Keep it Short: Why a One-Sheet Beats Many

Are you setting your sights on that new job? Perhaps you’re ready to promote your new product or service? Whatever it is, to be effective, you need to make your pitch in just one page. These one-sheets as we call them, are an invaluable tool for use as a speaker and as a trainer. They are short but extremely effective.

While there are several things you’d need to consider when you are creating a one-sheeter, for today, we’d like to give you a couple of reasons why you’d want to use a one-sheet.

What is a One-sheet?

One-sheets (or one-sheeters) are great when you need to get the message across clearly to your audience without much effort on their part to read it all in one take. Let’s say for example you are connecting with prospects if you are in sales. You can use it as a follow-up email to those prospects. Generally, your one-sheet will have:

• Your picture
• Your unique value proposition (UVP)
• Objectives for your class (for example)
• Your contact information
• Why you stand out
• Testimonials

When do I use it?

You can use a one-sheet as part of a workbook or as a handout to your group. One-sheets are perfect to use as scripts when you are selling something. It could also be about you when you want to give someone an idea of who you are and what you do.

One-sheets can also be used when describing your product or service. Maybe you’ve got an upcoming class you’re promoting. You may have a one-sheet on each of your classes you are promoting (presentation skills, train the trainer boot-camps etc.).

So what goes on a one-sheet?

If you’ve got a product or training class to promote, or if you are following up with prospective clients.

1. You will need a picture of yourself. Make it a professional one but not too cheesy. You may have a great backdrop nearby, a brick wall, great building, or even a flower garden. If you want to spend on a formal head-shot, great, if not, then just take a walk around and you will see ‘that spot’ where your picture will be perfect.
   
   
2. Now under your picture will be a one sentence about who you are. This is your unique value proposition (UVP). It is the positioning statement about yourself.
   
   
3. You will also need a title at the top of the page, so people will know what the one-sheet is about.
   
   
4. You will need information on your one-sheet about, for example, an upcoming class that you are training. Whether you’re internal or external, you will need people to register and sign-up. They will need a way to get a hold of you.
   1. You can include the website or link so people can register online easily.
   2. You can include a phone number or email address for your prospective attendees to register or enquire if they have questions.
      
      
5. A portion of this information will need to be bullet points explaining the takeaways or what objectives there might be.
   1. Basically, what’s in it for them.
   2. You can point out what need, or problem will be solved by taking the class.
6. An important piece to use are testimonials. You can use them at the bottom of the one-sheet or mixed in near the middle. Testimonials strengthens social trust as people want to hear about or read about others who have taken your class and had great things to say.

Well there you have it, a one-sheet is great when you want to get your point across about who you are and what you do. Remember to include a picture, your UVP, objectives, contact information, why you stand out, and testimonials. It is short but extremely effective!

Discover tips and techniques for presenting your pitch in front of small or large audiences through our Presentation Skills workshop.