23 October 2009

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Six Concepts to Improve Your Chances of Conference Submission Selection

By Jacqueline Kardon, Congress Content Coordinator

If your conference submission was not selected, you might be searching for answers. Why was it not chosen? What went wrong? Don’t know they know how important it is?

Maybe it’s not the information’s importance, but how it was proposed.  Each organization uses a slightly different selection process, with no guarantee that even the most carefully prepared proposal will be accepted. 

Nonetheless, here are six concepts which may improve your selection chances in the future:

Know the audience

A conference serves an organization’s educational needs. Some accept “sales” proposals, while others accept only knowledge-based presentations. Before submitting, review the audience profile and the organization’s goals, or contact the individual responsible for the submission process. Are there any published industry standards? If so, connect your proposal to one or more of the standards.

Follow submission requirements

Read all requirements completely: what is requested, format, size limitations, and personal or reference information. Adhere to all requirements and deadlines provided. Provide only what is requested. Excess information may be considered overkill and may not be reviewed.

Write clearly

Reviewers may not be as familiar with your topic as you are. Write at the level of the average audience member. Remember, you are trying to convince a nonexpert that your topic has value. Consider the reviewers’ fluency in your language or your fluency in the language of the conference. If you are not sure you are being clear, ask someone familiar with the conference language to proofread your proposal.

Regarding references

References should be aware that you are providing their names and should agree to respond if requested. Omit references who will not benefit you. If an example of your speaking, such as a video clip, is requested, submit it in the specified format. Web links to your previous presentation can be used. If you provide previously earned evaluation scores, include the range of possible scores.

Provide timely answers

If more information is requested, adhere to the response date and method of response provided. Check your e-mail frequently for any such requests.

Verify contact information

All organizations use e-mail or telephone for speaker contact. Always verify your contact information before submitting. Check for typographic errors in your e-mail address and provide a full phone number. If your information changes, notify the organization.

While these suggestions will not assure selection, they can improve your chances. Good luck on your next submission.

For more information on submissions, contact Jacqueline Kardon at congressspeakers@pmi.org.