While the keynote speakers introduce the main topic and set the tone, the guest speaker will get into more detail during the subsequent talks and expand on specific points. In other words, the keynote speaker is the headliner (or star) of your event while the guest speaker is a supporting cast member.

WHAT DO MOTIVATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS DO AT EVENTS?

Expert Keynote speakers are often popular with audiences for opening and closing keynote presentations, or they may be best suited for a fundraising gala for an after-lunch or dinner presentation at a gala. Keynote presenters bring a draw to attract audience members when promoting the conference event. Motivational keynote speakers are the highlight of the event and often attract attendees on the invitations and bring more engagement for attendees due to their popularity or the interesting topics they address. Keynote speakers’ presentations are experts at creating life-changing and memorable experiences through their talks and use their personal journeys and unique experiences to share practical insights for attendees to open the audience up to a new way of thinking or doing. Keynote speakers are often more successful with a large audience; however, the Speakers Bureau of Canada’s keynote speakers are carefully hired to be dynamic to be able to speak to groups of all sizes.

WHAT DOES A GUEST SPEAKER DO AT EVENTS?

Guest speakers can also open or close the program on a day, however, they can come in many different forms. A guest speaker can fit anywhere in the program, and although similar to a keynote speaker, they will educate and motivate the audience throughout their presentation, they may not be as popular or have the celebrity appeal as a keynote speaker. Guest speakers help fill the program and may be utilized to bring awareness to new topics or address more specific needs of the audience related to a topic. Guest speakers can be more dynamic than keynote speakers as they bring updated, researched knowledge for attendees to deliver practical insights that educate, motivate, and activate the audience to guide them on their path to change. Guest speakers can be invited for a small group or a large conference as they will be successful at any event no matter what the event format or presentation style.

WHAT DO VIRTUAL SPEAKERS DO AT EVENTS?

Online speakers and virtual keynote speakers will often be expert at motivating audiences with years of speaking as a professional speaker. Motivational keynote speakers and guest speakers are not always successful virtual speakers at webinar meetings, as we have found that virtual speakers to be more dynamic as a speaker with a natural and authentic speaking ability. Webinar speakers often have a background as a consultant or years of speaking as a professional speaker. They are able to pull from a large amount of content they have researched within specific subject or topic and will often have practical and usable information that the audience can implement in their everyday work or home lives. Virtual keynote speakers will often use polling or extend Q&A in a webinar format so to engage the online attendees throughout the session. Most importantly, speakers for webinar or online events are able to use their experience as a motivational professional speaker to bring a high energy to the session in an authentic way.

VIRTUAL SPEAKER, KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND GUEST SPEAKERS ENGAGE, MOTIVATE, EDUCATE AND ACTIVATE THE AUDIENCE

Although the language is intertwined and virtual speakers, guest speakers and keynote speakers all set out to educate and motivate the audience at each event, there are different ways to search and hire a speaker for a corporate meeting or event. We work to hire and find Canada’s top speakers for organizations that require their employees or members to become more aware, productive, or committed to a new mindset/behaviour for a positive change. Investing in your people is important, and Speakers Canada takes understands the important work we do in finding and booking speakers that will shift the people of the company and the ultimately the direction of the organization. No matter what the format of the session, or the size of the audience, we have found that the best keynote, guest, and virtual speakers are able to present their information in a motivating, inspiring but most importantly, authentic way that connects with the audience so that they can educate, guide, and assist them for a new way of thinking, behaving, working, and living.