“The date is set. The speaker isn’t.”
Tell us about your event and we’ll suggest speakers who could fit. If you would like, we’ll introduce you to a specialist agency to confirm availability and fees.
Get help finding a speakerFor anyone asked to organise a virtual keynote
Find the right virtual keynote speaker, and get the whole event right.
A town hall, a sales kick-off, a leadership day with people watching on screens. We’ll help you choose the speaker, cost it, get it signed off and make it land.
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Sound familiar?
You’ve been asked to find a speaker.
Here’s what usually gets in the way.
Most people organising a virtual keynote are doing it alongside a day job, with a date already in the diary and senior people watching. Start wherever you are.
“I’m not sure what the talk should even be about.”
Start from what is happening in your organisation. We’ll turn it into a clear brief and suggest talk angles that fit your audience.
Shape your brief“I don’t know what a speaker should cost.”
See published virtual fees, then add up everything around the fee: repeat sessions, recording rights, captions and production.
Work out your budget“I need sign-off from people who weren’t in the room.”
Build a business case that answers finance, HR and procurement before they ask, with a timeline and an email for each approver.
Build the business case“How do I know who’s actually good on screen?”
Get speaker suggestions for your topic, then test anyone’s virtual delivery with the questions experienced organisers ask.
How to choose a speaker“What if people switch off, or the tech lets us down?”
Plan the interaction minute by minute, then rehearse with a checklist that includes the fallback plan.
Plan the sessionHow we’ll get you there
Five steps from first idea
to a session that lands.
Use the steps in order, or jump to the one you need. Your answers carry from one tool to the next, so you never type anything twice.
- 1
Shape the idea
Who it’s for, what needs to change, the topic and the format. Bring a rough idea; we’ll ask the right questions.
You’ll have: A one-page speaker brief
Start the planner - 2
Cost it properly
The fee and everything around it, so nobody is surprised later.
You’ll have: A budget you can defend, with cost per attendee
Open the budget calculator - 3
Get it signed off
Each approver gets the answers they need, in the language they use.
You’ll have: A business case and approval emails
Build the business case - 4
Find the right speaker
Speaker suggestions matched to your brief and, if you would like, an introduction to a specialist agency to confirm availability and fees.
You’ll have: Speakers to consider, and an agency if you want one
Get help finding a speaker - 5
Make it land on the day
Interaction, time zones, rehearsal and what happens afterwards.
You’ll have: A running order, engagement plan and rehearsal checklist
Plan the session
By the end
Everything you need to book with confidence.
Free to use. No sign-up. When you are ready to talk to speakers, we’ll suggest who could fit and, if you would like, introduce you to a specialist agency.
- A clear brief the speaker can work from
- A budget you can explain line by line
- Sign-off, without a round of follow-up questions
- The right speaker, at an agreed fee, on your date
- A session that keeps people engaged, on any screen
- A follow-up plan, so the message lasts beyond the day
Ready to find your speaker?
Get help finding a speakerWe’ll suggest speakers who could fit your event.
We are a planning guide, not a speaker agency. Send us your brief and we’ll come back with speaker ideas. If you would like, we can also introduce you to a specialist agency that suits your event and budget. Free, with no obligation.
Finding the speaker
We suggest. You decide.
An agency confirms, if you want one.
We are a planning guide, not a speaker agency. That keeps our suggestions about your event, not about filling a diary.
- We suggestSpeakers who could suit your audience, subject and budget, from the planner or from us directly.
- An agency confirms, if you want oneWith your agreement, we introduce you to a specialist speaker agency to check availability, confirm fees and handle the booking.
- You decideNo charge from us, and no commitment until you agree terms with a speaker or agency.
Go deeper
Guides, topics and templates for every part of planning a virtual keynote.
Start with a question
Useful answers.
Practical decisions.
Costs, timing and the choices that shape a virtual keynote. Clear examples to help you plan.
Virtual keynote speakers: the complete organiser’s guideUnderstand virtual keynote speakers, compare delivery formats and topics, assess real evidence and plan a useful session for a remote audience.How to find and choose a keynote speakerWhere to find keynote speakers, how to shortlist them and how to check they will be good on screen or on stage. A practical guide for event organisers.Keynote speaker fees: what speakers charge, virtual and in personHow much does a keynote speaker cost? Published UK fee examples, what changes the price for virtual and in-person talks, and how to compare quotes.How long should a virtual keynote be?Compare 30-, 45- and 60-minute virtual keynote slots and allocate time for the talk, questions, transitions and follow-through.Live, recorded or hybrid: choosing a virtual keynote formatCompare virtual keynote formats and plan interaction, time zones, production and replay around your audience.Virtual keynotes across time zonesPlan fair live access, repeat sessions and replay for a virtual keynote audience spread across countries and time zones.
The people beyond the screen
Design for the way
they’ll actually watch.
Individual laptops, connected meeting rooms or colleagues spread across time zones. Start with the audience’s situation, then choose the subject and format.
How to choose a virtual keynote topicThe topic library
A wider world
of ideas.
From leadership to economics, wellbeing to AI: explore what each subject brings to a virtual audience.
01 / LEADERSHIP
Lead across distance
Clear decisions and shared direction for a remote leadership audience.
Read the guide02 / CHANGE & TRANSFORMATIONMake change tangible
Brief a virtual keynote around the change your people are experiencing.
Read the guide03 / TEAMWORK & PERFORMANCETurn ambition into action
Connect a shared message with the way distributed teams work together.
Read the guide04 / RESILIENCERespond to pressure
Set a thoughtful brief around uncertainty, perspective and useful action.
Read the guide05 / AI & THE FUTUREAsk better questions
Choose relevant expertise and make remote demonstrations work.
Read the guide06 / ECONOMICSUnderstand the outlook
Choose evidence, geography and time horizon for an online audience.
Read the guide07 / SUSTAINABILITYConnect evidence to action
Find the right expertise and make complex ideas clear on screen.
Read the guide08 / WELLBEINGCreate a considered session
Define the scope, expertise and participation approach.
Read the guide09 / CUSTOMER EXPERIENCESee the customer’s journey
Turn a virtual session into useful questions about service.
Read the guideFree organiser resources
Less guesswork.
A clearer plan.
Prepare a brief, compare speakers, choose a running order and rehearse the delivery. Use the tools online, print them or download a blank template.
Find your perfect keynote speakerPut it into practice
Your planning toolkit.
Use these with any speaker. Your notes stay on your device unless you choose to email your plan.
Your complete virtual keynote plannerPlan a corporate virtual keynote, from audience and topic to a speaker shortlist. Build your brief, plan the session and choose the help you want to find your speaker.Virtual keynote business case builderBuild the internal business case for a virtual keynote speaker: a one-page case, answers for finance, HR and procurement, a sign-off timeline and ready-to-send approval emails.Virtual keynote budget calculatorWork out the full cost of a virtual keynote: speaker fee, repeat sessions, recording rights, captions, interpretation, production and contingency, with cost per attendee.Virtual keynote engagement plannerPlan audience interaction for a virtual keynote minute by minute: polls, chat prompts, Q&A and reflection moments, with the wording to use and who runs each one.Virtual keynote topic & brief builderChoose a challenge and turn it into three keynote angles and a downloadable brief for your virtual audience.Global virtual keynote session plannerCompare audience time zones on your event date and create a downloadable virtual keynote running order.Virtual keynote speaker shortlist checkerCompare up to three virtual speakers against your requirements and download an evidence summary with questions to resolve.Your virtual keynote event briefA free, editable virtual keynote briefing template. Capture the audience, desired outcome, format and practical requirements.Run of show template for keynotes and virtual eventsFree run of show templates for a keynote or virtual event: 30, 45 and 60 minute versions with timings, owners and cues. Download and edit.Virtual event checklist: rehearsal and on-the-day checksA free virtual event checklist for keynotes, town halls and online conferences: what to test in rehearsal, who owns each check and your fallback plan.
New to virtual keynotes?
Browse the full guide libraryWhat is a virtual keynote?
A central talk delivered remotely to an online audience or connected venues. It can include live questions and reflection. Understand how the format works.
How much should we budget?
Start with the speaker’s fee for your agreed virtual keynote. Our cost guide includes attributed published speaker fees and questions for comparing quotes.
How long should the session be?
Choose the whole slot before allocating time to the talk. Compare 30-, 45- and 60-minute structures and leave room for introductions, questions and the close.
Do we need to sign up to use the resources?
No. The planning resources are free to read, use and download. Entries stay in your browser unless you choose to email your complete plan. Download or email your work before leaving.
One format, explored properly
Everything starts
with a virtual audience.
Every page helps you understand, choose or plan a remotely delivered keynote. Read about our sources, examples and editorial approach.
About this publication