How do you show appreciation for your conference speakers?

Conference speakers are leaders. They share their knowledge and findings with audience to improve awareness of a subject. They are generous and dedicated. Most important they willingly propagate knowledge for betterment of society.

Appreciation works both ways. What value are you providing to these conference speakers? The audience must be receptive to the message. Conference speakers are selective about their speaking appearances. They are looking to learn from the experience as much as the audience is seeking information from these guests. Ask the conference speaker to share their perspectives and let them know that their feedback will be a part of improving their strategy to educate and inform their audiences.

In my opinion, there are optimal times to send information to the speaker in order to ensure a well-prepared and confident presentation. Here's a suggested timeline: 30 days before the event: Provide the speaker with a folder containing assets such as a brand guide, event logo, and other relevant materials to help them create their presentation deck. 15 days before the event: Send a one-page briefing summarizing important event details, such as the expected number of participants, venue address, and estimated audience size. 7 days before the event: Send an email containing comprehensive information about the available support. This should cover specifics such as the types of microphones, cables, and adapters that will be provided.

I enjoy gifting thoughtful tokens when I host events, and in return, when I speak, I appreciate receiving a gift that embodies the essence of the event or the city it takes place. It doesn't have to be lavish; the key is that it reflects the effort someone took to select a meaningful token that acknowledges the speaker.

One great example of speaker opportunities is an event I spoke at last month. They organized mentorship sessions for attendees, allowing them to sign up immediately after the speech. These sessions were conducted in small groups, with a limit of 10 people per session. Additionally, all the speakers were invited to a dinner, providing us with a chance to connect and get to know each other.