How Do I Get a TED Talk?
Have you dreamed of giving a TED or TEDx talk? Do you wonder how people get them? This article shares the TED and TEDx process, what to consider before applying, and how to apply.
What is a TED talk
TED talks are a specific type of talk. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design – the three topics that talks were focused on when conceived by Richard Saul Wurman in 1984. In 2000, Chris Anderson’s company bought TED and over the next few years, the conference became what you know today. In 2006, the first TED talks were put online, bringing them into popularity.
TED is a nonprofit. While their talks are available for free as part of the Creative Commons License, companies have to license the right to use them. This is where TED@Work was born. They create instructional materials and resources to add meaningful content for companies to leverage in the growth and development of employees and sharing ideas.
There are currently four main TED conferences. The TED conference, TEDWomen, TEDGlobal, and TEDSummit. These conferences are often three-to-five days and include a mix of discovery sessions, workshops, speakers, entertainment, and interaction with speakers. There are also smaller gatherings, called TED Salons, which are an evening of speakers and performers sharing ideas in small venues.
As of the beginning of 2021, there were over 3500 TED talks on TED.com (not including TEDx talks).
What is TEDx and how is it different from a TED talk?
With the growing popularity of TED, different communities, universities, and companies were interested in putting on their own TED conference of “ideas worth spreading.” TED launched TEDx, where groups license the right to hold events. There are strict specifications for TEDx events. They have to follow the same format as TED and are given guidelines on how to organize their events, curate talks and prepare speakers. More than 13,000 TEDx events have been held in 150 countries.
TED has an internal team that reviews nominated TEDx for consideration of posting on TED.com. A series of juries watch and vote if the talk moves forward. Each talk is validated for accuracy. I had to submit peer-reviewed research, sources and even letters from people in my stories as part of my consideration process.
What is the format of a TED or TEDx talk?
They are 18 min or less, focused on building an idea worth spreading for the audience. These are given from a red circle on the stage. Talks are typically delivered without notes and from memory. There isn’t a teleprompter. The speaker sees what you see, in addition to a countdown clock.
When developing your talk, you shouldn’t aim for 18 minutes. You should aim for 10 minutes. Less is more. When you give the talk, it will always expand in time. In rehearsals, my talk was 11 min. The finished version was 13.
If these talks seem so polished, there is a reason! These talks are carefully scripted and rehearsed to build the idea in the most impactful way. As I prepared for my TEDx, I spent months scripting it and a solid month rehearsing it. By the time I gave the talk, I had practiced it over 50 times. If you are assigned a speaker coach, you will spend months refining the script and practicing the talk with them.
What a TED talk isn’t
TED looks for unique perspectives. While many talks include personal stories, these aren’t motivational speaker talks about overcoming a life event. They don’t want someone interested in being a motivational speaker. In fact, speakers often have a harder time getting a TED or TEDx. It isn’t a sales pitch or self-promotion. The goal of a TED talk is to truly build an idea for your audience that changes their thinking. Each speaker should be able to answer why they are the right person to give their particular talk and what is unique about their idea. In one sentence.
I often hear leaders in corporations say they want to give a TED-like talk. Then they ramble for 18 minutes, don't land an idea and confuse their audience. A TED talk isn't speaking without being interrupted for 18 minutes. Each piece of the talk should earn a place and work towards building an idea.
Reasons to not give a TED talk
When someone tells me they want to give a TED talk, I always ask why. There are so many misconceptions about what the talks are or what they will do for you. If any of the items below apply to you, consider finding a different opportunity to speak. Your topic may not be a fit for a TED or TEDx.
To promote your business or products
To get more speaking opportunities
To get a speaking video
To become famous
To get on TED.com
To get a book deal
To stand in the red circle
You don’t have an idea crystalized
You don’t have an answer to “Why do I want to do this?”
Reasons to give a TED talk
I once read that people should write a book when they have an idea that they can’t stop thinking about. That they want to examine the idea further and share it with others. The same is true for a TED talk. You share an idea or perspective that is unique to you and the topic. You may be ready when you can answer “Why are you the right person to give this talk and why now?”
TED talks are a specific type of talk and require more work than other talks. You want to have your idea firmed up before applying and have a good chunk of time dedicated to shaping and rehearsing.
How do I get a TED Talk?
TED has a dedicated curation team (who cannot be wooed or bribed, even by fellow TED employees). TED speakers are identified through a combination of applications, nominations, and invitations. They typically invite applications and nominations once a year. The application requires you to submit your idea (in a succinct sentence and a paragraph), share information about yourself and a sample video. From there, they may move to interviews and even auditions. There are roughly 50 speakers for each TED event, so the odds of landing a TED talk are low.
How do I get a TEDx talk?
With TEDx events in so many cities around the globe, these are more accessible. Each TEDx event curates their lineup differently. Some are invitation only. A few are nomination based. Others require an application process – which varies widely.
On average, each TEDx has 300+ submissions for each event, competing for about 10 spots. Some of the TEDx teams require you to have your talk fully drafted and their process includes you delivering your talk as an audition (think semifinals and finals). Others want a version of your idea and sample speaking video.
Here is the discouraging part. Most people apply to many TEDx before they are accepted. I had applied to five different events and was lost in the stack of applicants. I ended up getting my talk because I was guest lecturing at Purdue and a few members of the TEDxPurdueU team were in the audience. They emailed me and invited me to apply, and I was accepted a month later. I definitely had an advantage by having them see me speak live.
Here is the even more discouraging part. Just because you give a TEDx doesn’t mean your talk will end up on TED.com. As of a few years ago, 1 in 18,000 TEDx make it to TED.com. Just because talks move to TED.com doesn't mean they go viral. There are over 30 years of ideas and a billion views of TEDx presentations!
I had no expectations for my talk to end up on TED. Someone at TED saw my talk and submitted it to the process. It was reviewed several times by a panel before and after I submitted research in August. Even then, I didn’t expect it to move, and nothing was promised. I didn’t hear anything more until I got an email on January 10th, 2021, telling me my talk was going live on TED.com on January 14, 2021. I figured I would get 250,000 views in the first several months due to the pandemic. I was floored when it hit a half million views in a day and almost 2 million in the first year.
If you are interested in applying to a TEDx, visit their website. Look at different cities near you to see their selection process and the date of their event. Attend it live. Meet the coordinators. And work on your idea. Be able to describe the idea you have that is worth sharingbefore you apply. Watch other videos on related topics to make sure you are differentiating your idea.
Should I get a coach?
If you have an idea that you want to share, whether for a TEDx or for a keynote, it’s a great idea to get someone to help you tighten that idea. It will help you solidify your thinking and create a talk around the idea. It can be helpful to have the coach before you apply to a talk. It not only helps you crystallize the idea, it can help you create the TEDx version and the longer format that you can use in other talks.
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Karen Eber is an author, TED and keynote speaker, and communication strategist who works with frontline leaders, senior executives, and C-suite teams at Fortune 500 companies. She partners with teams across sales, marketing, communications, HR, finance, operations, legal, and IT. She works across industries including healthcare, technology, financial services, manufacturing, energy, consumer goods, retail, professional services, education, and nonprofits — helping leaders turn complex information into clear, compelling stories that drive decisions and action. She is the author of The Perfect Story. Learn more about her keynotes and workshops at kareneber.com/speaking.
