Playbook
How to apply for speaking opportunities
Speaking slots at conferences, TEDx events, meetups and panels are filled through calls for speakers or proposals. Organisers choose talks that teach their audience something specific.
How these are won
- Pitch one idea with a clear takeaway for that event's audience.
- Write a title and abstract that say what attendees will learn; vague titles get passed over.
- Add a short bio and a link to a past talk or a writing sample if you have one.
Materials checklist
- Talk proposal and abstractOnward Scout drafts it from your sourced profile; you approve every line.
- Speaker bioOnward Scout drafts it from your sourced profile; you approve every line.
A preparation timeline
Counted back from the deadline. Each program guide puts real dates on it.
- 28 days before the deadlineCheck fit and list the materialsRead the official page, confirm every eligibility rule and list what the application asks for.
- 21 days before the deadlineDraft the answers and documentsDraft each written answer and document from what you already have, citing real facts only.
- 7 days before the deadlineReview against the criteriaReread every answer against the published criteria, fill the gaps and check every upload.
- 2 days before the deadlineSubmit and keep the confirmationSubmit before the last day; portals slow down near deadlines. Save the confirmation.
Questions you will meet, answered honestly
What will attendees learn?
Two or three concrete takeaways, phrased as what they will be able to do.
Have you spoken before?
List real talks with links. If this would be your first, say so and link writing that shows how you explain things.
How Onward Scout helps
Onward Scout maps the official form field by field, fills it from your sourced profile and drafts the written answers; you review and tap to submit. If the form stops at a CAPTCHA, a login or a payment, you get a handoff with every field ready to paste.
Open now
All open speaking opportunitiesLet Onward Scout prepare your speaking opportunities applications
Drop in the résumé, deck or portfolio you already have. Onward Scout builds a sourced profile, finds opportunities you can win and prepares each application for you to approve with a tap.
Nothing is submitted without your tap. Logins, CAPTCHAs, payments and interviews stay with you.