Are you responsible for designing the education program for a conference that attracts 500 or more attendees? Does your organization contract professional speakers? Do you manage a call for papers or abstracts? If you answered YES to two or more of the questions above, we encourage you to take 10 minutes and contribute to the Speaker Report Survey. The survey is live through the end of the day on Friday July 12. The responses will be compiled, analyzed and made available to the industry … [Read more...]
Your Conference Speakers’ Skills Gap Is Causing You To Lose Money
The majority of your conference speakers have a major skills gap! They are relying on pedagogical mimicry--presenting the same way that their teachers taught them. That causes you and your conference to rely solely on a foundation of mimicry for education success. And this foundation is the exact the opposite of what your speakers should be doing if the goal is learning! Your dependence on this approach is ultimately causing you to lose money as it does not meet your attendees' needs and it … [Read more...]
Maximizing Your Conference Professional Speaker Investment
You've spent hours surfing websites, reading bios, evaluating presentation descriptions and viewing speaker online videos. You've finally reached a decision and secured a professional speaker to keynote your opening general session. You feel relief, accomplishment and maybe even exhaustion. Then you wonder, "Did I ask the speaker to do everything possible? Are there other things I should have asked the speaker to do for our upcoming conference?" In short, the answer is Yes! There are many … [Read more...]
Leveraging Professional Speakers For Conference Impact
Most conference expense budgets are tight and limiting. Technology innovations, including Skype, Snagit, DIY screen capture and affordable video editing tools, can help you bring more thought leaders to your conference experience. Increasing Conference Value With Professional Speakers Professional speakers are often the most remembered, valued and polished elements of a conference. Typically they are reserved for general sessions. What if you could add a dose of their thought leadership to … [Read more...]
Things I Despise About Speaker Marketing Videos
You've probably heard the saying, "If you've seen one, you've seen them all." In the case of the majority of speaker marketing videos, it's true! According to research by VCC and Tagoras, meeting professionals consider the speaker marketing video the most important sales tool available. More than a book, social media presence, blog or one sheet. Note: this post is about meeting professionals using speaker marketing videos to hire that speaker. Not videos used to market the conference or … [Read more...]
Fostering Hot And Spicy Audiences
Imagine for a moment that you're preparing for a presentation for an upcoming conference. Close your eyes and visualize that your audience appears to be actually sizzling in their seats with enthusiasm. They are on fire for your words. Creating Audience Combustible Motivation Now imagine you have that same experience every time you present. This vision is not unrealistic. You can create experiences that foster combustible motivation in your audience! How? By eliminating the two primary … [Read more...]
Conference Organizers Top 15 Professional Speaker Pet Peeves
Recently, Velvet Chainsaw partnered with Tagoras, Inc., a leading continuing education company, to survey conference professionals about their use of speakers. One question asked respondents to share their biggest pet peeves regarding professional speakers. 15 Guaranteed Ways Speakers Destroy Their Marketing Strategy Here are their top 15 most disliked pet peeves about professional speakers. 1. Arrogant, prima dona or diva-like behavior. Unconventional requests from professional speakers or … [Read more...]
