The keynote presentation at the start of a conference or event sets the tone for everything to follow. A power keynote energizes and inspires the audience, preparing them to attend breakout sessions and get the most out of the entire experience. A dull or dry keynote has the opposite effect, resulting in lower satisfaction ratings and higher dropout rates throughout the day.
With this in mind, the importance of choosing top quality, highly effective keynote speakers is evident. Working with a trusted speaker agency is one of the top ways to find this ideal keynote presenter without all the challenges of trying to do it on your own.
Suppose you are working with a speaker agency or attempting to hire keynote speakers from websites or social media posts. In that case, there are some similar questions and considerations that will help you make the right choice.
What is the theme or message?
Experienced and highly rated keynote speakers can tailor their presentations to the message, theme, or desired outcome for a specific event. The speaker should have a message that will resonate with the audience to inspire or motivate while also providing entertainment and real-world value.
Unfortunately, not all people marketing themselves as keynote speakers have this unique combination of talent and passion for sharing their knowledge and insight. A top keynote presenter will actively work with the committee to ensure they deliver a message that is in keeping with the event’s theme.
Name Appeal
Assess the value of the name recognition or name appeal value of the keynote under consideration. Keynotes do not have to be famous people for a specific industry event, but they should be thought leaders or recognized individuals within that industry or a related industry.
On the other hand, a public sector event or a charity gala would benefit from a celebrity name as the keynote. This is more impactful if the celebrity is aligned with the event through their own philanthropic endeavors.
Always take the time to consider the value the keynote brings to the conference or event. Review past presentations and review the types of conferences the keynote has presented at in the past to evaluate their fit for your upcoming event. For more information, please visit JLA.
