What do you do if your conference lacks high-profile speakers and presenters?

People attend conferences to learn, get their queries and problems solved and network for future gains. If there are no speakers the conference is of no use. Speakers are a must, though high-profile speakers are not always required. Instead practical experience and good carry-home content are what people desire. In the absence of high-profile speakers, try adding someone reputed as a virtual speaker for online talk and also try to invite local industry or academic experts who may not be high-profile but have useful experience to share. Go for google search or ask your previous speakers to guide you about some good names for sending invites. This way you can save your conference.

We help organise scientific conferences and it is observed that PhD candidates and Young faculty members don't get much chance to present their work. It is very important for all the researchers to get their work reviewed by peers. That is why I prefer if the time can be allocated to them instead of high profile speakers who's work is already known. Also, I think industry academia conversation is very important for translational research. It is always good to invite speakers from industry to speak to scientists which may result in collaboration. The main focus of the conference should be to bring people together and start conversations. We should focus on that.

Most conference attendees are there to learn something new or overcome their issues. There's absolutely no need to have high-profile speakers. They'll likely break the budget too. Experts and niche influencers will have plenty of tips and goodies to share with your audience. They may not be high-profile, but the content they share will be of high quality.

The pandemic also taught us a lot about making things online. Therefore, it is time to open the conference to a hybrid version in case high-profile speakers are missing. Sometimes, the chosen period for the conference conflicts with several other academic activities. Instead of missing those people, the conference format should be rethought.

A well attended conference does not always require high profile speakers. While these speakers may be a great draw, conference attendees are coming to your conference because you have great content. In my experience in over 20 years on national conference planning I have heard the same thing consistently- attendees saying they will be returning to the conference because they have learned a great deal from the workshops and have been able to network. If you find that a big profile speaker is not available look to your network! Panels of experienced individuals on your topic are a great way to not only engage your audience but give them several perspectives on a topic from the some of the top people in that field.

Most of the events I've helped organise have had 100% community speakers. Judge them on their talk submission, not their social or profile clout. We're upfront in telling speakers that talks are not sales pitches. They should be focused on explaining or solving one topic. In over ten years of conference organising, I've had less than a handful of lousy community speakers out of hundreds.

The "top speakers" often are wired to certain common formats of conferences, are hence not very flexible and since they are the top guns, they have been heard saying the same things in the same way over and over again at multiple platforms. To not have top speakers in a conference gives you an opportunity to explore innovative formats and drive content that's not just creative and relevant to the audience but also very interesting. Take risks, have direct competitors on a face-off sessions or maybe organize a Q&A between various stakeholders about a common subject and bring out perspectives, play around and if your picks are right, they will surely set the stage on fire.

Leverage Local Talent: Look for respected and knowledgeable professionals within the local or regional community who can provide insightful presentations. They may not be "celebrity" speakers, but their expertise can be just as valuable.

We tend to run unconference-style hallway sessions, which are always a hit with attendees. Workshops are a winner just now, with attendees loving working with the teacher/speaker and coming away from the event with something practical. Q&A panels are a favourite with attendees as long as you make enough time for the audience to ask their questions.

I really believe that strong content will drive a successful conference, and that comes from a mix of a powerful vision and understanding the content, and then bringing that to life with speakers who have a lot to share on the topic. Often the "big names" don't bring much to the table in terms of content, but just function as a draw to get attendees in. Spin your content as the draw, and get past attendees to give you testimonials on the strength of the content. Strong content will lead to incredible word of mouth marketing!

Highlighting the themes of your conference can indeed elevate the event's appeal and effectiveness: - Define Your Niche: Clarify what makes your conference unique. What specific area of your industry does it serve? - Curate Content:Select topics that are forward-thinking and relevant to the current and future state of the industry. - Market the Themes: Create marketing materials that showcase the value and uniqueness of the conference topics. - Engage the Community: Use social media and industry forums to start conversations around your themes well before the event. - Educate and Inform: Make sure that every session provides tangible takeaways that contribute to the professional growth of attendees.

In the past, I've sent relevant questions for speakers to record their answers to and stitched up a promotional video. This helps introduce the speakers to attendees and boost ticket sales because those on the edge of buying a ticket can see the value speakers bring regarding information, their style, and their humour.

Every well attended conference has great marketing. Pinpoint the draws of your conference. Is it in a great city? Resort hotel? Innovative highly anticipated sessions? Fun reception and activities? These are the pieces to market. Social media is a great way to highlight these. I find that email blasts always serve as a great reminder and registration always surges. Attendees always remember a special event or highlighted celebration at the conference. What made it fun for them? Implementing a themed networking reception or an activity like a tour or sporting event is always a hit. Use that to drive your marketing. Advertise is as much as possible along with content. The key is to make your conference memorable.

First of all, know your wishlist. Ask yourself why is the person you want to reach the best one for the topic on your agenda and then go with a personalized message! It will be appreciated and is how I get the best result for my events!

Every recognizable conference speaker has to start somewhere. In my experience, I've been to several sessions with novice speakers that impressed me. Many times, the novice speaker has more personal stories to share, so give it a chance. If the presentation is not up to the standards that you expected, in the bare minimum you will be able to meet other people and share contacts and experiences.

High profile speakers are always wonderful but don’t count out hearing from your peers. The impact of hearing from someone who have actually experienced what the conference is about can give you first hand knowledge. Often their words are more engaging because it paints an in depth picture. For instance, if your conference is on poverty or food insecurity, instead of bringing in a high profile speaker, bring in community members. Let them tell their stories, their experiences and challenges. What has life been like for their families. Draw inspiration from them and learn best practices to assist in your own communities. This is a true engaging learning experience and why attendees often find conferences valuable.