Your conference or corporate event agenda is everything. It is what will keep your attendees engaged through a long and informationally dense round of sessions. It is what will highlight your company’s products of service offerings. It might even help boost your profits.

You’ve likely planned all of the details to the T. Your booth placement, your breakout sessions, your after-hours mingling opportunities. All are important ingredients in what is sure to be a winning event.

But one component of your agenda might be more critical than all those others combined. Namely: the speaker or speakers you book to headline your event.

The names you promote on your event agenda will likely serve as a draw for attendees. They will serve to energize the audience and keep them talking about the event long after it’s over. They’ll make the experience unique.

As you dive into your research about booking talent, you might come across seemingly interchangeable terms.

Keynote speaker
Guest speaker
Panelist
Headliner
Emcee

In the event planning space, these words, like so many others, often get tossed around and confused.

But in actuality, each has a distinct meaning that will alter the style of your event, depending on which you book.

With this article, let’s learn more about the difference between a keynote and a guest speaker. With these insights, you can determine which booking is right for your event.

The Similarities Between a Keynote Speaker vs a Guest Speaker

Before we dive into the similarities between these two speaker types, context is needed. Let’s first define exactly what is a keynote speaker or a guest speaker. At their core, these are individuals who are given a microphone. They address your audience at an event on behalf of your organization.

There are countless benefits for having a keynote and guest speaker at your event. Namely: a keynote speaker and a guest speaker both should serve as a draw for your prospective audience. This is the core similarity between the two concepts.

They can serve as a cornerstone of your audience engagement. They can help provide credibility for your event. And they can set the tone for what to expect.

These personalities should align with your company’s values and brand identity. Thusly, they serve as a sort of shorthand for what your company represents. They are taking the stage and the proverbial microphone at your event, after all.

Though your conference is fully staffed, few people get the amount of attention that keynote speakers and guest speakers get. These speakers often garner a high percentage of attendance at their speeches.

When looking for the similarities between a keynote speaker vs a guest speaker, it’s clear. The key is event visibility and impact.

The Difference Between a Guest Speaker and a Keynote Speaker

When comparing the two, there are countless differences between how the two roles are employed. Both have a similar impact on your event. However, your audience’s experience will differ between a keynote speaker vs a guest speaker.

Stage Presence

A keynote speaker owns the stage they’re on. Often they are the only person addressing the audience during the keynote. They command the room, set the speaking points, and deliver the entirety of the keynote address.

Compare that with a guest speaker’s stage presence. While sometimes a guest speaker works alone, often they appear on the stage alongside other personalities.

They may be guided through a conversation by an event host or emcee. They may appear on a panel alongside other guest speakers. They may be part of a hosted breakout session or workshop.

Any way you slice it, keynote speakers vs guest speakers engage and present differently. It often comes down to how many microphones are on the stage at any given time.

Time and Placement During the Agenda

A keynote speaker is the main attraction for your event. They are usually given ample time to deliver their keynote speech, with the average hovering around 45 minutes.

Conversely, a guest speaker is offered significantly less time on the stage. Consider how, if they are part of a panel discussion, they only have a fraction of the total panel runtime.

Keynote speakers and guest speakers also often appear at differing times on an event agenda. Guest speaker sessions may be peppered throughout an event. Meanwhile, a keynote typically happens either at the beginning or end of an event. So inherently, where a guest speaker helps pepper insights throughout an event, a keynote speaker either sets the tone or caps it off.

Background

Guest speakers are usually industry experts on the specific topic your event is covering.

They may be an industry insider. They may have a novel process or concept they wish to share. Or they may be an industry specific thought leader. In essence, they are someone from whom your audience can learn.

Conversely, a keynote speaker is there to inspire, not teach.

They are often booked due to the inspirational quotient they bring to the stage. And they are often celebrated for being dynamic, engaging, and memorable. They likely have celebrity status, with name cache they can bring to help bolster your event.

Learn the Ropes Before Hiring Your Keynote and Guest Speaker

Booking a winning cohort of keynote and guest speakers is a critical element to any successful event agenda. And celebrated keynote and guest speaker Jon Dorenbos is here to help. His motivational and inspirational speeches have graced the national stage and have inspired audiences into action. Learn more about keynote spearker questions and answers with insights.

Keynote Speaker vs Guest Speaker – Deciphering the Difference