When you’re planning an event you want it to be more than just a meeting; you want it to be an experience people will talk about, share and remember. A celebrity speaker can be a great way to do that. Beyond their ability to entertain an audience a celebrity speaker brings a marketing advantage. Their influence can create buzz, attract attention and extend the reach of your event beyond the walls of the venue.

In this article we’ll look at how to use a celebrity speaker to supercharge your event marketing from pre-event promotion to post-event engagement.

• Celebrity Influence

Celebrity speakers come with built-in star power. Their fame, achievements and public persona give them a platform and an audience that most people don’t have. This influence can be used to elevate your event in several ways:

• Instant Attention and Credibility

As soon as you announce a celebrity speaker your event gets credibility and interest. A well known name attracts interest from potential attendees, sponsors and the media. People associate celebrities with success, excellence and authority which can enhance your event’s reputation.

• Social Media Reach

Most celebrities have a large social media following. A single post, tweet or story from them about your event can reach thousands or even millions of people. This kind of exposure can drive awareness and registrations.

• Creating Buzz and Anticipation

Announcing a celebrity speaker creates buzz and anticipation. It gives people a reason to attend, making your event stand out in a crowded calendar.

• Pre-Event Marketing Strategies

To use a celebrity speaker you need to start marketing early and build up to the event. Here are some pre-event strategies:

• Make a Big Deal

Treat the announcement of your celebrity speaker as a big deal. Write a press release, create social media posts, consider a short video teaser. Use phrases like “Exclusive Appearance” or “Don’t Miss [Celebrity] Live!” to create hype.

• Promotional Content

Work with the celebrity speaker to create promotional content:

• Video Invites: A short video of the speaker inviting people to attend. This is personal and creates more excitement.
• Social Media Teasers: Countdown posts, behind-the-scenes footage or quotes from the speaker can create buzz.
• Email Campaigns: Include the speaker’s image and message in your email invites and newsletters.

• Engage Their Audience

Use the celebrity’s existing audience by asking them to share the event details. Hashtags, mentions and reposts will spread the word organically.

• Highlight Their Relevance

Explain why the celebrity speaker is right for your event. Whether they’re an industry leader, a motivational figure or a cultural icon, tie their story or expertise to the theme of your event to make it even more compelling.

• Social Media Momentum

Social media is one of the best tools for event promotion and a celebrity speaker can turbocharge your social media campaigns. Here’s how to make the most of them:

• Collaborative Posts and Stories

Ask your celebrity speaker to post about the event on their social media channels. Collaborative posts (where both your organisation and the celebrity are tagged) increase visibility and engagement.

• Event Hashtag

Create an event specific hashtag and ask the speaker to use it. This will centralise the conversation and make it easy for people to follow and share.

• Live Q&A or Instagram Live

Host a live Q&A or Instagram Live with the celebrity speaker before the event. This interactive approach allows potential attendees to connect with the speaker and create buzz and ownership of the event.

• Countdown Campaign

Run a countdown to the event with snippets, quotes or fun facts about the speaker. Each post builds up the anticipation and keeps your audience engaged.

• Media Coverage

Celebrity involvement can increase your event’s chances of getting media coverage. Here’s how to use your speaker for press:

• Press Release

Write a press release about the celebrity speaker and their connection to the event theme. Send to local and national media, industry publications and relevant bloggers.

• Pitch to Journalists

Contact journalists and media contacts with a personalised pitch. Highlight the uniqueness of the event and what the speaker brings. Offer the speaker for interview if possible.

• Media Partnerships

Consider partnering with media to promote the event. Exclusive interviews, feature articles or sponsored content will increase your reach and attract a bigger audience.

• Event Day Coverage

Invite press and media to attend the event and cover the speaker’s talk. This will lead to post-event articles, interviews and social media mentions that extend the event’s reach.

• On-the-Day Impact

The day of the event is full of opportunities to create content and engage with attendees. Here’s how to make the most of your celebrity speaker:

• Live Social Media

Encourage live tweeting, Instagram Stories and Facebook Live during the speaker’s talk. Assign a social media manager to capture key moments and quotes in real-time.

• Photo Ops and Meet-and-Greets

If possible, arrange photo ops or meet-and-greets with the speaker. Attendees sharing these on social media will extend the reach and visibility of your event.

• Audience Engagement

Ask the speaker to include interactive elements like Q&A or live polls. This will keep the audience engaged and participating.

• Record the Session

Record the speaker and capture high quality photos and videos. These can be used for post event marketing and future promotions.

• Post Event Marketing and Engagement

The impact of a celebrity speaker doesn’t stop when the event is over. Post event marketing helps keep the momentum going and extend the reach. Here’s how to keep the buzz going:

• Share Highlights and Recaps

Create highlight reels, photo galleries and blog posts about the speaker’s talk. Share on your website, social media and email newsletters to keep the conversation going.

• Use Quotes and Soundbites

Use the speaker’s quotes or key points in your post event content. These are great for social media posts, articles or future marketing materials.

• Thank the Speaker Publicly

Thank the celebrity speaker on social media, blog posts or videos. This will show professionalism and may encourage them to share your content with their followers.

• Follow-up with Attendees

Send a thank you email to attendees with links to event highlights and the recording of the speaker’s session. Ask them to share their experience on social media.

Conclusion: 

A celebrity speaker can be more than just a great on-stage presence—they can be a marketing asset that increases your event’s reach, credibility and impact. By using their influence pre-event, live and post-event you can create an event that people will remember and talk about for a long time.

• About the Author

• CSA Celebrity Speakers

Since 1983 CSA Celebrity Speakers has been matching organisations with the most famous and talented people on the planet. As a leading speaker bureau we specialise in finding exceptional speakers to motivate, educate, inspire and transform your audience.

With over 40 years of experience and the largest global network we pride ourselves on finding the perfect speaker to wow your audience and deliver long term results. Our expert consultants have deep industry knowledge and a passion for excellence so every speaker we suggest is right for your event.

At CSA Celebrity Speakers we believe in the magic of shared knowledge to power organisations and their people. More than just finding you a great speaker we want to make your event life changing. Let us help you create moments that will change the way people think and drive real change.