General Guidelines:
- All submission videos must be no longer than 3-5 mins long; with the exception of TEDx which has an allowance of 8-10 mins long 
- All video submissions must be uploaded to the form in MP4 or MPEG format. You must also provide a direct hyperlink to the video (e.g YouTube, Dropbox or Vimeo link). This is to ensure there is a backup method to video your submission.
- All speaker content entered for the awards must have been delivered and/or recorded between January 2023 to April 2026. Proof of date may be requested.
- Applicants will receive notification if their submission has been disqualified.
- Applications are limited to 1 entry for up to three categories per person

What makes a compelling application: 

All awards

VIDEO Selection - this is the most important part of your application

• High-quality professional footage
• Great quality audio on the video
• The video must clearly demonstrate the category you’ve applied for (note, your showreel may not be the best footage for your submission)
• Video editing quality whilst preferred is not judged except in the showreel category

- Clear headline/strapline/claim to fame
- You have clear USP
- You have a well-written bio
- You have a minimum of 3 testimonials from past clients
- It’s clear who you serve, how you help and who books you

For Bookers Choice Award:
All of the above PLUS
- You are charging (and being paid) 4 or 5 figures per speech
- Your annual turnover from speaking fees alone is in the region of 50K

What makes a weak or unconvincing application:
VIDEO:
- Your showreel is used by default and doesn’t fit the category you’ve applied too
- Your footage is unclear or poorly shot
- Your audio isn’t clear
- Your background music is too loud
- You’ve used talking heads rather than focusing on demonstrating your speaking skills
- The footage is clearly entirely outdated
- You’ve used exactly the same footage that you used the previous year (the chances are the judges might have seen it already).

- Unclear, vague or vanilla headline/strapline/claim to fame
- Your USP is unclear, too general or poorly defined
- Your bio is poorly written, incomplete, or generic
- It’s unclear who you serve, how you help, and who books you. - This could mean your messaging is vague, your audience is not well-defined, or potential clients struggle to understand the value you provide. 

By submitting an entry to the Speaker Awards, applicants are automatically bound by The Speaker Awards Terms & Conditions.