Five Helpful Tips to Maximize the ROI From Your Speakers
Most organizations and speaker bureaus stop communicating with each other as soon as the contract is signed. Both parties typically wait until they get closer to the event date to start firming up logistics, content and other key deliverables.
We view this as a lost opportunity! While your speakers’ commitment might be for a specific event– if you present them with the right opportunities—they’d be more than willing to partner with you on different initiatives.
You need to be in the driver’s seat to maximize your ROI from the speakers. Below are five helpful tips for you to keep in mind to derive the most value—beyond the conference– from your speakers.
Set up a Design Call
As the name suggests, the purpose of a design call is to help the speaker design the right content and prep for your event. Use this as an opportunity to brief the speaker on your organization, event, products, vision, mission and values. Also, use the design call to learn more about speakers’ area of expertise and the topic they are planning to present at your conference. Find common themes, messages and content that would resonate with your audience. Discuss the room size, the number of attendees and the ideal format for the presentation. Additionally, share any sensitivities that your leadership or attendees might have toward certain words or topics. It is your job to educate the speakers and help them tailor their content to your messaging.
Review Their Presentation
Once you brief the speaker, ask them to share their presentation with you in advance. Again, review the presentation to make sure all the key topics and messages that you were expecting the speaker to cover are indeed included. If not, make suggestions and provide feedback. Also, make sure your event team tests the presentation to make sure the slides are in the right format, all the links to the vides/audio clips are embedded and all images are high resolution. You don’t want to deal with any technical difficulties (that can be easily avoided) on the day of the event.
Inquire About Book Signing and Other Promotions
If your speakers have any books they’d like to promote, offer them an opportunity to sign books for your attendees. Not only will this help the speakers promote and sell their book but would also give attendees an opportunity to interact with the speakers on a one on one basis. It’s a win win for both attendees and the speakers.
Schedule Meet and Greets and Networking Opportunities
In addition to book signings, organizing meet and greets with speakers and offering attendees an opportunity to take a photo with them are additional things to consider. Scheduling a dinner with select attendees, a private group discussion with your valuable customers or an intimate workshop with your executives can lay the foundation for a long-term relationship with the speaker.
Record Podcasts and Video Interviews
To fully leverage your speakers, you should look for opportunities to create content that has a shelf-life beyond the event. Explore the possibility of recording a podcast at the event or even prior to the event if the speaker is going to have limited bandwidth at the event. Ask if the speaker would be willing to participate in a video interview, a Tweet chat or a Facebook live. At the very least, check if you can record the presentation and use snippets in marketing materials down the road.
Whether you are looking for keynote speakers or speakers for breakout sessions, we can help. We understand that speaking fee is a significant investment and a hefty chunk of the overall event budget.
At ROKK Speakers, we pride ourselves in not only finding the best speakers for our clients but also helping them maximize their investment in speakers.
Email us today to learn how we can help.