How to Write a Winning Presentation Proposal for eduWeb 2026

Tips from the Program Committee to Help You Stand Out

The Call for Speakers for eduWeb 2026 is officially open—and we want to hear from you! Whether you're a seasoned presenter or submitting your first-ever conference session, this guide is here to help you craft a compelling proposal that gets noticed, selected, and packed with engaged attendees next July in Orlando.

We spoke with members of the eduWeb Program Committee and past high-rated presenters to gather their best advice. Here's what they said.

✅ 1. Start with the Outcome

Before you write your session title or description, ask yourself:

What will attendees walk away with?

Great proposals are rooted in practical, actionable takeaways. Think beyond what you’ll talk about and focus on what attendees will learn, do, or think differently after your session. If you can articulate that clearly, you're halfway there.

✍️ 2. Be Specific

Vague proposals get vague reactions. Instead of saying you’ll talk about “digital transformation,” explain how your team improved student engagement by redesigning your website UX—and what the results were.

Use phrases like:

• “Attendees will leave with a step-by-step framework for…”

• “We’ll share before-and-after metrics to show…”

• “We’ll walk through the actual campaign we ran, including…”

Specificity builds credibility.

🎯 3. Know Your Audience

Our attendees range from campus communicators and enrollment strategists to data analysts and web developers. Tailor your content accordingly. For example:

• Are you speaking to marketing directors trying to do more with less?

• Or front-line practitioners looking for tools and tactics?

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Define who your session is for, and write your proposal with that person in mind.

🧠 4. Show the “Why” Behind the “What”

A winning session doesn’t just tell people what you did—it shows them why it worked. Context matters. What problem were you trying to solve? What constraints were you facing? What surprised you?

Telling the story behind your solution adds value, depth, and relatability.

🧩 5. Include Campus-Partner Collaboration

Sessions that include both institutional and vendor perspectives are often well-received—especially when they’re framed around solving a shared challenge. If you’re a partner or vendor, consider co-presenting with a client to bring in the practitioner’s voice. These partnerships showcase real results and real relationships.

🙅 6. Avoid the Sales Pitch

We love innovation—but eduWeb is not a product demo floor. If your proposal reads more like a brochure than a session, it’s unlikely to be accepted. Even if you’re from a vendor, your session should educate, not sell.

Ask:

Would this be useful even to someone who doesn’t buy our product?

If the answer is yes, you’re on the right track.

💬 7. Make Your Title and Description Engaging

Think of your proposal as your first marketing effort—because it is! A clear, concise, and interesting session title will help your proposal stand out to reviewers and attract attendees once it’s selected.

Compare these two:

• ❌ “CRM Strategies in Higher Education”

• ✅ “What We Learned Implementing a CRM in 90 Days (and What We’d Never Do Again)”

The second one is far more compelling—and feels personal, not generic.

👋 8. Don’t Worry About Being Perfect

We’re looking for real stories and authentic voices. You don’t need to be a seasoned presenter or a national expert to be selected. If you’ve solved a problem, led a project, or tried something bold—we want to hear from you.

Many of our strongest sessions come from first-time presenters sharing practical, honest experiences.

🧾 Ready to Submit?

You can view the official Call for Speakers and submission form here.

Proposals are due by December 31, 2025

Let’s build something great together—we hope to see your proposal soon!