The importance of choosing the right speaker for an event can’t be overstated. Event feedback shows that content is the number one reason people find an event valuable. The content — and therefore the quality of the speakers — can also prompt people to attend the next event if one is planned.

Therefore organizers’ sourcing of speakers is one of the most important tasks during the event’s preparation phase.

SpeakerHub realised how vital this aspect of event organizing is and designed a platform that assists speakers and organizers to connect. Organizers can offer compensation or ask for volunteer speakers.

To showcase the value of paid speakers we’d like to introduce the following case study.

In this case study CQuence Health Group organized a seminar to invest in health care professionals. CQuence needed quality speakers to inform and inspire healthcare workers on how to improve themselves. This was the focus of the ‘Investing In You’ seminar.

How do you attract relevant speakers to your event?

Background:

   CQuence Health Group organized an event with specific goals:

• Helping healthcare workers improve their own lives
• Helping healthcare workers improve their work environments and positively influence their companies
• Showing healthcare workers how to dynamically help and change the communities they work in

Key Challenges

CQuence needed the speakers’ sessions to motivate action and change in attendees’ lives. The organizers wanted to offer attendees practical tools and best practices they could use straight after the conference. If speakers didn’t supply skills and inspiration during their sessions the conference would have little impact.

• Who would be able to do this?: CQuence had to find experts who could relay inspiring information and life skills to the attendees.
• Where will they find these speakers?: CQuence needed to manage a budget for the event.
• Should compensation be offered? Will the fee influence the type of speaker attracted to the event?
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How do different compensation options influence feedback?

The Invitation

On the SpeakerHub Events platform CQuence created an event. Event organizers supplied details in regards to:

• Date and Time
• Speaker Requirements
• Speaking Fee
• Required Topics and Skills

CQuence could choose whether to offer payment or ask for volunteer speakers. The organizers opted to offer compensation.

The Feedback

On SpeakerHub our VIP speakers are alerted of paid speaking opportunities.

CQuence received an array of applications from speakers who could offer information to help with a wide spectrum of problems, in line with the goal of improving Health Care workers’ quality of life.

Experts with the following teachings offered their unique knowledge and skills to enhance the ‘Investing In You ‘Seminar:

• Tools to deal with depression and addiction.

For example: A personal testimony of one applicant who overcame depression and addiction, was ideal to prove that it’s possible to overcome adversity.

• Strategies to influence your workplace and the world around you.

For example: One applicant could give guidelines on how to create win/win situations for everyone in a certain working environment or crowd.

• Practical approaches to reduce stress.
  
   For example: There was a presentation by someone working with the military. This is applicable to the high trauma and stress situations health care workers deal with.
• Accomplishing goals in all areas of life.
  
  For example: One of the applicants approached this through his own background and his belief in the value of community. Because health care influences members of the community this was very applicable.

The compensation received justified the time and effort set aside to take part in the conference. Without this incentive a different, less skilled type of speaker is usually attracted.

The Decision

CQuence now had to work through the applications and pick the best ones for the conference. Applications from speakers who have VIP profiles gave organizers quality information to make an informed decision. This includes seeing a speaker’s detailed workshop agenda. This allows an organizer to see what kind of event a speaker can be hired for.

The organizers were happy with the range of applications they received as the speakers could assist in reaching the seminar’s goals. This process had the following results:

• CQuence attracted quality speakers who delivered practical tips and valuable knowledge to the attendees of the seminar
• The quality of the speakers attracted individuals who otherwise wouldn’t have seen the value of the seminar 

From the speakers’ perspective

The following aspects may determine whether a speaker can commit to speaking as a volunteer or not.

• Travelling distances: Travelling far without compensation is simply not possible for many individuals. If no compensation is offered, organizers miss out on valuable speakers.
• Need for income: Speaking is a skill and a profession which many speakers expect compensation for, in the same way that any skilled worker demands payment.

Compensation was a way of making sure these factors didn’t keep an ideal candidate from speaking at the CQuence seminar.

How would organizing a free event have impacted the situation?

Because there are higher expectations such as quality and commitment from organizers when payment is involved, SpeakerHub makes sure its platform connects organizers with the most committed and qualified speakers available.

However, if no compensation was offered, the same speakers could have applied along with many others who don’t have VIP Profiles. The pool of speakers would therefore have been larger.

Characteristics of free events:

1. A free event scenario has the benefit of attracting more applicants. 

   This gives organizers more variety but does lengthen the vetting time. It takes more time and effort to determine an applicant’s relevancy and value. 

   The information available when organizers view free profiles of speakers are limited but does include the following:

•  a speaker page
•  a photo or video of the applicant

2. A free event can attract quality speakers who aren’t able to ask compensation for their services such as:
   
   o   Government officials
   
   o   Business professionals promoting their services during the event. The opportunity to market their business may serve as adequate compensation.
3. A free event can benefit the organizer’s budget because there’s no speaker expense.

Conclusion

While speaker fees put pressure on an organizer’s budget, in this scenario CQuence achieved their goal when they offered compensation. The decision resulted in quality speakers who communicated valuable personal experience and knowledge to seminar attendees. The attendees could follow the practical advice right after the seminar.

In light of the fact that the additional expense resulted in the correct outcome — with little effort, thanks the SpeakerHub tools — the compensation of speakers was more than justified.

However, whether compensation is the best choice is determined by budget, time available and the type of speaker organizers are in search of. SpeakerHub caters for both these scenarios.

Are you ready to attract the ideal speaker for your event? Start formulating your event page today!