1 Define your theme and goals

Before you start looking for speakers, you need to have a clear idea of what your conference is about and what you want to achieve. Your theme should be relevant, specific, and appealing to your target audience. Your goals should be measurable, realistic, and aligned with your organization's mission and values. Having a well-defined theme and goals will help you narrow down your speaker search and communicate your expectations to potential candidates.

3 Contact and confirm speakers

After you have a shortlist of speakers who meet your standards, you need to contact them and confirm their interest and availability. You should send them a professional and personalized invitation that explains your event's theme and goals, the benefits of speaking at your conference, and the details of the speaking opportunity, such as the format, duration, audience, date, and location. You should also ask them to share their topic, outline, and objectives for their presentation, and provide feedback and guidance to ensure they align with your event's vision and purpose.

4 Prepare and support speakers

Once you have confirmed your speakers, you need to prepare and support them throughout the planning process. You should send them a speaker agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of their participation, such as the payment, expenses, cancellation, promotion, and copyright policies. You should also provide them with relevant information and resources, such as the agenda, the venue, the equipment, the audience profile, and the evaluation criteria. You should also communicate with them regularly, answer their questions, address their concerns, and remind them of the deadlines and expectations.

5 Showcase and acknowledge speakers

Finally, you need to showcase and acknowledge your speakers during and after your conference. You should introduce them properly, highlight their credentials, and thank them for their contribution. You should also encourage the audience to interact with them, ask questions, and provide feedback. You should also promote your speakers on your website, social media, newsletter, or other channels, and share their content, slides, or recordings. You should also follow up with them after the event, express your appreciation, request their feedback, and maintain a positive relationship.