Top 21 Lessons from Serving on Conference Speaker Committees - Part 2

Editor’s note: This is part two of a two-part series. Check out Tips 1-11 in Part One.  

If you read the first article, then you already know that selection proceedings for conferences and webinars often remain mysterious to those submitting proposals, in part because each promoter handles it differently. Getting insight into this process can be the difference between rejection and taking the stage, which is why I want to increase transparency and share my takeaways from having been on many selection committees through the years. Read on for 10 more tips to help your speaking submissions get accepted!

Personal Character & Mindset 

Show your enthusiasm for attending conferences—regardless of being selected as a speaker. Conference runners and promoters, like the rest of us, want to feel like they’re making a difference, and to have the sense that their efforts matter. Make them feel proud to do what they do, by showing up and giving feedback on what impacted you the most. 

Build a reputation as someone who truly engages. Attend sessions, visit the Expo Hall, connect meaningfully, and go beyond hanging out at social events in the cabanas (while remembering that these are also great opportunities to build relationships). 

Talk up conferences in a genuine way. Share what you love about each one and why others should attend. Demonstrate enthusiasm and express it publicly, on social media and in smaller groups such as professional associations and group chats. 

Foster a reputation of sincerity. Character matters to many members of selection committees, and they will bring their personal experiences to the table. Being known as someone with integrity can make a difference.  

Some examples of how to foster it:  

1. a) Be nice. Be careful what you say about others, as it may be interpreted as gossip. Be direct and genuine. Apologize when your behavior falls short of your own standards. 
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3. b) Remember that social media presence has far reach; treat others with respect and kindness and presume what you write or record will be seen by everyone. 
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5. c) Where possible, avoid self-evaluations and self-nominations; instead work with others who’ve seen you in action, to ask if they’d be willing to rate you or nominate you for awards. Give them talking points, but avoid any quid pro quo behavior.
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7. d) Have opinions and share them, using language like “what has worked for me” and “in my opinion” to make it clear that you are not judging anyone.

Strategies to increase your value as a speaker 

Be a partner to the event organizers. Help promote conferences, webinars or podcasts by writing blog posts, recording videos, or sharing excitement on social media. They’ll see you as a collaborator, not just a speaker.  

Talk up your colleagues!  If you know of someone who speaks well and on a topic that would resonate with a particular presenter, recommend them. If you have already been selected, ask the host if they are looking for other speakers. Ask the conference organizers or webinar platform what other topics they'd like to see. They often have specific slots reserved for particular topics yet may not have received enough submissions in those areas.  

Additionally, a vendor may wish to release more webinars about a particular topic – and if you are an enthusiastic adopter of that product or service, suggest who you think their audience would like to see deliver their message. Being a trusted voice and having a reputation for collaborating is key, especially if you can help advocate for under-represented voices to be present in spaces to which they might not otherwise have access. 

Don’t forget vendors. If you’re an enthusiastic user of a product, see if the vendor is interested in partnering with you to speak, write, or otherwise collaborate. The most effective megaphone for them is a genuinely excited customer. And if you help bring in a sponsor to a conference, find a way to let the organizers know. That effort adds value beyond just your session and showcases your dedication to the end goal. 

Make speaking work for you 

Exposure isn’t always valuable—make sure the audience, platform, and opportunities align with your goals. Many conferences, startup software companies, and local/city/state programs cannot afford to pay much (or at all)...and while I bristle at the presumption that we should be happy to work for free in return for "exposure", there are many situations – especially when first starting out – where it makes sense. Define what makes speaking worthwhile for you. Generic exposure is not very helpful, unless you are simply building up a portfolio. But exposure to your ideal client or customer is often worth more than the monetary payoff might have been. Examine your goals and determine what value you can offer them and what value they can offer you. This ensures the event is a three-way win (them, you, the audience). 

Self-promote effectively. Finding the balance between getting your payoff and not being too "salesy" can be extremely challenging. You never want to alienate the event host or your audience. But if you're speaking for free or little in return, you need to make sure that your goals are being met as well.  

Most importantly: