Insights - Strategic Speaker Services

Conference Trends for 2025

We touched base with the major conference producers to discuss their conference plans for the coming year and trending key topics.

The Fall Conference Season – Part 2 – Tech & Innovation

As we turn the corner into the fourth quarter, technology and innovation conferences begin to take center stage.

The Fall Conference Season – Part 1 – Sustainability

This Fall, conferences focused on Sustainability kick off this busy time for conferences.

S3 Conference Producer Survey Results, Spring 2024

We periodically survey a cross section of top tier conference producers to get a pulse on how conferences are changing from year to year. Here are those results from Spring, 2024.

AI Everywhere

It seems that almost every conference is incorporating AI into their agendas. And it’s not just technology events, AI is touching nearly every industry and business function.

How AI will Change the Conference Industry

There is a huge amount of attention (hype?) currently about Generative AI models like ChatGPT. Technology enthusiasts are saying this type of technology will change virtually every industry and business.

Maximizing thought leadership during times of economic uncertainty

With many experts predicting an economic slowdown, consider rebalancing your external communications mix.

Sustainability – From Ambition to Impact

The sustainability conversation is changing. This year there was a definite shift from longer term goal setting to shorter term implementation achievements.

22 in 2022 – And Counting

We just celebrated S3’s 22nd birthday. Throughout more than 2 decades we’ve seen a lot.

What’s Ahead for Conferences in 2022

Well, the world certainly remains unpredictable, doesn’t it? This time last year we thought we were on the path to mostly in person conferences.

Welcome to the Era of the Hybrid Conference

Hybrid events are here. As a speaker, navigating a hybrid conference can open new opportunities but can also pose some challenges.

The Changing Dialogue on the Future of Work

Knowing how conference discussions on The Future of Work have changed recently can help you make your perspectives even more pertinent to today’s audiences.

The Conference Producer Perspective Part 2: What’s Ahead for 2021

We surveyed dozens of conference producers last quarter to find out how they envisioned conferences evolving in 2021.

The Conference Producer Perspective: A Survey on the State of Conferences

We reached out to dozens of conference producers with a brief questionnaire asking about their transitions over the past year. Here are the insights we found most interesting from their responses

Staying Relevant in the Great 2020 Conference Shift

In 2020, huge changes took place on a global scale. If you’re a thought leader and you’re hoping to earn a speaking opportunity at a major conference, it is critical to ensure that your discussion topic correlates to the macro trends being discussed at conferences.

Speechwriting, Now!

My wife came to me needing help with a speech. We had 10 minutes to work on it. It turned out perfect. Here's how.

Finding the Best Virtual Conferences

The shift to virtual conferences has made it easier for thought leaders to present. The hurdles of huge time commitments with cumbersome travel has been alleviated and the advent of more but shorter events has created a plethora of new opportunities to speak. Conference producers are now creating more conferences than ever. But, this doesn’t...

Presenting Well Virtually

Virtual conferences have become the new norm. Even when we are able to attend conferences in-person we expect that a virtual component will still remain since there are so many benefits. Many seasoned presenters are quickly realizing that presenting at a virtual conference is very different than presenting in person to a live audience. We’ve...

The Pivot to Virtual Conferences

Not too long ago conferences were an amazing way to meet, learn about, and enjoy virtually any topic. The pandemic has changed the conference universe radically, at least for the time being.

Physical Distancing and Social Connection

Maybe instead of “social distancing” we need to create a new, broader term like “physical distancing and social connection”.

Coronavirus Conference Impact More Widespread

As of early March, the rapid spread of COVID-19 worldwide is wreaking havoc (having an even greater impact than first anticipated) on the conference world.

Key Topics at Healthcare & Pharma Conferences

We’re evaluating at the most important conferences in the healthcare and pharma space and wanted to share the key issues being discussed by the industry’s top leaders.

Speaking as One Part of the Marcom Mix

The holy grail of marketing communications is finding the right mix of activities to convey the right message to the right audience all within a set budget.

Major Conferences Feel Impact of Coronavirus

As of February 21, increasing numbers of announcements are being made about how coronavirus is impacting major conferences worldwide. Most notable to date is the cancellation of Mobile World Congress.

Building a Personal Brand

When we think of building a brand, we immediately think of a corporate brand. But today, branding is becoming just as important on a personal level.

You Need a Strategic Plan

We’re continually amazed how often we hear from communications pros at major brands that they have no strategic plan for securing speaking engagements for their key executives at major conferences.

Maximizing your “Return on Expertise”

Presenting at a conference is a major undertaking, are the benefits really worth the effort?

What is Thought Leadership?

Thought leadership. You see this term all the time, especially when considering speaking at conferences. But what exactly is thought leadership?

7 Steps to Building a Successful Executive Visibility Program

Here are 7 simple things you can do to build your executive speaking program into a highly impactful and successful part of your marketing and communications strategy.

How to Amplify Your Speaking Engagements

There are many activities that can be done before, during and after a presentation to leverage each to the fullest and maximize its impact.

10 Factors for Assessing a Speaking Invitation

Here is S3’s process to evaluate any conference speaking opportunity.

The Conference Organizer – Gateway or Gatekeeper?

The conference organizer can be your key to success, or the roadblock preventing you from confirming the speaking opportunity you want.

Making the Most of Your Executive Visibility Program