Points to ponder when searching for a speaker.

• Position: Corporate Gifts & Event Planning

Booking a speaker is not something most people do on a regular basis and for many it can be a daunting task. Listed below are a few tips to help you begin the process.

1. Start with your goals. Before you even begin looking at speakers or talking to a speaker's agency, determine what you are trying to get out of the event. What do you want the audience to walk away thinking, feeling and reacting to? When you can answer those questions, you will be in a much better position to decide what kind of speaker you are looking for.

2. Talk to your colleagues. Find out what they would like to see in a speaker--what kind of topic, style, impact they are looking for? Find out if they have seen any great speakers recently.

3. Budget as much as you can for the speaker. Think about it. The intellectual content of your meeting is the most important element in its success or failure, and your keynote speaker is a huge part of that. Crowds will remember a great speaker (or a lousy one), long after they have forgotten about the nifty table settings, delicious meal, or the free T-shirt. Do not scrimp on the speaker, you will regret it later.

4. Beware of the pitfalls of video. A well-crafted video cam can make a poor speaker look great, just as a poor video can make a great speaker look terrible. Do not rely on videos to make your...