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Tips on Building a Speakers Bureau for Chapters
This document provides strategies for building a speakers bureau for chapters, outlining the importance of connecting effective speakers with associations. It discusses the differences between a speakers bureau and a speakers directory, and offers actionable steps for identifying speaker needs, curating content, and measuring success. Additionally, it highlights examples from various organizations to enhance chapter programming through effective speaker management.
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Tips on Building a Speakers Bureau for Chapters
- 1. Tips on Buildinga Speakers Bureau for Chapters
- 2. Got chapters? We’vegot solutions. Billhighway unifies finances and data for organizations with components. We solve inherent operational, data and financial complexities that impact component-based associations. About Presenters Billhighway & Mariner Mariner Management & Marketing is your partner in helping association volunteers and staff create the greatest possible value for your members and in ensuring the long term health and growth of your association.
- 3. Identifying the Need • SpeakerHelp vs Program Help Finding Speakers • Curating Lists • Setting Up a Directory • Providing Speakers Considerations • Speakers Bureau vs. Speakers Directory • Online Resources • Traditional Formats Turning Ideas Into Action • Measuring Success • Setting Goals • Driving Adoption 01 02 03 04 Our Agenda
- 4. What problem areyou solving with a speakers bureau? How do you want to measure success? How do you know? What type of speaker resources do you need? Key Questions 01 02 03
- 5. Poll Question What speakerhelp do you offer chapters?
- 6. Why are theyasking for a speakers bureau? Do Chapters Really Need Help Finding Speakers? Do they need help finding “free” speakers? Are they looking to expand their contact list? Or is it a programming problem?
- 7. Poll Question Do yourchapters need help finding speakers?
- 8. Curate Existing ListsSet Up Directory Provide Speakers Curate Existing Lists Finding effective speakers and connecting them with the right chapter can be challenging. Curate existing lists instead of recreating the wheel. Set Up Directory Creating a directory of speakers helps connect people looking for a speaker with those who are looking to be a speaker. Provide Speakers Every chapter is on the lookout for programing content. Offer a speakers series, or provide training to help find effective speakers. 3 Ways to Help Find Speakers
- 9. AMA: Speaker Share Curatean Existing List Excel Spreadsheet Call for submissions 2x per year Don’t remove “old” submissions as they can spark ideas Over 5 years, 200+ recommendations
- 10. ATD (formerly ASTD):Searching Feature Create a Searchable Calendar Created searchable calendar of all events, including speaker list and contact info Takes 2-3 hours per month to update Provides valuable insight into trends for topics and speakers 140 chapters x 24 events = lots of speakers (1 event per month)
- 11. PCMA: “Best inClass” Introduce “Best in Class” Speakers Select speakers from top rated sessions at bi-annual international meetings 2 year program Offer each chapter 2 “best in class” presenters each year (no cost) Enables national to vet speakers Gives chapters freedom to choose topics
- 12. GBTA: Speaker Directories SetUp Multiple Directories Updated annually GBTA Speakers Bureau Compilation of all speakers throughout year Built & maintained by group of chapter presidents Chapter Presidents Council Speakers Bureau Recommend speakers from other meetings Updated monthly
- 13. GBTA: Series basedon research Offer a Speakers Series 3rd speakers bureau offering from GBTA* Speakers Series based on their research Provide speakers who can discuss research at no cost to chapters Helps GBTA get “hot topics” included in chapter programming
- 14. NATP: Provide Instructors Developa Certified Instructor Program Offers a 2-day certified instructor program Members learn how to become effective instructors, using materials created by national Enables certified members to work throughout the country (not just chapters) National compiled a list of courses and instructors so chapters can choose by interest
- 15. IDEA! Live WebTour Think Outside the Box to Source Your Speakers Chapter leaders attend a webinar that teaches them how to source speakers Tips and what to expect Live “web tour” on places in the local community to find speakers Helps chapters think outside the box
- 16. Bureau vs Directory Providing recommendations vs beinga resource for speakers Key Considerations Speakers Bureau vs. Speakers Directory 01 Bureau = Vetting A Speakers Bureau implies vetting or a rating system from the org 02 3rd Party Confusion Speakers Bureau could cause confusion or set unrealistic expectation 03
- 17. Poll Question Would yourchapters prefer a speaker rating system?
- 18. Build It Yourself 1 2 •Stand-alone platform • All content is yours GoingHighTech Resources • Higher Logic • ReviewMySpeaker White Label • Customizable online directory • Populate with 3rd party contacts and your contacts Resources • Speakers Hub • eSpeakers
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- 22. Excel Spreadsheets 3 • Easy topopulate • No training required • Can turn into Google Sheet to collaborate • No associated costs ORKeepItSimple
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- 24. Incentives AADE ties DiabetesEducator of the Year award to being available to travel to local groups to give presentations – can help build the speaker directory? You’ve Built It…But Will They Come? Discounts AMA offers 5% discount off the speaker fee for all bookings via their portal Rethink “Competition” • Rethink competition for speakers between local chapters and national • Leverage best speakers from national events for local chapter events, at no cost or discounted cost • National Association of Tax Professionals schedules events and speakers further in advance than chapters, so there’s rarely an issue
- 25. 77% 60% 91%33% HowWill You Measure Success? Event Attendance? # of Users/Profiles?Event Evaluations?
- 26. What’s one thingyou could do tomorrow? Here’s a few steps you can follow: Turning Ideas Into Action Confirm Confirm your chapters need help finding speakers Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Review Review (and consolidate) current speaker resources Pilot Pilot a platform (or Excel spreadsheet) with your org Track Set and track metrics for local chapters and national to follow
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- 28. October 26, 2018 Registrationis Open! visit www.leveragechapters.com
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Editor's Notes
- #2 Offering effective speakers who can discuss timely, industry-relevant topics helps increase chapter engagement while driving wider awareness of your association. Finding the right speakers for different chapter programs or events can be a challenge. Creating a speakers bureau can solve this problem by offering an easy-to-access system that connects people looking for a speaker with those who are looking to be a speaker. In this webinar, we’ll discuss how others have handled this.
- #3 Got chapters? We’ve got solutions. Billhighway unifies finances and data for organizations with components. We solve inherent operational, data and financial complexities that impact component-based associations. LEARN MORE Mariner Management & Marketing is your partner in helping association volunteers and staff create the greatest possible value for your members and in ensuring the long term health and growth of your association. LEARN MORE
- #5 Some key questions to keep in mind… What problem are you solving with a speakers bureau? Are you providing speakers Or helping them to find their own speakers Or is it bigger than just speakers – e.g., they need help creating programs What type of Speaker resources do you need? Bureau vs directory Online resources Traditional tools How will you measure success? - Building something that doesn’t get used doesn’t do anyone any good.
- #6 Speaker directory or bureau Speaker lists Speaker suggestions (respond to requests) Sponsored speakers (e.g., Board members, staff, industry leaders) Grants or Funding for speakers Speaker training Session package (curriculum, speaker, etal) Nada
- #7 As part of research, had a true “aha” moment… Chapters request a Speaker Bureau…but why? What’s the problem it will solve? Do they really need a Speakers Bureau? Or are they having problems building out their programs / calendars? Or do they have some speakers but just not enough? If we don’t understand the problem they need to solve, providing a list of speakers won’t make a difference (and it won’t be used) Before you begin building, make sure you’re asking the right questions.
- #8 Yes No
- #9 Curate existing lists Instead of recreating the wheel Set up a directory Provide speakers Offering a speakers series Training to find speakers
- #10 Simple tool: Excel spreadsheet where chapters submitted their favorite speakers and listed what topics they spoke on and contact info Call for submissions 2x p/year - Over 5 years, had 200+ recommendations Never remove “old” submissions as they can spark ideas. Did include submissions dates so chapters know how old / new each was.
- #11 Scanned every website and created searchable calendar of all events, including speakers + links + contact info. Can be sorted by geo location Easy to do – only takes 2-3hours p/month to update Provides valuable insight into trends re topics and speakers 140 chapters x 24 events (1 event p/month over 2 years) = lots of speakers Easy to use: Call host chapter for a reference One call plus a couple of clicks = 100s of speakers
- #12 Select speakers from top rated session at bi-annual international meetings 2 year program Offer each chapter 2 “best in class” presenters each year at no cost Enables national to vet speakers and ensure they already meet the approval of the target audience Gives chapters freedom to choose topics that best fit their programs
- #13 Multiple offerings: GBTA Speakers Bureau Updated annually Compilation of all speakers throughout the past year Chapter Presidents Council Speakers Bureau Built and maintained by group of chapter presidents Recommend speakers from other meetings Updated monthly
- #14 3rd speakers bureau offering from GBTA! Speakers Series based on their research. After they generate research, they provide speakers who can discuss the research at no cost to chapters Helps them get their ‘hot topics’ included in chapter programming. The tough part is keeping the topics relevant. While it’s good to add relevant topics after they were used at a meeting, I’d like to get to the point where we’re are pushing relevant or HOT TOPIC speakers out to the Chapters. For lack of a better term, Programming the Chapter network. We’re working with our Professional Development Department to see how this could be accomplished. For example, we could designate July as Risk Awareness month and encourage all Chapters to have a Risk-related topic.
- #15 2-day certified instructor program Members learn how to become effective instructors, using materials created by national Enables certified members to work throughout the country, not just within their chapter Also, national compiled a list of courses and instructors, so chapters can choose the topics, instructors they are interested in. Related – consider contracting with a firm like the LearningStudio to create workshops – learningstudio.biz
- #16 Chapter leaders attend a webinar that teaches them how to source speakers Tips and what to expect Live “web tour” on places in the local community to find speakers, e.g. chambers of commerce, national associations, etc. Helps chapters think outside the box
- #17 “Bureau” implies recommended speakers, where all vetting has already been done. “Bureau” often provides rating system “Bureau” can cause confusion with 3rd party “professional” speakers bureaus, e.g. International Association of Speakers Bureaus; Global Speakers Bureau; etc.
- #18 Yes No
- #19 https://speakerhub.com/blog/organize-your-speakers-white-label-customizable-directory https://www.espeakers.com/publish-directory/
- #26 # of users / # of profiles doesn’t really tell you anything useful.
- #29 Early bird pricing is $149 and ends on 5/31. Goes up to $199 on 6/1 http://leveragechapters.com/
- #30 Next webinar is on May 3rd – Topic? http://www.billhighway.co/associations/events Promote Peggy being at roundtables in May (DC, Alex, Reston)