Guest speaker

What Is a Guest Speaker?

A guest speaker is a non-employee who presents, co-hosts, or participates in a webinar or virtual event. Typically invited for their expertise, thought leadership, or industry insight, guest speakers play a vital role in enriching event content and driving audience engagement.

Within the ON24 Intelligent Engagement Platform, guest speakers can easily join from anywhere using ON24’s Presenter Console — a secure, browser-based interface that requires no software installation. Organizers can coordinate with multiple speakers, manage slide decks, and switch presenters seamlessly during live or simulive sessions.

Why Guest Speakers Matter

• Authority and credibility: External experts lend authenticity and attract audience trust.
  
• Audience engagement: Fresh voices and diverse perspectives hold attention longer and improve retention.
• Brand alignment: Featuring industry leaders strengthens a company’s reputation within its vertical.

How Guest Speakers Are Used in ON24 Events

Guest speakers are integral to ON24-powered webinars and virtual events. They are often used to:

• Provide expert commentary: Add real-world context or technical depth to product or industry topics.
  
• Co-present thought leadership sessions: Share perspectives alongside company hosts to reach broader audiences.
  
• Participate in Q&A panels: Engage with attendees through ON24’s interactive tools, including live chat, polls, and Q&A.
  
• Support training or education events: Deliver specialized instruction in continuing education or certification programs.
  
• Enhance marketing campaigns: Increase event attendance by featuring recognizable or high-value names.
  

Guest speakers are not only content contributors — they’re audience amplifiers. Featuring them strategically can increase registration rates, attract new segments, and improve brand awareness.

Key Benefits

• Expanded audience reach: External speakers attract diverse audiences, including those outside your existing customer base.
  
• Improved engagement: Studies show webinars with multiple speakers maintain higher viewing durations and interactions.
  
• Content differentiation: Guest-led sessions provide fresh insights that differentiate recurring webinar series.
  
• Ease of management: ON24’s platform tools — including the Presenter Console and analytics — make setup and post-event tracking simple.
  
• Co-marketing potential: Collaborate with partners and influencers to amplify promotion and engagement.
  

To explore how ON24 streamlines guest speaker management while driving audience engagement and lead generation, visit Propel Your Pipeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How can I add a guest speaker to my ON24 webinar?
   
   • You can add guest speakers directly in the ON24 event setup under the Presenter Console section. Each speaker receives a secure join link for participation.
2. Do guest speakers need special software to present?
   
   • No. Guest speakers can present using a browser-based interface — no software download required.
3. Can I feature multiple guest speakers in a single event?
   
   • Yes. ON24 supports multiple presenters and allows smooth transitions between hosts, speakers, and panelists during live events.
4. How can I promote guest speakers to boost attendance?
   
   • Include the guest speaker’s name, title, and company in promotional materials and registration pages to increase event credibility.
5. Does ON24 capture guest speaker engagement metrics?
   
   • Yes. ON24 tracks interactions, audience engagement, and performance data for events featuring guest speakers to assess impact and optimize future sessions.

Editorial & Methodology Notice

This glossary entry was created by the ON24 Editorial Team using verified 2025 ON24 benchmark data, platform documentation, and digital engagement best practices aligned with EEAT standards.
Updated: October 2025