Being an excellent keynote speaker involves a lot more than simply delivering a good presentation. In this brief article we will outline the qualities most meeting planners are looking for in a keynote speaker, which will determine whether they are willing to work with that speaker again or recommend them to others.
They are polite, respectful, and easy to work with.
This should be a given, but it’s not. Many keynote speakers act as though they are doing a favor to the people they are working for, when in fact it is the other way around. Meeting planners want a keynote speaker who removes stress from their lives, not adds to it. So someone who is personable, takes a genuine interest in their organization, and makes the booking process as simple and stress-free as possible is going to win most meeting planners’ favor.
Their marketing materials are up-to-date.
Plenty of keynote speakers have photos and videos that are close to (or even over) 10 years old. Most meeting planners do not enjoy seeing a speaker who only vaguely resembles their marketing materials. While this may seem shallow or superficial, it actually has nothing to do with the way the person looks. The issue here is that a keynote speaker who hasn’t taken the time to periodically update their own marketing materials is also not very likely to update or customize their keynote presentations. So outdated marketing materials suggest a speaker who isn’t staying current with the needs of today’s businesses, and that suggests a keynote speech that isn’t likely to accomplish what the meeting planner was hoping it would.
They communicate effectively throughout the event.
Meeting planners do not like wondering whether or not their speakers are going to show up. A good keynote speaker will call or text when they arrive on site to let the planner know they’ve arrived; show up on time (or early) at their A/V check to make sure everything is ready; and send a follow-up note or email to thank the planner for allowing them to speak at their event. As in most things, good communication is key, and anyone whose job is to speak to audiences should be particularly aware of that.
They deliver an excellent presentation.
Most keynote speakers think that this is the most important element of being an excellent speaker. And it is certainly important. But from a meeting planner’s perspective, “doing a good job” is the expectation, not a pleasant surprise. That’s why the other things on this list are ahead of this one, because those are the things that can set an excellent keynote speaker apart from a mediocre one.
