Open Forum

Hello everyone!

Is anyone using the Add Speaker Feature to their events? We do have Speakers that we invite; however, we are rather archaic in the sense that once they confirm, we send them an email asking them to send their information to us through Outlook, etc. At a cursory glance at this feature it looks way more professional and efficient than what we are doing. Would like to know from you all is it simple to set up manage? any challenges you've come across? I would appreciate any thoughts, suggestions. Thanks!

Hi Evya!

I'm not sure if you are referring to the Speaker Resource Center, but I have found that to be extremely helpful. You basically add them into the SRC and set them up with any number of tasks that you require of them to perform (i.e - register for the conference, upload a headshot, provide a bio, upload their presentation, etc.) with the deadline they need to complete it by. They then receive an email to log into the SRC and perform the tasks. They can also set up an administrator, such as a personal assistant who can also log in and perform the tasks on their behalf. Their bios, headshots, etc. are automatically updated on the Speaker page. (unless you have it set for you to approve it first.)

On your side, you can view who has completed the tasks and download any materials that have been uploaded. The only real downside I've found is that the site will not automatically check off the tasks as the individual completes it; they need to do it manually. So if they forget; or worse, if they check it off and then don't complete it, the site doesn't reflect the correct information, so you have to go and cross check things (I tended to find the first scenario more often than the second, though, so I would just check them off as I found they were completed). It is still a lot easier than managing a bunch of emails! 

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Tori Martinez
Event Technology Specialist
Direct TravelUnited States
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