The NASPP Blog

As I’m sure all of my readers know by now, the 20th Annual NASPP Conference will be held in New Orleans from October 8-11, 2012. New Orleans is always a lot of fun and a great location for us, so this year’s Conference is not to be missed–I know I’m already looking forward to it! In today’s blog, I offer some last minute tips for submitting a speaking proposal for the Conference.

(NASPP followers on Twitter and Facebook knew the location of the NASPP Conference before anyone else. Follow the NASPP on Twitter and Facebook to make sure you don’t miss the next big announcement.)

Tips for Getting Accepted to Speak at the NASPP Conference

1. Don’t be late! Speaking proposals are due by next Friday, March 2–no excuses, no matter how dire the circumstances. If you feel a cold coming on now, plan accordingly. Timeliness is very important in a speaker–we need you to submit your materials on time, show up for your session on time, finish your presentation on time. This is a test–submitting your proposal on time demonstrates that you’ll take our deadlines seriously.

2. Be unique! We’re looking for presentations that haven’t been done before–by you or anyone else. Fresh out of ideas? Consider trolling the NASPP Q&A Discussion Forum. The questions posed in the forum are an indication of the issues our members are currently struggling with and can be a great source of ideas for speaking proposals. If you’re a service provider, the questions your own clients are asking you can also be a great source of ideas. And, whether you’re a provider or an issuer, think about what you do well–your best presentation topic is the one you are most comfortable with.

3. Be clever and get to the point! Don’t underestimate the importance of a compelling title and description that gets right to the point. We receive over 150 proposals–those that stand out are more likely to be accepted.

4. Be practical! We’re looking for sessions where attendees will walk away with a list of strategies, tools, and action items that they can take back to the office and implement.

5. Don’t stop at one! Every firm can submit up to three proposals–increase your odds by maxing out your submissions. Even better, network with colleagues to see if they have proposals you could participate in. The more proposals you are included on, the better your chances of getting selected to speak.

6. Be a good speaker! If invited to speak, submit your materials on time, submit more than just the minimum required materials, cover the topics in your proposal thoroughly, keep your panel running on time and on topic, and be an engaging presenter. When it comes to our Conference speakers, we believe that past performance IS indicative of future performance. Speakers that don’t submit materials on time or that are on poorly organized panels aren’t likely to be invited back.

See ten more tips for creating a successful proposal.

Register Now for Early-Bird Savings
If you aren’t submitting a speaking proposal but plan on attending the Conference, register by April 13 for the early-bird rate. This rate won’t be extended, so don’t dawdle!

– Barbara