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Large enterprises run Speaker Bureaus to maximize impact at in-person events and in digital channels. Speakers benefit significantly from this support structure, especially for more extensive commitments. The ability to deliver impactful talks at events, interviews with journalists and analysts with good quotes, and ensure investors understand your business all fall under the umbrella of a speakers bureau. 

Common starting point: Speakers Bureaus geared towards in-person and virtual events focus on a few essential tasks: 

• Identify and train great speakers 
• Develop signature stories with solid point-of-views
• Create and maintain speaker bios, headshots, etcetera, for promotions. 
• Pitch speakers for earned and paid speeches and interviews 
• Accelerate speakers’ digital presence and influence 
• Lead speaker promotion efforts at own and third-party events 

Initial virtual pivot: The most common pivots made during the first forty months of virtual deliveries: 

• Basic video, audio, and light infrastructure in place at speakers’ homes for virtual deliveries 
• Speakers familiar with virtual speech deliveries 
• Speakers who are active in promoting their own and peers’ speaking engagements on their social platforms

Story anchors: Slides can still play a role as story anchors. But, forty months after the pandemic started, there is still a big spread in tech and virtual delivery skills. Some bet big that we are now back to the pre-pandemic normal.  

Proactive Hybrid Speakers Bureau: We all have a big task ahead of us in making our Speakers Bureaus fit for hybrid (in-person and virtual) purposes through:

• Speakers moving fluidly between in-person and hybrid delivery formats
• Shorter preparation lead times and increased preparation efforts. 
• Stricter speaker scrutiny by organizers wanting to secure their speaker bets pays off. 
• Stiff competition for virtual audiences’ attention.
• Rotate speakers between speaking, moderating, script writing, and session production
• Work with event organizers during the program formulation stage to maximize fit 

A speakers bureau representing a portfolio of hybrid speakers has a bigger job to do than in the past. The bar for speakers is higher, and the support required to close gaps is more considerable.

Streamlining support: Managing a Speakers Bureaus well for the hybrid future requires attention to preparations and learning across speakers. It is too costly to let each speaker go through a steep learning curve without tapping into insights from their peers. 

Speakers Bureau glue: Your Speakers Bureau can be the glue between speakers where you streamline support to speakers with solid blueprints: 

• Proven formats for hybrid sessions 
• Structured talk tracks that are easy to write and memorize from 
• Recording technology that enables gradual quality lifts 
• Simplified interactions between multidisciplinary team members 
• Excel at the promotion side of the game 

A Speakers Bureau that is easy to work with and can be trusted to deliver excellent hybrid deliveries is a precious asset. When operational, your earned speaking opportunities can offset the cost of running the bureau with increased quality and reach as significant upsides. 

Questions for you, your Speakers Bureau team, and your speakers 

1. Where do we start with our current speakers’ bureau set-up? 
2. Which improvements are necessary for us to thrive in a hybrid world? 
3. How many speakers should we design our speaker bureau program for? 
4. How do we support speakers in minimizing required prep time? 

Additional reading suggestions 

• Eight reasons brand need their own Speakers Bureau [BLOGPOST] – by 6revs 
• What you need to know about a speakers bureau and how they work [ARTICLE] – by John Hall, Forbes 
• 7 ways to build a corporate speakers bureau [BLOGPOST] – by Lori Zetlin and Jeanee Tee 
• How employee speaking engagements can build your company brand [BLOGPOST] – by Marissa Levin, Inc 
• How Speakers Bureaus are thriving in the digital era [ARTICLE] – by Gleb Tsipursky, Forbes