Trying to find the best speaker for your next meeting or seminar is no easy task. A business speaker who cannot perform will waste his time and money. Knowing where to start your search can save you a lot of time. The sheer number of speakers available makes it difficult to know what criteria to use when searching for potential speakers. The main focus of your decision should be speaking style, knowledge of the subject, availability, and purpose of the occasion. Determining this information will take a bit of time, but it can be very helpful during your search. Sources for finding speakers include websites, personal recommendations, and offices. The most reliable source is bureaus because they are constantly working with all kinds of business speakers. Most offices have years of practice in matching speakers with specific presentation requirements.

Websites are a great source for researching specific or local speakers. Many have testimonials and video samples of their work that can help critique your skills. Personal and referral websites can be confusing and sometimes unreliable. If you haven’t worked with the speaker before, his actual reputation is unknown. You can only get away from what others say and these opinions can be very biased. Personal recommendations are great if the source is reliable and you used the speaker for the same general purpose and type of topic. Remember that even a good recommendation needs a bit of research. Speakers that worked well for someone you know may not be as suitable for your particular situation.

An office is the most beneficial source for finding a business speaker. The cost of their services is normally billed from the speaker’s fees and not to the company requiring their attendance. To get the most benefit and convenience from using a speaker’s bureau, you need to be able to offer detailed information about what you want to accomplish with the speaker. This includes information such as event date and time details, message, audience demographics, and desired audience mood and reaction. Other information, such as your budget and total filing time, can also be very helpful. This information will be used to compile a list of motivational speakers containing the most appropriate speakers for the audience and purpose of the meeting.

A list of motivational speakers is just the beginning of a thorough selection process for offices. This list will contain the most relevant speakers that meet your budget requirements. It is based on the information provided during the initial conversations and interview with the speakers bureau. Inadequate details can result in a list of inappropriate speakers. Errors can be caught during initial conversations and organizing for a proper list; however, if they are not noticed, the presentation can be very disappointing and ineffective. The office may review the information you have given them many times before compiling this list. You don’t want to waste time or risk your reputation by adding speakers to the list that won’t work. The speaker list will be the basis of your decision and is used to research potential speakers. Speakers who survive list reductions are then interviewed for a final decision.