Selecting a good speaker is one of the key essentials to hosting a successful conference. It is a crucial process that can either ‘make or break’ your forum. Your guest speaker selection can often be a tough task as the topics may vary. Here, Shireen Karamchand, Events Co-ordinator at the Royal Palm Hotel, Umhlanga, shares her experience to advise you on how to choose the best keynote speakers for your event.

Determine your audience and their needs

We all understand the value a high-profile keynote speaker can bring to your conference. To find the most suitable speaker, one needs to work out what the main purpose for the conference is as well as the audience that will be present. Once that information is obtained, you then need to look at the different types of speakers and determine which one will suit your conference the best. Here are a few examples of the different types of speakers you may want to book:

• The motivational speaker – who often use their own life experiences and knowledge with the intention of inspiring and capturing their audience. They can sustain the attention of large audiences better than most. They are also deeply connected with the subject at hand.
• The humourist – Delivers his messages with humour making it easier to remember.
• The celebrity speaker – Having a celebrity speaker is a great way to draw in an audience. They provide excitement to the audience.

Before you choose a speaker

Once you have selected the type of speaker you want for your conference, there are a number of questions you need to ask yourself before you choose “the one”. Here are a few suggestions worth considering:

• Will they go the extra mile? – Obviously the speaker you choose is of utmost importance, but putting them on a pedestal may lead them into becoming a bit too arrogant. You need to look into hiring a speaker that is confident in themselves and their ability but also humble enough to really engage with the audience in a genuine way. You need someone who will go the extra mile to lend a helping hand to your team. Having a speaker that will stick around, even after the conference, to connect with your audience makes a huge difference to participants.
• Consider your budget – Be realistic about the amount of money you can spend on hiring a keynote speaker. Keep in mind that there may be additional costs involved such as travel allowances. Before making the final decision, draw up a budget that you can propose to your speaker to avoid any misunderstandings.
• Do your research – Follow up on the references your potential guest speaker may have included in their resume to see if they have experience in speaking at a similar type of event. Choosing a well experienced speaker is one of your critical success factors.
• Converse with your speaker before booking them – This is a great way in determining their speaking style and getting some understanding on how they engage and connect with people as well as see whether they will be appropriate for your conference.
• Don’t settle – Set the parameters from the beginning so that your speaker knows what is expected of them. Also provide them with a guideline so that they will be able to do the necessary research in advance.

If you follow this strategy and process then you should consistently choose great speakers that have a positive impact on your audience and achieve the aim of your conference. Your company’s reputation will surely benefit as a result and you will be viewed favorably by your superiors.