Guest and keynote speakers need to deliver addresses that are warm, engaging and authoritative. Authenticity makes all the difference between a forgettable speech and one that leaves a lasting impact. And as with any performer, you as the talent are inseparable from the message itself. After deciding that you have what it takes to be a professional speaker, learning how to come across as genuine is paramount. Here, we will explore seven steps required to become the authentic speaker your audience will never forget.

Begin with your authentic passions and lived experience.

Authenticity begins with focusing on topics you know. You need speaking topics where your lived experience has led to deep familiarity. Just as importantly, you need to be passionate about your subject. Audiences will pick up on any lack of enthusiasm. 

First, develop topics where your personal and professional life provide interesting insights, amusing anecdotes and transformational outcomes. But make sure to avoid embellishment of your knowledge and experience. In the digital age, your true history will be discovered. You can likely think of several examples of politicians being caught in misrepresentations. Plus, question-and-answer periods will certainly test your credibility.

Define how your speaking topics benefit your audience.

Yes, you are the person at the center stage. But ultimately, public addresses are not about you. The best public speakers have just as much passion for improving the lives of their audiences as they have for their speaking topics. The best motivational speakers truly want to empower people and transform lives.

To get started, define who your audience is and how your keynote address will benefit them. Know exactly the key elements you want your audience to remember. Likewise, provide clear calls to action so that people know how to get started. Without taking these steps, you can come across as inauthentic in your desire to advocate for change.

Don’t try to be someone else in your speaking address.

This is the most challenging step in some ways. Yes, it’s important to learn from the great public speakers such as Kindra Hall, Jay Shetty and Simon T. Bailey. You want to watch videos and learn from the top TED speakers of today. But learning from the best public speakers does not mean impersonating them.

In developing your stage presence, be sure to make it an extension of your personality, not an alter-ego. Be yourself as much as possible without putting on an act to establish your credibility and gain your audience’s trust.

Redirecting your nervousness.

There’s nothing wrong with being nervous—it’s a normal and common reaction to public speaking. With time, you will learn how to channel your inner confidence and let it shine through. 

So what do you do with all that anxiety and nervous energy? The answer is to redirect it. Psychology Today recommends a distracting exercise—singing the first song that comes to mind, and following that with “a song lyric that contains the last word sung from the previous song.” Keep going until you cheer up or start to feel ridiculous, then take stock of how you feel. 

Additionally, Inc. magazine compiled a list of three ways to “harness your nervous energy,” including meditating and labeling your emotions

Rehearse your speech delivery.

It may sound counterintuitive, but speaking with authenticity requires rehearsal. Lack of proper familiarity with the beats of your public address will only add to the unnatural pauses and “ums” that result from a lack of preparation. Even if you know your subject inside and out, unpreparedness can make you appear inauthentic.

To prepare, record your delivery both in rehearsal and at events. Test your speech with family, friends or associates. You may consider starting a YouTube channel or podcast. Local events, fraternal organizations, graduation ceremonies and churches each provide opportunities to hone your message. Then, you are better prepared for the next step for becoming an authentic speaker: focusing on your audience.

Focus on and engage your audience to build a personal connection.

Many public speakers quickly establish a personal connection with their audiences. That is why so many speakers begin with a joke or amusing personal anecdote. In doing so, they immediately move from action to interaction.

But that level of engagement should not end after the first few seconds or minutes. To maintain rapport and attention, speakers must continually reestablish and build upon the connection they created. Sprinkle your delivery with moments of levity even if your topic is serious or somber. Establish eye contact across various segments of your audience. Ask questions and invite feedback such as polling by applause. Remind your audience continually that you are listening to them as much as you want them to listen to you.

Mindfulness means a willingness to improvise.

Improvisation, in this case, does not mean going off on tangents. But it does mean being situationally aware and mindful of your audience and your surroundings. As an authentic speaker, you should have both the familiarity with your topic and rehearsal time that allows you to respond to situations as they occur.

Unforeseen questions, audience reactions, technical difficulties or a commotion such as crashing plates in an adjacent dining area should not throw you off. Rather, they provide an opportunity for you to let your charisma shine through. Don’t appear robotic by ignoring the situation or—worse—becoming flustered. Embrace the opportunity to share the moment with the audience with wit and grace.

Are you considering a career as a public speaker?

Are you an author, business leader, social media influencer or simply someone with a great and motivational story to tell? Public speaking allows you to inspire others both in-person and virtually while following your dreams. You can make great money, too!

Though top booking agencies such as the SUCCESS Speakers Bureau have stringent requirements for talent representation, there’s no harm in investigating. Often, those with the most to offer hold themselves back unnecessarily. Take a look at our Future Speakers page to see if becoming a SUCCESS speaker is right for you.

Booking the right guest or keynote speaker for your event requires careful preparation. As an executive event planner, you should know the actions to take both before and after your talent booking is finalized. Missing even a single component of speaker preparation can cause confusion, cost money and lead to less-than-desirable outcomes. With this guide, you’ll have a head start to ensure a flawless event for maximum impact. 

How do I prepare before booking a speaker?

1. Define your audience and desired outcomes.

First, consider your target audience. What topics and style will best engage them? What do you want them to learn? What actions do you want your employees or other guests to take afterward? What are the desired, long-term benefits?

These are high-view questions that require that you step back from the logistics of planning and consider long-term outcomes. If you are booking a keynote speaker, consider someone who can engage everyone from financial and sales teams to web and marketing personnel. But if you are hiring a guest speaker for select company segments, look for engaging subject matter experts who speak the language at an operational level.

2. Determine your speaker budget.

Know your budget limits. Items such as venues, materials and catering each raise the overall price tag. The cost of hiring a professional speaker is no exception, so you need to remain adaptive and willing to juggle priorities.

Top speakers may run anywhere between $5,000 to $35,000 according to Foundr, but the results can transform entire corporate cultures for the better. Knowing your budget will help you narrow down your options and focus on speakers who fit within your financial constraints. In some cases, booking a virtual speaker may reduce costs. On the other hand, a celebrity speaker will generally come at a higher price. Remain flexible in this early stage. For instance, maybe the celebrity speaker you want has a cost-effective option for virtual or pre-recorded delivery of the keynote address.

3. Online research can deliver your best (and unexpected) public speaker.

Once you have a clear understanding of your event goals, target audience and budget, you can start researching potential speakers. Look for speakers who have expertise in your event’s topic, as well as those who have a reputation for engaging and inspiring audiences like yours.

Even if you have a speaker in mind, perform due diligence by researching potential alternatives. Visit their websites. Know their areas of expertise and look at past clients and reviews. Watch their TEDx addresses or speaking reels. As objectively as possible, consider who best suits your budget, desired outcomes and event theme. Then, narrow down your top choices to just a few potential professional speakers.

4. Check speaker availability and negotiate terms.

Checking the availability of a professional speaker may seem simple at first. After all, they are either available for your event or they are not. But then you go to make the call or send the email, and it gets complicated. That’s because you’re not simply hiring them, but trying to entice them, too. You want them to know you are easy to work with and that your event fits and can even enhance their reputations. It’s easy to take a misstep, and negotiating terms gets even more complicated.

This is where working with a trusted and reputable booking agency such as the SUCCESS Speakers Bureau makes event planning so much easier and stress-free. Such talent agencies will know the speaker’s interests, motivations and, of course, availability. On top of that, they will negotiate the booking terms to your advantage.

What should I do after booking my event speaker?

Once you’ve booked your speaker, the hard work is done. You can enjoy a deep breath. You might even consider a three-day weekend or a spa day to celebrate!

But you’re a perfectionist, too. You want your event to go exactly right, and there are still post-booking details to consider. Here is a quick list of preparations to make after booking your guest speaker.

1. Confirm logistics through your booking agency.

Details matter. Confirm date, time, location and accommodation requirements. Ensure that there are no errors. A simple typo may lead to your speaker showing up at the wrong date or time, missing a flight or having the wrong reservation. It’s not necessarily an error on your part, of course. Hotels, travel companies, car rental agencies—they all can and do make mistakes, so double-check and confirm at every step.

2. Share event details with materials you develop.

If you planned wisely, you likely booked your speaker at least three months in advance, and in some cases, up to a year. Things change in that time. Provide your speaker or booking agent with an updated overview of the event, including the agenda, the audience profile and your overall goals and objectives. Be clear about the speaker’s role and expectations for their presentation, including any specific topics or themes they should cover.

3. Coordinate technical requirements.

Whether booking a speaker for an in-person presentation or a virtual keynote address, technology is involved. We’ve all planned or attended enough events to know that technical problems often throw off the pacing and impact of even the most professional conferences. Confirm all technical and related necessities of your speaker including audio-visual equipment, microphones, Wi-Fi, accessibility considerations and the like. Your IT department will help greatly.

Follow up with your speakers post-event.

Lastly, don’t neglect the post-event opportunity to follow up with your speaker or speakers. Express gratitude. After all, these are passionate, committed people. Showing appreciation is not only the right thing to do, but it will help ensure your event was an overall positive experience for everyone. Professional speakers are a tight-knit community. Proper respect will help ensure they put out a good word for you and your company.

And while expressing gratitude, consider a few brief follow-up questions as you would with any client. Find out what they enjoyed most about the experience, and how you can improve the experience for your next speaker. This will help you ensure that you didn’t miss anything, and that your events will continually improve.

Questions? Contact us at the SUCCESS Speakers Bureau. While you’re there, be sure to explore our extensive lineup of top speaker talent. 

You want your event to be a lasting success, and part of making your webinar or conference truly memorable means finding the best keynote speaker you can. A lot rides on your decision, and success begins with understanding what a keynote speaker really is. In some cases, a guest speaker, emcee or panel moderator may be more appropriate. Understanding the different kinds of speakers and what they do helps you better plan your event while avoiding confusion and saving time and money. 

What is a keynote speaker?

In some ways, a keynote speaker plays the most important role in your event. Their address sets the tone and introduces the theme of your conference, seminar, webinar or symposium. In fact, the term “keynote” itself derives from music, referring to the key in which singers or other musicians will perform their musical number.

Similarly, a keynote speaker introduces the style, theme and major points that your event will address. As such, this speaker typically provides the first major speech following only their own introduction. In some cases, they may also provide the closing address as a summary of the proceedings.

Most importantly, keynote speakers are your main attraction. They provide exciting, motivational speeches that connect all areas of your event in a meaningful way. Professional keynote speakers bring name recognition and even celebrity status, raising interest and awareness for your event. By booking a top keynote speaker, you signal to prospective attendees that you are serious and that your event carries weight.

How does a keynote speaker differ from a guest speaker?

Guest speakers typically speak on a specific topic later in your event. That is, they provide an opinion or guidance for your guests but in narrower subject areas. Keynote speakers, on the other hand, may be specialists in a certain area, but they provide a broader, motivational overview. Many are top thought leaders and widely recognized achievers. As professionals, they bring an ability to tie all of the other speakers’ subtopics together thematically.

As an example, a guest speaker may discuss the latest trends in email marketing or how to build an effective personal brand. A keynote speaker, on the other hand, would offer a motivational speech covering transformative digital marketing trends overall.

How do I choose the best keynote speaker for my event?

Knowing how to choose the best keynote speaker helps you ensure the most successful event possible. Consider these three steps every event planner should take.

1. Consider the big-picture outcomes you want your event to achieve.

Planning an event can be stressful. It includes knowing all the details and logistics from catering to welcoming guests. But for the moment, step back from all that. Get in a workout, meditate or whatever it takes to clear your mind of daily stress. Then, look at your event from a mile-high vantage point. Consider the overall objective you wish to achieve and why. You may even consider using top goal-setting strategies and worksheets.

Once you’ve taken that time, consider what you need most from your keynote speaker—maybe it’s someone with the ability to inspire, empower and motivate every department and every attendee. The best speaker will leave your guests transformed and ready to engage with everything you have planned.

Consider:

• Who will inspire your guests not only tomorrow but for years to come?
• Who can tie your event together in a way that every attendee regardless of department will understand?
• And who has the engaging, dynamic presence to transform the leaders of tomorrow?

2. Spend some time looking at what top keynote speakers deliver.

Once you have a clear idea of theme and outcomes for your event, it’s time to begin investigating specific speakers. As you search, keep in mind the terms describing what you want from your keynote speaker. For instance, you may use “sales,” “motivational,” “personal finance,” “millennial” and “corporate culture” among other similar search terms and queries. And don’t be afraid to combine these words as many speakers fall under several categories.

Once a few prospects interest you, dig a bit deeper. Visit some top speaker websites. You’ll find speaker biographies and get a sense of their general message and tone as well as speaking topics. Most professional speakers have videos, including TED Talks, on their pages, or you can search for them on YouTube. Note their past clients and customer testimonials. One great place to start is the speakers page on the SUCCESS Speakers Bureau website. There you’ll find all of that information with easily searchable speaking topics.

3. Work only with a reputable booking agency.

With so much effort put into your event, you don’t want to leave booking to amateurs. Booking a keynote speaker through a reputable booking agency ensures that you have access to the most experienced and reliable professional speakers. These talent agencies can also guide you through the selection process, recommending speakers you may not have considered but who may be a perfect fit.

Reputable agencies can save you time and money, too. They will work with you to understand keynote speaker booking rates and negotiate the best price for your preferred keynote speaker. They even handle the booking logistics for you, freeing your time while also ensuring top professionalism and experience in the process.

Consider booking your speaker with the SUCCESS Speakers Bureau.

When it comes to reputation, the SUCCESS brand is unmatched with more than a century of history and experience. From founder Orison Swett Marden to author and publisher Napoleon Hill, SUCCESS continues its mission of connecting visionary professionals and empowering audiences.

The SUCCESS Speakers Bureau further expands this mission by providing top keynote speakers, guest speakers and motivational coaches for major corporate and institutional events. Explore our top motivational and business talent, including speakers such as Erin King, Anthony O’Neal, Anne Grady and dozens more.

Still not quite sure who you’re looking for? No problem. That’s where the vast experience of SUCCESS helps most. Along with handling negotiations and booking logistics, we can assist you in finding exactly the right keynote speaker for your event or cause. Simply contact the SUCCESS Speakers Bureau with your needs, and we’ll put our wealth of connection-building knowledge to work for you!