Hosting a corporate event can feel like an overwhelming prospect. There’s so much to take care of, from finding the ideal venue that’s large enough to accommodate your guests, to organizing the catering, and putting together the guest list. With so much to do, corporate events usually take many, many months of planning.
There’s no escaping that organizing a corporate event can be an intense task. However, it’s vital to pay attention to all the small details to ensure that your event turns out exactly as you had hoped. All that organization and planning will be more than worth it when it comes to the big day, and your guests leave with a positive impression of your business after having an enjoyable time.
The key to a successful corporate event is to think carefully about each detail to ensure that the event is cohesive and leaves a lasting impression on your guests. One of the main factors that will play a role in the success of your event is choosing the right keynote speaker. The keynote speaker is the highlight of the event, so it’s vital that you choose them carefully. If you’re wondering how to choose the perfect keynote speaker for your event, these tips should help to make your decision a little easier.
Consider the Aim of Your Event
When choosing a keynote speaker, it’s helpful to start by thinking about the aim of your event. Considering the theme of your event and the overarching aim that you want to achieve by hosting it, is an excellent way to narrow down your choice of keynote speaker. For example, is your event designed to position your company as a driving force for technology in your industry? Or, is your event aimed at inspiring your team to think about the future of your business?
Once you understand the specific aim of your event, it will become so much simpler to decide on the type of keynote speaker you are looking for, and the subject you want them to focus on discussing.
Think About Logistics
Thinking about logistics may not be exciting, but it’s a crucial consideration when choosing a keynote speaker. Whether your event is live and in-person or will be hosted online and then streamed is an essential factor to consider.
Deciding on where and when your event will be hosted will help you to assess availability of your preferred keynote speakers. If you intend to stream your event online, this could offer you more flexibility, as your keynote speaker may be able to deliver their talk from wherever they are. This means that you won’t need to account for the extra costs involved in your speaker’s travel and accommodation, and you won’t need to consider travel times to the venue.
Once you have narrowed down your choice of keynote speakers, it’s vital to think about availability and to share the date of your event quickly. Spending lots of time thinking about which keynote speaker you would like can waste valuable time when it comes to securing their booking. This can mean that you miss out on your number one choice if they are booked for another event in the meantime. This will sting even more if they are booked by one of your competitors.
Understand Your Audience
So far, you may have decided what the aim of your event is, and you may have narrowed down dates, so that you can check the availability of potential keynote speakers. Your next task will be to focus on your audience. Understanding your audience is absolutely crucial for your event to be a success. A keynote speaker that you find fascinating may not have the same impact on your audience. So, it’s crucial to assess your guest list and get a better understanding of who your audience is, and the type of information and experience they will hope to gain from listening to the keynote speech.
Assess the Credentials of Potential Keynote Speakers
It’s vital that the keynote speaker you choose has experience of delivering speeches at similar events, and has the experience necessary to speak with authority and confidence. You need to feel reassured that your keynote speaker can deliver an impressive speech that adds value to your event and is positively received by your audience.
Assessing the credentials of your potential keynote speakers is the best way to establish whether or not they are suitable. So, if you are looking for a digital transformation speaker, you need to ensure that the speaker you choose is recognized as a major player in the field of transformation and is respected.
Having an established figure of authority on the subject of your event delivering a speech to your audience can significantly raise the profile of your event and secure increased interest and attention among others in your industry.
Watch Their Previous Talks
When selecting your keynote speaker, it’s vital to understand that no two keynote speakers are the same. You don’t want to hire a speaker who will discuss the same topics, in the exact same way as every other speaker you have seen at recent corporate events. Instead, you want a keynote speaker who is fresh, innovative, and provides an interesting perspective on the topic.
Watching previous talks given by the keynote speaker will give you a clearer idea of topics they discuss and whether they deliver their speeches in a way that will hold the attention of your audience.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right keynote speaker can make or break your corporate event. So, taking your time to select the perfect keynote speaker is absolutely essential. As you can see from the points mentioned above, there are many factors to consider when choosing a keynote speaker for your event. So, it’s important to carry out thorough research to ensure you make the right choice. You will then find your hard work has paid off, and you can relax and listen to your keynote speaker and enjoy their talk alongside the audience.
