A big question many summit hosts face while outlining their speaker experience and requirements is deciding how to handle speaker promotion.
How much should you ask of them?
Too little, and you miss out on potential reach. Too much, and you risk dampening their enthusiasm.
For some summits, there will be no mandatory promotion requirements, and maybe that works for them based on the large size of their internal email list, paid promotions of affiliates who've always promoted their offers.
For others, they'll go to the extreme requiring multiple solo emails, multiple email mentions, and multiple social posts. They'll require exclusivity on your marketing calendar, where you agree to promote their event and only their event during a designated period.
And for most, they'll ask for a little help, spreading the word about the event we've invited our speakers to be part of, since after all, it's a collaboration at its core.
In this blog post, we'll tackle the delicate balance of speaker promotion, ensuring a win-win for both you and your valued presenters.
Setting Clear Expectations For Speaker Promotion
Here's the truth...
Most speakers want to promote your summit. After all, it's a chance for them to showcase their expertise and reach a new audience. But they're also busy people with their own priorities.
So, how do you get them excited to spread the word without making it feel like a chore?
The Solution: A Collaborative Approach
Instead of dictating strict requirements, focus on building a partnership with your speakers. Here's how:
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Transparent Communication: Be upfront about your expectations during the speaker invitation process. Explain how their promotion benefits both the summit and their own brand.
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Provide Promotional Tools: Make it easy for speakers to promote by creating pre-written social media posts, email templates, and graphics they can use.
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Offer Incentives: Consider offering 50/50 affiliate commissions, exclusive bonuses, or even small gifts as a thank-you for their promotional efforts.
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Celebrate Successes: Publicly acknowledge speakers who go above and beyond in their promotion. Share their posts, give them shoutouts, and make them feel appreciated.
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Flexibility is Key: Be willing to adjust your expectations based on the speaker's reach and availability. Remember, any promotion is better than none!
5 Easy Speaker Promotion Ideas to Get You Started
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Social Media Blitz: Create a series of pre-written social media posts with eye-catching images and encourage speakers to share them on their profiles.
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Email Blast: Provide speakers with an email template they can send to their list, highlighting their session and the overall summit value.
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Blog Collaboration: Partner with speakers to co-create a blog post on their website, teasing their presentation and linking to your summit registration page.
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Mini-Webinar Magic: Allow speakers to host a free mini-webinar related to their summit topic, ending with a call to action to register for the full event.
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Podcast Interviews: Connect speakers with relevant podcasts where they can discuss the summit and their presentation.
The Golden Rule → Focus on Value
The most effective speaker promotion comes from a place of genuine enthusiasm.
When speakers truly believe in your summit and the value it provides, their promotion will be authentic and compelling. So, focus on building relationships, providing exceptional support, and creating a summit experience that speakers are excited to share with their audience.
Happy Planning.
