and have a good time. That’s where a corporate entertainer would come in. They have the ability to make people laugh and forget about the everyday stress of work life. A corporate entertainer has the ability to tie in messages in subtle ways that do not over power the show and take away the sense of fun. This is a great option to recognize employees for their hard work or thank clients for their loyalty.

These are just a few examples of commonly sought after keynote speaker speech topics. These tend to be the keynote topics and issues that pretty much every company will deal with at one point or another and make a great starting point when deciding the focus of your corporate event.

 
What are some helpful tips when it comes to hiring a keynote speaker?
Now that you have realized the importance of bringing in a keynote speaker to your event, it’s time to start the hiring process. Here are some of the issues to address when planning to hire a keynote speaker.

Determine a date, time, and location. 
Until you know this information, it will be impossible to book a keynote speaker. Clearly, this information is vital in order for the speaker to inform you of their availability for your event.

Decide if you will book through a speakers bureau or if you will hire the keynote speaker directly.

A speakers bureau can be a great resource to find speakers since they represent many speakers on various topics. Sort of like a one stop shop. However, if you are looking to save a little on budget and have an idea of what you are looking for, booking direct is a great option.

Calculate the speaker budget for your corporate event or conference.

This should include the keynote speakers base fee along with travel, lodging, and any stipend expenses. Also, after reviewing the speaker’s rider, you may find that you need to include costs for extra AV equipment that may not already be provided at the event.

Determine the purpose for hiring a keynote speaker.

Know what message you are trying to portray through the speaker.  Some common purposes include: to educate, to motivate, to encourage change, to inform, and simply to entertain.

Know your demographics.

Knowing things like ratio of male to females or primary age range of attendees will be invaluable when hiring a keynote speaker. Demographics will help you to decide if a particular speaker will be appropriate and well received by the crowd.

Be prepared to share information about your company.

The keynote speaker will do some of their own research for your event, but you can make their lives easier by providing any relevant information. Aside from demographics, this may include things like top competitors, company lingo, your mission statement, or the event theme.

Decide on the best timing for you speaker.

Do you want the keynote speaker to open event or close it out? This will all depend upon the topic and purpose of the speaker. Another area for which most speakers will gladly give you their insight.

Take the keynote speakers requirements seriously.

Speakers do not provide a rider to be difficult. They do so to provide those at your event the best  experience possible. This is what they do for a living, so they know what works and what is necessary to pull off a flawless speech that will have the greatest impact.

What are some questions you should be asking regarding the keynote speaker? 

Hopefully, most of your questions have been answered through the speakers website and media kit. However, here are a few things you may want to ask before you get in too deep.

Can the speaker provide references?

This is a great way to gauge experience and overall satisfaction of those who have hired the speaker in the past. It will also give you an idea of the kind of company and events the keynote speaker has worked for in other settings.

What are the speakers fees, deposit policy, and process for payment?

Obviously, fees are one of the first questions a person has when hiring a speaker. However, make sure you also find out about any deposit deadlines, as well as the preferred method for the keynote speaker to receive payment.

What does the keynote speaker specifically require in regards to staging, lighting, and other audiovisual needs?

The speaker will most likely provide a rider with all relevant information. Look over it very carefully to ensure that you are capable of providing what is needed and that everything fits into your budget.

Does the keynote presentation involve audience interaction?

There are some speakers who stand behind a podium and never look up from their notes. They may be brilliant about a specific topic, but the will not be able to engage the crowd. Look for someone who speaks TO the audience rather than AT them.

Is the keynote speaker both entertaining and informative?

Again, the key to finding a great speaker is finding someone who is engaging. People will be more likely to absorb what is being said when the speaker is likable and presents the information in a unique and entertaining manner.

Is it possible to include the company logo on any slides and handouts?

Not all keynote speakers will have handouts and powerpoint slides, however if they do and you would like your company logo or slogan to be incorporated into these things be sure to have a conversation about it.

Does the keynote speaker hard sell from the podium?

A speaker who uses his or her platform solely to sell books or t shirts rather than inspire the crowd is not someone you want at your event. A better option is allowing guests to meet and greet afterwards to give the speaker a professional manner to sell material.

Will he or she be accessible to attendees after the speech?

Is the speaker open to doing a meet and greet or a question and answer session after they are done speaking? When a keynote speaker is truly passionate and informative attendees will really appreciate the extra face time.

These are just a few of the things to consider when trying to find the perfect keynote speaker for your corporate event or conference.

 

 

What information should you share with your keynote speaker?

Odds are the speaker you hire will send a questionnaire or ask you questions pertaining to your event. This is so they can get a greater understanding of your company, what your message and goals are, and a get a feel for the people who will be in attendance.

Providing a little background information can help ensure that the speaker will give a speech well suited to your audience. Here are some examples of information that may be helpful to a keynote speaker.

◾ What is your company’s mission?

◾ What are your company’s strengths?

◾ Were there any major events like mergers, layoffs, or new product launches recently?

◾ What is the objective of the corporate event or conference?

◾ What products or services does your company primarily provide?

◾ Do attendees know each other?

◾ What are the positions and ranks of the audience?

◾ What have you liked about past speakers?

◾ Is your company currently facing any challenges?

See and print the full list of helpful information to provide a keynote speaker here: Pre-Keynote Questionnaire

 

How should the room be set up for the keynote speaker ?

Room layout has the power to make or break a speech for a keynote speaker. If there are distractions or people cannot see what’s going on, how can they be expected to take anything away from the experience?

With all the effort put into finding the perfect keynote speaker, just as much effort should be put into the room setup in order for attendees to get the most out of the event. While most keynote speakers will provide a specific list with their requirements, here are some general tips as to what works well in this environment.

Most keynote speakers will agree that theater style seating tends to works best.

 
◾ With theater seating you get the best use of space and the chair arrangement allows for optimal viewing for all in attendance. This is especially true for large groups and speakers with a lot of visual aids.

◾ Consider blocking off the back rows to encourage guests to fill in the front first. Nothing is more discouraging for a keynote speaker than looking out and seeing large gaps in the front of the audience.

Provide the keynote speaker with a stage whenever possible.

 
◾ Being elevated ensures that everyone will be able to see the speaker and any props or visual aids that they decide to use.

◾ Make sure the stage is large enough for the keynote speaker to move around as they talk. Check his or her rider for specific requirements, however a minimum of 12×16 feet tends to work well.

◾ Stage placement is very important. If you are erecting a stage, try to place the it away from any doorways that guests and staff will be coming in and out of to avoid any distractions to the keynote speaker.

Avoid using round tables if possible.

 
◾ Theater seating is not always an option, so when using a setup involving tables, try to avoid round ones whenever possible. It can make for an uncomfortable experience for those with their backs to the stage.

◾ Find the optimal spacing between the tables and stage. Placing tables too far from stage causes feelings of detachment and disinterest. This will often lead to people talking among themselves, even over the keynote speakers themselves.

◾ Avoid placing the tables too close together. Be sure to allow room for staff and guests to walk around if needed.

Test every piece of equipment.

 
◾ From the lighting to the electrical outlets and everything in between. Test it all, even if the techs try to tell you it’s good to go. The last thing you want is malfunctions at showtime.

Again, this is just some general insight into setting up a room in preparation for a keynote speaker. Each speaker will have his or her own preferences that they will provide to you in addition to requirements regarding sound, lighting, and other audiovisual needs.

How do you evaluate the keynote speaker’s performance?

Once the event is over, it can be helpful to gauge the audience’s reaction to the speakers you hired. This gives you a better idea of what worked and what didn’t. Going forward, you’ll know what kind of keynote speakers resonate with your crowd. The survey can be as generic or specific as you like.

Include questions such as:

◾ Did the speaker talk about issues relevant to the workplace?

◾ What was the most valuable information presented?

◾ Are you interested in hearing this keynote speaker at a future event?

◾ What was your favorite takeaway?

You can also have attendees rate the speakers enthusiasm, professionalism, and knowledge if relevant to your event.

This is your chance to discover if the speaker was a good fit for your event. Being able to gauge how well the keynote was received will be helpful when hiring speakers in the future.

If you had multiple keynote speakers at your corporate event of conference, make sure to evaluate them all! It can be a great opportunity to learn how your audience prefers to interact and receive information.

See and print the full survey here: Keynote Speaker Evaluation Form

 

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Still looking for a unique keynote speaker for your next corporate event of conference?

Go back:
Benefits of a Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker Topics
Tips for Hiring a Keynote Speaker
Questions to Ask a Keynote Speaker
Info to Share with the Keynote Speaker
Optimum Room Layout for a Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker Evaluation