Hi All,
I'm happy to share with you a resource I've created that will help you submit a winning speaking proposal and get accepted to tech events.
** For a nice PDF version of this, please download at: https://rockthetechstage.com/4-key-tactics-get-talk-accepted-tech-events/ **
Enjoy!
TACTIC #1: Know the event’s DNA
Once you have one or a few conferences in mind, do your research on each.
Ask people who have attended the event before, and if possible, people who have given a talk before, what is the event’s DNA: what is their audience, how this conference is different from other events, what type of talks are given, what style of speakers and topics they like.
You might think “I don’t know anybody who has been there before.” You can still do any of these:
• Ask colleagues to find someone who has attended and ask them.
• Ask to ChatGPT “what differentiates [name of conference] from other events in the [tech/software/cybersecurity] industry?”
• Ask the organizers. Send an email with a specific question you want to know about the event’s DNA
TACTIC #2: Pick the right topic
Now that you know the event’s DNA, you need a great topic. Organizers are always looking for new topics, and they struggle to find new ones. But your topic has to be very interesting.
Ask yourself some questions:
• What expertise I have that others don’t?
• What have I experienced that others haven’t?
• What are my professional passions?
• What are my personal passions?
• Do I have a unique idea nobody talks about?
Combine your answers to these questions and you will create unique and interesting topics.
In order to communicate your topic clearly, it’s better if you define these three elements:
• Title of your talk
• Main statement of your talk
• Your audience
An additional tip I share with you: Speak only on topics you are passionate about. If you speak topics you’re passionate about, everything will be much easier, you will find the right stories, you will find the motivation, you will be successful.
TACTIC #3: Have a great Bio
Especially if you are starting to speak in tech events, organizers want to know who you are.
The speaker profile (Bio) must have three main elements:
1. Your experience and skills. Self-explanatory: tell what your position is, in which company you work. Besides that, if you hold a relevant position of trust, award or certification, a unique skillset, include it.
2. Your motivation. Tell them why you work on your field, why you want to speak in this particular event, and why this event will benefit with your presence.
Do you have a blog or you have written in blogs about the topic you’re applying to speak? Include it on your speaker profile.
3. A personal touch. Now tell something beyond your professional persona. What do you do on your free time? Share some of your hobbies and interests, especially if you find a connection with the theme of the conference or the audience.
The length of a Bio typically goes between 50 to 150 words, depending on the organizer. I suggest that three or four sentences is enough. Keep it short and simple, but specially make it sound you are an interesting person.
Additionally, keep your online presence up to date and with an intentional look, especially on professional networks such as LinkedIn. GitHub is relevant for developers.
TACTIC #4: Write a winning speaking proposal
Now it’s time to tell what your talk is about and convince the organizers that their event won’t be the same without your talk. Typically, you will need only 3-4 paragraphs to write a winning proposal for your talk. Each event organizer will give their own requirements in terms of length. Let’s look at it, section by section.
First paragraph: An attention grabber
You might a great topic which is the right topic for the conference, but if you don’t make it sound interesting, it will not stand out among dozens of proposals.
• The proposal must start grabbing the attention of the event organizer from the very first sentence. Make it sound interesting, intriguing.
• A good way to start is by telling the problem. Use storytelling to introduce the problem. Make sure the problem is relevant and customized to the target audience.
Second paragraph: Your solution to a problem
Now tell how your talk will address this problem. In other words, present the solution.
• Share some of the best bits, excerpts of your talk that your audience might have not heard before. Make them crave for hearing more.
• Express your passion to the solution, and to the field you work in.
• Avoid too many abstract words, instead use concrete language with examples. Use analogies, metaphors if possible.
Note:
Your main statement is included either in the problem or in the solution.
Third paragraph: Your takeaways
This is a section that some events ask you. Even if you’re not asked, it’s a great way to organize your ideas in a simple list.
• List some of the best takeaways of your talk, up to 5 is a good number.
• Alternatively, you can list the benefits of attending your talk.
• Use bullet points.
Fourth paragraph: Whom your talk is aimed.
This is an optional paragraph, which is required by some event organizers.
• It’s a good idea to make very clear who is your audience, so you will avoid unmet expectations.
• Describe your audience unless it was made evident on the previous paragraphs.
BONUS
Two additional tips:
1. Ask someone who already has spoken at your target conference. Show her/him the draft of your proposal and ask for feedback. As a previous speaker has already gone through the full process of applying for, attending the conference, being accepted, communicating with the organizers, and ultimately speaking at the event, they are best people who can give you feedback. Once you put their feedback in practice you will have multiplied your chances of being accepted.
2. Be of service. Tell how you can help the event to be successful. Some event organizers struggle to get sponsors, sell tickets, or get enough media visibility. If there is something you can offer them, express it when you submit your proposal. The easiest way to do it is by telling the number of followers you have and how actively you will promote the event on your network.
For a nice PDF version of this, please download at: https://rockthetechstage.com/4-key-tactics-get-talk-accepted-tech-events/
Top comments (4)
Hi there, authors are encouraged to share their entire posts here on DEV, rather than mostly pointing to an external link. Doing so helps ensure that readers don’t have to jump around to too many different pages, and it helps focus the conversation right here in the comments section.
If you choose to do so, you also have the option to add a canonical URL directly to your post.
Will do
Ready!
Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing.