CREATING SPEAKER ONE SHEETS

Years ago when I first started speaking, a good friend and colleague asked me if I had a One Sheet, to which I responded, “What’s a One Sheet?” Thankfully, she didn’t laugh (too much), and took some time to explain to me what it was and, more importantly, why I needed one.

Now, you may be a pro who has been around for a while and you know exactly what a One Sheet is—but keep reading, because if yours needs an update, we’ve got some recommendations for you. And for the rest of you, let’s start at the beginning.

What the Heck Is a One Sheet?

It’s kind of like a business card/résumé hybrid, without the boring or unnecessary parts. Not that your degree in Poli Sci is not fascinating, mind you, it just has nothing to with your garden speaking career. A One Sheet is a physical or digital calling card that has the following information on it:

• Your name and a little info about you
• A great headshot of you
• Your contact information
• A few of your popular presentations, including descriptions and possibly an image
• A few testimonials/short reviews from people who have heard you speak
• Your social media information
• Possibly your speaking rates (this is optional as some speakers do not like to state fees upfront)

It’s typically on an 8.5” x 11” piece of paper, often includes color, and is arranged in a graphic layout.

Why Do I Need One?

Unless you really like emailing the same information over and over and over again, a great One Sheet is an easy way for you to send a venue or club your information so they can make a decision and book you. The program manager can look it over and decide which one of your presentations best suits their needs, and then start a conversation with you about it.

Sometimes a club or venue will ask for a One Sheet, but it’s often something you will send on your own as a part of your marketing. You can have physical print-outs of your One Sheet with you at book signings (if you are an author), at every speaking gig (you never know who’s listening and wants more info), and in your car (hey, the barista at Starbucks might work at a venue on the weekends).

Can I Create It Myself?

Sure you can, provided you’re able to do it in a professional way. You can use a graphic design platform like Canva or Lucidpress, both of which have templates for these types of things. If you’re unsure of your skills or would prefer that a graphic artist handle it for you, we recommend Hightower Graphics. Email Meredith to get started and tell her Great Garden Speakers sent you!

And for those of you who have a One Sheet but would like to freshen it up, the above recommendations apply to you as well—we’ve had an amazing experience with Hightower and recommend them to everyone.

And finally, raise your hand if you’d like an example of an effective One Sheet! We’ve got you covered there as well with Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp’s colorful and professional version.