How to Get a Sponsor for a Keynote Speaker

  

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A large part of a conference budget is the keynote speaker. Finding sponsorship for this can be a big stress relief.

Over the years I have seen conferences offer some unique benefits to entice sponsors. Remember sponsoring a motivational speaker is an investment and sponsors need to see it that way. They want to get their name in front of your people and this is a memorable way to do that.

Here are some ideas:

Sell the sponsor on the motivational speaker and their program; explain why this speaker’s message is going to help convention delegates and how their sponsorship dollars will make this possible.

Mention the sponsorship in the keynote speaker’s introduction, on the speaker’s handout, and on your website  

Have the keynote speaker do a unique thank you for the sponsors in their speech, tie in humorous personalized tidbits about them.

Add some levity to sponsorship signs to make them memorable

After the keynote speech hand out promotional items from the sponsor with their logo on it as delegates leave the room

Do something unique like have the sponsor create a signature cocktail and hand it out after the motivational speech.

Have the sponsor mention sponsoring the keynote speaker on Facebook, twitter and their blog and promote this blog to delegates

Have the keynote speaker blog about the conference and the sponsor

Have the keynote speaker write an article about their topic that can be used by the sponsor

 Offer to have the sponsor introduce the keynote speaker

Announce sponsored by... Beside the speakers picture in promotional brochures and signs, emails, twitter etc

Have the keynote speaker comment on the sponsors’ blog or thank them on twitter

Set up a booth next to the sponsor’s booth at the trade show for the speaker to sell books and draw traffic

 Add the sponsor’s promotional collateral to conference bags

Have the keynote speaker sit with the sponsor at lunch or dinner events

Mention sponsored by on the keynote speaker handouts

Display company logo on table tents during the plenary motivational speaker

Take photos of the sponsor with the keynote speaker and send it in a thank you card, blog about it and post it on the website

With some creativity and humor, getting sponsorship for a motivational keynote speaker is an opportunity that many organizations will want.

Work with your motivational speaker to maximize the sponsors return on investment. Have the keynote speaker call the sponsor in advance of her talk to discuss the organization, what makes them unique and how they want the audience to perceive them.

A good motivational speaker will be able to incorporate this into a motivational talk to leverage the conference sponsorship investment.

Find out how to hire a motivational speaker

What are other unique ways to entice conference sponsors?