If you’re just getting started in professional speaking, one of the most important pieces of marketing collateral you will need is a speaker sheet.
This is a simple document that can be given to those who would book you to speak at an event, and also available for download from your website.
There are a variety of ways to create yours. Some speakers create a simple one-sheet, while others will use two or even more sheets. I tend to prefer simplicity so I use the one-sheet approach.
Here are elements to include on your speaker sheet:
- Professional photo of you. Even better if it’s a great photo of you on stage.
- Your name, prominently featured.
- Brief bio about you and your experience. Note that this should position you as an authority in your field.
- Titles for your presentations. If you have room, provide a brief description for each or include simple take-aways.
- Testimonials from past engagements. If you don’t yet have these, not to worry. Simply update your sheet as you begin to collect them.
- A list of past clients or their logos. If your list is short or doesn’t exist yet, leave this off and update later.
- Photos of you speaking on stage.
- Image of your book cover(s).
- Contact information. This may seem obvious, but you want to make it very easy for a prospect to reach you. Be sure to include a phone number that you answer regularly (cell is fine), e-mail address, website URL, and a mailing address (this is important so that potential bookers know where you are traveling from).
Your one-sheet should be designed by a professional. Don’t try to do this yourself! You’ll see a big difference when an experienced graphic artist produces yours.
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