You’re talking to event organizers and planners about speaking opportunities later this year. But…everyone seems to be asking you for slightly different things. One planner wants to hire you for a keynote, while another asks if you can host a workshop for their seminar.

Is there a difference? Does it matter?

Yes, and yes. You may call your content “presentations,” but depending on who you ask, someone else may call it a keynote speech, a breakout session, a program, a seminar, a workshop…the list goes on.

To ensure that you’re delivering a talk that’s right for the audience and event, you have to know the differences between a keynote and a workshop. Let’s talk about it.

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What is a keynote?

Think of a keynote as a big, entertaining show. Keynote presentations can also be called keynote speeches, keynote addresses, or lead speeches.

They’re typically designed for a larger audience, like attendees at a conference or a convention. Keynote speakers often tell a story to inspire, to motivate, and to engage their listeners. The topic of a keynote presentation usually drives home the event’s main idea or theme.

When you watch a really great movie, you feel emotional or you learn something new. You remember the movie and the impact it left on you. I like to think that keynote speakers aim for the same effect.

What is a workshop?

Workshops, also called breakout sessions or seminars, dig deeper into a topic and focus more on learning. Attendees expect to learn a skill or idea when they participate in a workshop.

Workshops may be spread out over multiple days of events. While slide decks are often used for keynotes, workshops tend to use more media, like workbooks, printouts, software, or videos.

Now, if keynotes are movies, think of workshops as improv classes. (These are sometimes literally called workshops, so it’s appropriate!) It’s a smaller, more intimate setting. The speaker tells their story but also uses interactive methods to teach the audience something.

Keynotes vs. workshops

Let’s use two different presentations of mine as an example.

“Your Story, Your Legacy” is best delivered as a keynote. With this talk, I usually speak to a broad audience about adversity and rewriting your story to leave a positive legacy. I aim to relate to my audience and inspire them to face challenges in their own lives.

On the other hand, “Selecting the Right Speaking Topics for Your Business” is best delivered to a small group workshop. With this talk, I help aspiring speakers choose topics that align with their goals and drive revenue to their businesses.

You can even spot the differences in the titles alone. “Your Story, Your Legacy” is more generalized, while “Selecting the Right Speaking Topics for Your Business” is very specific in who it’s for and what participants will gain from attending.

What’s right for you as a speaker?

If you’re somewhat new to speaking, you may not be ready to choose between keynotes and workshops yet. That’s totally fine!

However, you can still keep it in mind when making your speaking goals for the future. Are you drawn to the idea of teaching participants in a small group setting? Or do you want to speak to as many people at once at big events?

You might even want to do both! And there’s nothing wrong with aiming for that, my friend.

In fact, I can help you plot your course so you can accomplish your goals. Get access to The Speak to Scale Vault today, and you’ll unlock a speaking roadmap and resources that will guide you forward on your speaking journey.