Key Takeaways:
- What’s included in a Speaker Media Kit
- Speaker Bio Lengths and Variations
- How to Craft a Speaker Biography
- A Free Speaker One-Sheet Template
Competition to secure a speaking engagement can be fierce. You need a captivating speaker bio to draw attention so you’re not just another face in the crowd.
Your biography – a short version of it – should be included on your speaker’s one sheet that is distributed to event planners and organizers.
Drafting your bio seems simple enough, right? Your background, credentials, etc…
However, writing about yourself in a way that’s compelling and unique isn’t always an easy task.
Follow along for some simple strategies below.
Let’s Put Your Biography into Context
It often starts with your speaker’s kit, or media kit.
Your speaker’s kit is a professional representation of you; it shows others that you take what you do seriously. It includes everything from standard forms and templates to headshots and more.
Here’s a quick list of the items you may find in a speaker’s media kit:
- Speaker One-Sheet
- Biographies
- Headshots
- Logos
- Signature Presentation Sheets
- Testimonials
- Book Sheets
- Impact or Reach Statistics
- Policy or Proposal Template
One of the most crucial element of your speaker’s kit? The one-sheet – a one-page piece of branded marketing collateral for professional speakers. It might be just a single page, but a one sheet is mighty in marketing power.
Your speaker one sheet is a great opportunity to make a memorable first impression. It briefly tells event planners:
- Who you are
- What makes you the expert
- Which topics you speak about
- Why they should hire you
The Bio: A Key Part of Your One-Sheet & Media Kit
Some people use the term speaker bio (or speaker biography) interchangeably with associated terms like speaker one sheet, speaker press kit, etc. Yet, there is a distinction. A very brief biography is typically included on the one-sheet, while your full media kit would include biographies of alternating lengths.
Producing your bio in various lengths or with focuses on your different targets can be extremely useful later on, as you’re applying to opportunities with specific word counts. It may sound counterproductive, but you might find it helpful to draft a longer version first. Then you can easily edit it into shorter versions.
Depending on the venue where you’re speaking, it may be a requirement to include a short bio when you submit your materials for consideration. And in many cases, after you’re booked, you may want to include a branded version of your bio to the meeting planner for distribution.
For these reasons, we recommend you craft your speaker bio in the following lengths for each of your target audiences:
- 25 word
- 50 word
- 100 word
- 250 word
- 500 word
You will likely use the 25-word version on social media and in online applications. The 50- or 100-word version may be what finds its way onto your speaker one-sheet. The 100- or 250-word version would be appropriate in your biography sheet. And the 500-word version is closer to an article length, making it great for interviews and about pages.
How to Craft Your Speaker’s Bio
Begin by collecting plenty of detail – you won’t use it all, but the practice will let you identify the pieces that will be most relevant to your audience.
Start with the basics:
- What is your formal education? List your degree(s) or other formal training.
- Describe your professional certifications or accreditations
- What positions have you held? Where relevant, include your volunteer experience too.
- Have you owned any business(es)? How long? What’s the nature of your business?
- What are the highlights of your achievements? Think: awards, recognitions, etc.
That’s great info to start with – but if you want to add a little oomph, ask yourself:
- What sets me apart, what people remember about me?
- Why do I do this work, what inspires me?
- Is there a story I can share?
Try these tips to write the best bio:
- Be brief. Think quality, not quantity.
- Know your audience. Write in their language.
- Infuse your personality. Emphasize why you’re unique.
- Weave in storytelling. Captivate readers to grab their interest.
- Get feedback. Ask a trusted friend or colleague to read your bio.
What would you rather read – a boring, one-sentence snippet of text that names your degree and maybe a title two?…
…Or an expertly written professional bio that packs a punch of personality and fits seamlessly into your speaker media kit?
You can get started on your standout professional speaker’s one sheet today with our free Marketecs template. You don’t need anything special to begin – just bring your creativity!
And of you want help with your entire media kit – including your bio, contact us to learn more.
