Symposium 2024: 6 tips for creating a stage-worthy speaker submission
The Call for Submissions window has closed this year. Read on for 6 tips for a stage-worthy speaker submission next year!
By Marissa Dresnek.
5 minute read
Summary
The Call for Submissions window is now closed, but you can still register to attend this year's Symposium in Nashville, USA, Oct. 15-18, 2024.
The Call for Submissions window has now closed.
Sitecore’s biggest customer and partner event of the year is back this year and descending on Nashville from October 15-18, 2024. The excitement is high as we kick off preparations to bring together thousands of marketers, developers, global brands, and valued partners at the iconic Gaylord Opryland Convention Center & Resort.
Get your submission to the top of the judges’ pile with our six quick tips to help you create a stage-worthy speaker submission. We wish you luck!
6 tips for Symposium 2024 Call for Speakers
Tip 1: Choose an engaging topic
As you consider your speaker presentation, make sure your story is relevant for this year’s audience. The Sitecore Symposium 2024 theme is “Experience the Possibilities”. The conference will be all about showing our global attendees how to unlock creative potential and become digital visionaries.
When you start your submission, you’ll be asked to identify one of our five session tracks:
- Transform Your Digital Roadmap
- Maximize Digital Experience Solutions
- Deliver Technical Excellence
- Connect Your Composable Future
- Breakthrough Innovations (New)
Tip 2: Prepare for the submission questions
Optimize the time you have available to complete your submission by downloading the questions and preparing your presentation in advance. While the portal will save your progress, there are benefits to having your plans ready. One key example: Presentations that include a Sitecore customer’s approvals for use are more likely to make it to the top of the judges’ consideration pile.
This year, you can choose to present either a 25-minute session or a technical demo, both including a 5-minute Q&A. You can have up to two speakers on stage during your presentation or lead a panel discussion with up to three speakers and one moderator.
View this year’s Call for Speakers submission questions.
Tip 3: Create an eye-catching title
Your session title is your first impression. Our team of reviewers will be looking at your title from the attendees’ perspective and evaluating whether it’s a session they would want to see. Spend time creating a session title that is either enticing or clearly summarizes the topic of your talk. This year’s session titles will be limited to 100 characters including spaces, so keep it short and interesting.
Tip 4: Focus on the impact
The submissions that will stand out to our judges typically include tangible insights. If you're sharing thought leadership in your presentation, consider providing clear points of advice. If you're leading a demo, consider including data on the benefits of utilizing your insights. The is your chance to share your expertise and the learnings that attendees can take away from the conference and implement into their own projects.
Tip 5: Tell your unique story
What is special about your submission? The facts of your brand experience are important, but so is the narrative to the amazing work you are doing. Your story is often how your presentation creates a connection with the audience by being relatable, helpful, or inspirational. A simple way to do this is to identify a “before” state and an “after” state, and then explaining your journey between the two.
Tip 6: Clearly define your learnings
You’ll have an opportunity to share your takeaways and/or your results toward the end of your submission. Often, these are what your audience will be able to put into practice after the event. Take this chance to complete your submission on a high note and shows the judges that you are thinking about the value attendees will get from your session.
Bonus tip: Think quality over quantity
We are asking Partners to please limit their overall number of Call for Speakers submissions from each organization to 10. Completing more submissions doesn’t necessarily increase your chances of getting selected. The best approach is to fine-tune your top ideas to submit your best speaker submissions.
Are you ready to get started? Go to the Symposium page →