The Art of Keynote Speaking: Setting the Tone for Success
Every conference, seminar, or event hinges on the keynote speaker to set the stage and establish the overall atmosphere. The impact of a keynote speaker is profound; their message resonates throughout the event, influencing attendees and shaping the event’s success.
Understanding Keynote Roles
Daily Keynotes: The Daily Inspiration
At a multi-day conference, a keynote speaker kickstarts each day with a theme-relative presentation, ensuring attendees are present and engaged from the start. This role demands not only alignment with the overarching conference theme but also careful consideration of the day’s specific topics and ideas.
The Balancing Act: Inspiration and Relevance
Contrary to popular belief, keynote speakers do not always need to be ‘motivational’ or ‘inspirational’. While their speeches should inspire and create a sense of possibility, they must be grounded in the event’s specific context. A balance between positivity and relevance is crucial for an effective keynote.
Closing Keynotes: Leaving a Lasting Impression
A closing keynote speaker’s role is to ensure that attendees stay until the very end of the event. Their speech sets the tone for how attendees will remember the event and apply their learnings in their daily lives. An optimistic and inspiring message about the future of the represented industry or community often makes for an excellent closing keynote.
Attract and Engage: The Art of Pulling Audiences
A keynote speaker plays a crucial role in attracting attendees and creating a sense of anticipation for the event. Whether through reputation or relevance, their value should compel people to attend.
Social Media Engagement: Amplifying Event Visibility
In the digital age, event organizers prefer keynote speakers active on social media. Their online presence can help promote the event and increase audience engagement, both before and during the event.
Identifying the Ideal Keynote Speaker
Given the keynote speaker’s significance, it’s worth investing time and effort to find the perfect match.
Utilizing Search Engines
When searching online, be specific. Include your industry name, event theme, and location along with “keynote speaker”. However, keep in mind that a high search engine ranking does not necessarily equate to a great speaker.
Word of Mouth Recommendations
Ask trusted peers for their recommendations. They may suggest speakers they’ve seen before or speakers they’d like to hear at your event.
Speaking Bureaus
Consultants from speaking bureaus can recommend speakers based on their extensive experience. While some speakers may absorb the bureau commission, others prefer to deal directly with you, offering a professional and efficient experience.
Deep Dive Inspection
Once you’ve identified potential speakers, watch their videos to understand their style. Try to view complete speeches instead of just showreels to get an authentic feel of their delivery.
Candidate Calls
If you have a shortlist, set up calls with the speakers to ensure the event’s topic and messaging are a good fit.
Ensuring a Perfect Keynote Match
Several factors contribute to making your chosen keynote speaker a perfect match.
Comprehensive Briefing
A thorough briefing is essential for the speaker to understand all aspects of the event. This includes the conference hosts, event objectives, theme, audience demographics, and specific outcomes expected from the keynote.
Customized Speeches
While existing speeches may occasionally fit perfectly, most events require the keynote speaker to tailor their content and delivery. This customization ensures they hit the mark and sets the tone for the event’s success.
Engaging Presentations
The keynote speaker needs to engage the audience from the start, often first thing in the morning when attendees are still warming up. This requires a compelling presentation style, a light and humorous tone, and a deep understanding of the audience.
Audience Understanding
The speaker should demonstrate their understanding of the audience and their issues. This may involve research to ensure the keynote’s relevance to your industry.
Making the Right Choice
The perfect keynote speaker can change how people think and inspire them long after the event concludes. Therefore, choosing the right keynote speaker is a task of utmost importance.
Wes Berry is a Keynote Speaker and Workshop facilitator with the professional skills and real-life experience to deliver on any stage. He is a TEDx Speaker and a Wall Street Journal best-selling author; he has written sixteen books in the business and success genres. As an entrepreneur, he built a $750 million international company that operated in 130 countries. Wes has even done some standup comedy as well as radio and television.
