---
title: How To Get Actionable Topics From Your Association Speakers
description: Why finding association speakers that can engage your audience effectively and hand off actionable take-aways is gold.
image: https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/hubfs/Bored%20Audience.jpeg
---

[![Trending Up - Logo - Horizontal - Color - Inverted copy](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logos/Trending%20Up%20-%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal%20-%20Color%20-%20Inverted%20copy.png?width=210&height=70&name=Trending%20Up%20-%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal%20-%20Color%20-%20Inverted%20copy.png "Trending Up - Logo - Horizontal - Color - Inverted copy")](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/)

- [SALES-READY WEBSITES](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/automated-sales-machine)
- [SALES & MARKETING STRATEGY](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/marketing-strategy-for-specialty-manufacturers)
- RESOURCES 
    - [BLOG](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/manufacturing-blog)
    - [FREE RESOURCES](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/manufacturing-marketing-resource-center)
    - [MARKETING ROI CALCULATOR](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/roi-calculator)
- [CASE STUDY](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/conveyor-system-manufacturer-case-study)
- CONTACT 
    - [CONTACT US](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/contact)
    - [CAREER CENTER](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/career-center)
    - [FREE MARKETING ANALYSIS](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/personalized-marketing-analysis-video)

## Smarketing Blog

## How To Get Actionable Topics From Your Association Speakers

 by [Brian Bzdawka](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/author/brian-bzdawka)![](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/44179875_10156868119424595_6988195911268564992_n.jpg?width=35&name=44179875_10156868119424595_6988195911268564992_n.jpg)

December 12, 2016

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

We have all sat through a boring presentation.  Maybe it’s a topic that we are already familiar with, maybe the topic is too far over our heads, or maybe the person giving the presentation just has your sleep number dialed in and is slowly lulling you into a coma.

![Bored Audience.jpeg](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Bored%20Audience.jpeg?width=322&name=Bored%20Audience.jpeg)There is so much to consider when booking an [association speaker](https://www.julcreative.com/speaker-opportunities-for-your-business-organization-jenna-engel), but the thing that should always stay top of mind is your audience. Finding a speaker that can engage your audience effectively and hand off actionable take-aways is gold. It can leave your audience feeling like they walked out of the greatest feel-good movie ever - in comparison to sitting through a subtitled foreign film.

## THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT SPEAKER

The right speaker will engage your audience with valuable information and provide a fresh energy to your association meetings.  On the flip side, a bad speaker or a speaker that’s not right for your audience can shed a negative light on your organization - leaving you audience unenthused, or, in the worst case scenario, even effect membership numbers.

## FOCUS ON YOUR MEMBERS: THE AUDIENCE

If you just give your audience what they’re expecting, they’re going to get bored.  So you need to make sure that you are keeping the content fresh for them.  Finding a speaker that can deliver actionable topics that are new and exciting is an ideal situation.  Of course, it’s also important that the topics are relatable.  New and fresh is great, but it has to tie into what your members care about.  So, surprise them with new stuff, but make sure it fits.  (This advice also applies to buying gifts for your wife.)

A great way to make sure the topics are relevant is to think about your audience and the problems they’re struggling with.  Is there a common issue that ails a majority of your members?  Finding an association speaker that [addresses solutions to those common problems](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/speaker-opportunities-for-your-business-organization-jenna-engel) can show that you really care about your members.  Because they WANT to hear a speaker that can give them ideas that they can implement – actionable topics. 

## HOW DO YOU KNOW IF THEY ARE THE ONE?

![Questions.png](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Questions.png?width=226&name=Questions.png)We know that when you hire an [association speaker](https://www.julcreative.com/speaker-opportunities-for-your-business-organization-jenna-engel) that one of your primary concerns should be whether or not they are speaking to actionable topics that your audience cares about.  So, how do we make sure that the person that is going to speak for your association is the right speaker for you?

Here are 4 questions you can ask your [potential association speakers](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/speaker-opportunities-for-your-business-organization-jenna-engel) to make sure they will delight your audience:

### 1. What sets you apart from other association speakers?

Their answers on what makes them different will be very revealing.  Listen for phrases like “I give them steps they can take”, “dealing with their issues”, or “I bring bagels”. (The last one doesn’t speak to actionable topics, but is obviously a positive.)

### 2. What actionable items will my audience walk away with?

They should be able to tell you from their experience that after their presentation people will be able to do x, y, and z.  They will probably even have specific instances to talk to where members from other associations have followed through with their advice and it has helped them in a positive way since.

### 3. What is some common feedback from members after your presentation?

This will give you a two-fold answer.  If they say they don’t get much feedback, that means that they don’t really network after they speak - which takes away from the benefit to your members.  Or, that they don’t get much feedback because they have dealt with polite members that stick to the rule their mothers taught them - if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.  Hopefully the answer will speak to the excitement that the members have when speaking to them afterward their presentation - cluing you in to the level of engagement that is normally received from them speaking.  Words to listen for:

- energized
- reactive
- motivated
- excited, or
- contemplative.

### 4. How can you customize your message to our needs?

You have put some thought into the issues that your members are dealing with so you want to make sure that the speaker is prepared to be able to speak to those issues.  The last thing that you want is a canned presentation.

This might seem like a lot of information, but by knowing how important it is to find [an association speaker that delivers actionable topics](https://www.julcreative.com/speaker-opportunities-for-your-business-organization-jenna-engel) to your members and being able to ask a few questions to make sure that you do find that right speaker - you are going to be engaging your members, keeping them happy and keep on renewing your association memberships for years to come.

 

[![Watch this testimonial video for an association speaker with actionable topics.](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/404404/b3d737f5-9b9a-45ab-a54c-4df25a13a09c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/404404/b3d737f5-9b9a-45ab-a54c-4df25a13a09c)

Topics: [Increase Lead Generation](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/increase-lead-generation) [association membership](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/association-membership) [quality leads](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/quality-leads)

### About the Author:

### [Brian Bzdawka](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/author/brian-bzdawka)

![](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/44179875_10156868119424595_6988195911268564992_n.jpg?width=100&name=44179875_10156868119424595_6988195911268564992_n.jpg)

Brian is the Creative Director at Trending Up. He has a smokin' hot wife and three awesome kids. When he's not designing graphics, creating videos and working on marketing strategies, Brian enjoys drawing, breakfast food and being nice.

[Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/brian.bzdawka) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-bzdawka-5582a66)

[Website](http://www.briandrawsmovies.com/)

## Something Powerful

### Tell The Reader More

The headline and subheader tells us what you're offering, and the form header closes the deal. Over here you can explain why your offer is so great it's worth filling out a form for.

Remember:

- Bullets are great
- For spelling out benefits and
- Turning visitors into leads.

### About The Trending Up Blog

On our blog, we'll share our passion and energy for strategy, inbound marketing, selling, and growing businesses. We hope you'll do the same!

Here's what to expect from our blog:

- The best ways to accomplish your growth goals
- News & updates on the digital industry and what it means for you
- How to keep *trending up*.

[Sign up to receive our blog updates in your inbox.](https://www.julcreative.com/subscribe/jul-creative-inbound-smarketing-blog)

### Subscribe Here!

### Recent Posts

### Posts by Topic

- [Inbound Marketing (28)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/inbound-marketing)
- [Content Marketing (18)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/content-marketing)
- [Marketing for B2B (15)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/marketing-for-b2b)
- [Sales Enablement (12)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/sales-enablement)
- [Inbound Marketing for Home Contractors (10)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/inbound-marketing-for-home-contractors)
- [Inbound Smarketing (10)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/inbound-smarketing)
- [Increase Lead Generation (10)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/increase-lead-generation)
- [Manufacturing Blogs (10)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/manufacturing-blogs)
- [Marketing Powered By Data (10)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/marketing-powered-by-data)
- [association membership (10)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/association-membership)
- [Inbound for Financial Institutions (9)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/inbound-for-financial-institutions)
- [Blogging ROI (7)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/blogging-roi)
- [quality leads (7)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/quality-leads)
- [Improving Close Ratio (5)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/improving-close-ratio)
- [Marketing Strategy (5)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/marketing-strategy)
- [Attraction Recruiting (4)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/attraction-recruiting)
- [Buyer Personas (4)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/buyer-personas)
- [Commercial Construction Marketing (4)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/commercial-construction-marketing)
- [Construction (4)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/construction)
- [Inbound Sales (4)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/inbound-sales)
- [Social Media (4)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/social-media)
- [Marketing for Home Builders (3)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/marketing-for-home-builders)
- [Email Marketing (2)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/email-marketing)
- [Personalization (2)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/personalization)
- [Website Development (2)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/website-development)
- [Nari Trade Show (1)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/nari-trade-show)
- [Overhead Door Industry (1)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/overhead-door-industry)
- [Recruitment (1)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/recruitment)
- [Trade Show Success (1)](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/blog/topic/trade-show-success)

see all

[![](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logos/Trending%20Up%20-%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal%20-%20Color.png?width=400&height=133&name=Trending%20Up%20-%20Logo%20-%20Horizontal%20-%20Color.png)](http://trendingupstrategy.com)

### 1870 The Exchange Suite 200 #357 Atlanta, GA 30339-2021

 

### 720.213.8437

 

### info@trendingupstrategy.com

![gold-horizontal-white](https://www.trendingupstrategy.com/hs-fs/hubfs/gold-horizontal-white.png?width=220&height=71&name=gold-horizontal-white.png "gold-horizontal-white")

### From Our Blog

### Sign Up for Updates

 

 

 

 

 

© 2026 Trending Up Strategy

[Privacy Policy](https://www.julcreative.com/privacy-policy)  |  [Terms & Conditions](https://www.julcreative.com/terms-and-conditions)