The Difference Between a Media Sheet and a Speaker Sheet – Part 1

The Media Sheet, the Speaker Sheet and the Press Kit are often confused, with the terms frequently used interchangeably. They are actually very different from one another and are used for different purposes.

We can quickly get the Press Kit out of the way, as it is basically a way to get the pages of your website into a document. The Press kit represents who you are and what you do, and features some testimonials, pictures, and so on.

The Media Sheet is glitzy and focusing on you, whereas the Speaker Sheet is more business-like and focusing on the event planner. This article will cover the Media Sheet and its purpose. Our next article will cover the Speaker Sheet.

The Media Sheet

The Media Sheet shows what you have done and where you have been featured. For example, you were featured in a podcast or in a blog. Maybe you were featured in a magazine or you were on TV: CNN, NBC, Fox. For a public speaker, the media sheet contains the topics on which you speak, but it is more visually interesting.

The media sheet is used to get more media exposure — to add to your media sheet. You get podcasts, magazines, TV appearances, etc. because you already have some experience with those forms of media. If you are just starting out and don’t have a lot of media experience yet, the sheet will then contain information on you and what you speak about, along with your picture and maybe your logo at the top. You may also add logos of associations to which you belong like Lions Club, Kiwanis or The ABC Association for Architects. Even if you think it is not relevant, as a new speaker, everything is relevant.

This sheet is visually attractive and very aesthetic. It is designed to get you noticed and help create more opportunities to increase public awareness of you and your topics. A good thing to put on a Media Sheet is any book titles or CDs you have for purchase. Media outlets are looking for the expert with a solution to a problem, and if your book, product, or service can solve that problem they may call you for an interview.

The Media Sheet is not useful for getting booked as a public speaker. Event planners don’t care about the aesthetics of your media sheet, the numerous media outlets you were featured on, or all the organizations you belong to. It does not serve their purpose, which is to bring a speaker that will deliver the solution to a problem, or will bring something fresh or new that they’ve never had before to their conference or event.

Let me share this:

Before I ever considered coaching public speakers on the business of public speaking, I attended a conference in Arlington, TX. During one of the breaks I went to the speakers break room for some tea. While I was standing there, three speakers approached me. One of them said “Aren’t you Orly Amor?” I felt very badly because I did not recognize him, so I said “I’m sorry, do I know you? I really don’t remember.” He said “No we have not officially met before, but I’ve seen you on the circuit. That’s how I know who you are.”

All four of us became engaged in conversation and one of them asked, “Just out of curiosity, how did you get this gig?”

I replied as if it were common practice, “I called; I told them what I speak about; they paid, so I’m here!”

All three of them looked at me as if I had three heads and said, “You got paid?” I responded “Yes, didn’t you?”

They replied, “We got our expenses paid but we did not get paid.” I said, “Oh, I got my expenses AND I got paid.”

All three looked at me and said, “We want to know how you did it?” and I jokingly said, “If I tell you I will have to charge you.” Without hesitation, all 3 said, “Name your price.” I was floored.

I asked one of them to show me his Speaker Sheet and he said, “What is that?”

I asked, “Do you have a flier or something you show event planners to get booked?” and he said, “Oh, a Media Sheet.”

He gave me a beautiful 4-page folded flier printed on 8.5 x 11 glossy paper. I looked it over for about 10 seconds and said, “This is garbage.”

He was so insulted, “What do you mean? I paid over $500 to get this done by a professional!!”

I responded, “I understand that but the event planner won’t even look at your name before it hits the garbage can.”

I continued “There was a survey done of the 100 Most Stressful Jobs in America. Number one was Cardiologist. Number five was Event Planner. Do you actually think that they have the time to read all that you have put into this 4-page Flyer? Do you think they have the time to search for your topics and contact information? The answer is No.”

The Media Sheet has only one purpose — to get you more media exposure. Speakers need to know their audience, and more importantly, they need to know who they are serving. What is it that you can contribute to making the event planner’s life easier?

In my next blog, I will cover the purpose of the Speaker Sheet and the science behind it.

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Orly Amor

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www.orlyamor.com

917-515-6803