I agree that many conference organizers not only do not pay their speakers, but don’t treat them well. Although we only pay our speakers in links and exposure, we:

a) never make them pay for a full-conference ticket
b) never make a proposal that includes buying a booth in exchange for speaking
c) never make the speaker pay for handout printing
d) give their spouse a free conference ticket if they will be attending as well.

Furthermore, we have breakfast and lunch every day for our speakers - whether or not they are speaking that day.

Yet, I am routinely invited to appear as a “featured presenter,” only to then be informed that: (choose any or all of the folowing)

1. I will not be compensated for my time or reimbursed for expenses.
2. The “speaker selection committee” will look more favorably upon MY PROPOSAL if I will also be exhibiting (read, “paying 500-2000 dollars for booth space”)
3. I will be required to register as an attendee and pay a registration fee.
4. The entity has no budget for reproduction services, thus I will be required to provide 300 copies of any handout materials.

So, how do you tell the difference between a speaker and a marketer? The difference is in the message. If your audience will learn concepts, that’s a trainer. If your audience will learn about my wonderful product and what it will do for you, that’s a marketer (though many are excellent presenters). The latter is nothing more than personally-presented advertising. The former is knowledge-based, and your audience will not have to purchase a thing to utilize the content. Be willing to pay for the former.