One of the most neglected steps in securing speaking engagements is in creating a bio. A bio is more than an “About the Speaker” paragraph—it’s your sales pitch! So, to attract event planners, your bio has to sell you more than the competition. It has to pack your expertise and your experience, but it also has to have that ‘pop’ that tells them just why you and only you are the perfect speaker for their event! This is one area where a canned ‘about me’ bio simply won’t work.
How do you write a bio that will capture attention? What does it take to make you stand out among all of the other speakers who are also waiting and competing for speaking slots? Well, here are a few things your speaker bio should contain if you want to give yourself an edge in a competitive field.
1. Open your bio with your most impressive accomplishment—the one thing that will open their eyes. Did you appear on Oprah? Did you write a bestselling book? Are you the go-to person in your industry? Have you been featured in 47 magazines and periodicals? Did you invent a product or a philosophy? What do you know that nobody else does? Whatever it is that will grab their attention and make you stand out among the crowd, use it here in the opening—don’t let it get lost down the page.
??2. Follow your most impressive accomplishment(s) with proof that you’re an expert. How many years have you worked in the industry? Do you own your own business? Have you received awards or recognition from organizations or agencies? Hey, did you write a book? That automatically establishes you as an expert in your field, so be sure to talk about it here.??
3. The next part of your bio should reveal what unique knowledge or insight you will bring to their audience. When you’re done speaking, what will the audience take away—will it be so much inspiration and motivation that they can’t sit still, a proven success strategy, ten steps to achieving millionaire status? Whatever it is, make sure you include it here. You can find the information to include in this section by asking yourself, “What will I bring to an audience that nobody else can?”
4. Finish your bio by giving them something personal they can relate to. You want the people reviewing your bio to connect with you and be impressed with what they know. Have you visited all 50 states; do you know 8 different languages? Did you personally meet Donald Trump, have your picture taken with the Governor or the President? Are you connected with the Napoleon Hill Foundation, or did you have the pleasure of meeting a celebrity? Maybe you’re the go-to person for the company president and have a picture you can include from when you received the Employee of the Year Award from a Fortune 500 company…whatever your claim and five minutes of fame is, now is a good time to flaunt it. This is no time to be shy!
??If your bio includes these things, and specifically in this order, opening and closing with impressive details, it will stand out among the crowd and get you those lucrative speaking engagements where you’ll find yourself standing in front of the crowd, sharing your expertise and building your portfolio.
