The key to an effective and productive B2B marketing campaign is the right roundtable discussion topic. It is the first thing attendees see and the final impression they take after a roundtable discussion. So how do you identify a topic that’s both exciting and relevant? Keep these tips in mind.
What is it that you want to achieve? When choosing a roundtable discussion topic, the first thing to consider is the purpose of your roundtable. Ask yourself, ‘What am I doing this for?’ Whether it’s for expanding your professional networks or gaining industry insights, it will ensure that your roundtable discussions stay focused. A roundtable without direction can easily lead to disinterested guests and unhappy clients.
What exactly do you want to address? In the digital age, everything is evolving rapidly. Decision-makers and executives face new challenges and opportunities every day, creating a wide range of roundtable topics to discuss.
The key here is choosing the right one that is timely and relevant. At The Ortus Club, we strive to always stay on top of industry trends and current events in business to remain relevant.
A roundtable is as valuable as its audience. Take the time to research your audience thoroughly. It’s important to know who your audience is, what they’re going for, and their goals and motivations. Even if you have the world’s brightest minds in one room, the conversation will only go as far as you take it.
“Take your time researching the subject matter, as this is critical in understanding your guests and why they would choose to attend your event.”
Building strong relationships with guests, moderators, and clients also helps you craft roundtable discussion themes that inspire deeper dialogue and repeat participation.
What can your guests bring to the table? The strongest roundtable discussions are filled with professionals who come from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise. Understanding who they are and how they relate to the topic will allow your group to delve into industry-specific or role-specific aspects that may otherwise go unexplored. Ideally, participants with different experiences and roles should contribute different perspectives. Therefore, articles should be interdisciplinary, so all your attendees can benefit from the exchange of ideas.
Once you identify a common theme for your roundtable discussion topic, it’s important to focus on specific aspects of that theme. While general themes may appeal to a larger audience, they tend to steer off track and mislead participants. This can lead to miscommunication and misunderstanding.
Specific topics in roundtable discussions keep audiences engaged. In addition, these discussions help to respect your guests’ time, as there is no chance of unnecessary delay.
The Ortus Club roundtables follow a solid framework that keeps the conversation structured and rolling. We foster an environment open to input and feedback from our guests. We let our discussions flow freely and seamlessly, moving from subtopic to subtopic, with each guest being able to share what’s on their mind.
There are so many factors to consider when choosing a topic. But everything comes down to selecting something that impacts the industry right now. The best roundtable topics are those that address meaningful industry challenges or opportunities. These are the questions that you should ponder upon: Is this topic relevant right now? Can these executives contribute industry insights? Is this discussion worth their time? If you can confidently answer yes, you’ve selected a strong roundtable discussion topic.
Having held events for over a decade, The Ortus Club has been working with various key decision-makers and C-level executives. If you’re planning to host an executive roundtable and masterclass but need expert guidance, partner with us, and let’s make your event a success!