When an event planner or other meeting/conference organizer is searching for a speaker for their upcoming event, they will likely receive dozens or even hundreds of inquiries to review. If you want to make it to their shortlist, you have to find a way to grab their attention from the moment they first see your email pitch in their inbox.
There are several key tools that are needed when you are promoting yourself as a speaker. The most important one is referred to as a speaker’s one-sheet. This document (usually both sides of one sheet of paper) is used to introduce you to your prospect, providing a clear picture of who you are, what you speak about, who you speak to, and how you can help the audience by sharing your message with them.
Your one-sheet needs to be polished and professional. It must be current at all times, and be accessible both online and in downloadable formats. And for that attention-grabbing factor, you want to make sure that the subject line of your transmittal email contains keywords and phrases that are powerful and meaningful to the recipient.
Below are the critical components of a solid speaker’s one-sheet that will provide your prospects with a real understanding of the expertise you can offer them:
Bio–A brief bio should highlight your personal and professional achievements. It needs to include a summary of how you became a leader in your area of expertise, along with any academic achievements, awards, etc. that are relevant.
Photos–You absolutely need to provide a professional headshot, but you should also include photos of yourself in action, as they add a real humanness that complements the written word. You should also provide photos of your published books or other products, if you have them.
Topics–Providing a list of topics you speak on allows the prospect see at a glance how your message might fit with their particular needs, and this can be a real advantage when they are selecting their next event speaker.
Video Links–In addition to photos, videos are also a great way to provide clear examples of how well you relate to your audience, which lends credibility to your reputation as an expert, and helps the event/meeting planner to quickly determine if you are the right speaker for their event.
Testimonials–Kind words from satisfied clients are the very best form of marketing, so it’s always a good idea to sprinkle in a few brief testimonials from past speaking engagements.
Contact Information–Your one-sheet must include all of your current contact information. Be sure to include your name, phone number, email address, website, social media URLs, and any other means of contacting you so that your prospects can find you when they’re ready to hire you.
My challenge to you for this week is to give some thought to what your speaker’s one-sheet would look like. What would you include that would make it clear you are an expert in your field and affirm that you have a valuable message and a passion for sharing it? And don’t be shy!
