Event planners and speaker bureaus decide fast, and they look for the same few things: a short video of you on a real stage, clear topics and audiences, where you have spoken, and how to book you. A speaker or author website that gets enquiries puts all of that on one page, with a fee signal and an easy enquiry form.

What do event planners check before they call?

They want to be sure you will be good on the day, and that you fit their audience. The International Association of Speakers Bureaus (IASB) tells speakers to keep a website that is updated often and gives clear information about their background and expertise. One speakers bureau's 2026 guidelines ask for a website with its own tab for event and meeting planners, and say reviewers check how recently the site was updated.

In practice, a planner's page needs:

• a short video of you speaking to a live audience
• your talks, and who each one is for
• where you have spoken before
• real feedback from people who booked you
• a one-sheet to download
• a fee signal and your availability
• a short enquiry form

What should my speaker video show?

IASB recommends a short reel of two to three minutes, plus a longer demo of ten minutes or more for a specific talk, with good light and sound. If you speak online too, include a virtual talk. The bureau guidelines above ask for current footage of about four minutes, in front of a real audience, on YouTube or Vimeo and as a file.

Open the reel with you on stage, not with a logo. Show the audience reacting. Use recent footage, and keep it captioned, because many people watch with the sound off. If you have hours of talk recordings, they can be edited into a reel; you can see the kind of videos we make.

How should I present my topics?

Show two to four talks, not twelve. For each one, give a clear title, who it is for (for example, sales teams or founders), what the audience leaves with, and the formats you offer: keynote, workshop, panel or virtual. Planners search by audience and problem, so write the way they would describe their event.

Should I list past stages and testimonials?

Yes, if they are real. List events and organisations you have spoken for, and only show logos you have permission to use. Testimonials should come from real people who booked or heard you, with their name and role when they agree. A bureau will often ask what past clients said, so keep these up to date. Never invent or polish a quote into something nobody said.

What is a speaker one-sheet?

It is a one-page summary of you as a speaker: photo, short bio, talk titles, audiences, past stages and how to book. IASB suggests having a one-page sheet and a two-to-three-page version as PDFs. It also notes that "bureau-friendly" materials leave out your own contact details, so a bureau can add theirs. Keep both versions on your site.

Should I put my speaking fee on my website?

IASB says bureaus need your fee and expenses, such as travel and lodging, for each type of talk. On your own site, a "from" fee or a range saves everyone time, because it filters out events that cannot afford you. If you prefer not to publish a number, say what affects the fee: format, travel, and whether it is in person or online.

How much do guest speakers get paid?

It varies too much for one honest number. A past board member of the National Speakers Association chose not to publish fee ranges, citing anti-trust concerns. She describes speakers who book 10 to 20 events a year at "a steady four-figure fee", and a busier group earning five-figure fees.

How do I join a speakers bureau?

IASB says unsolicited submissions are not recommended. Check each bureau's website for how they want to hear from speakers, and read the agreement before you sign, since commissions are negotiated. Bureaus will look at your website before anything else, so it is worth fixing first.

What about authors?

If you have written a book, make the talk and the book support each other. Give the book its own page with buy links, a short excerpt or summary, and a media kit. Link each talk to the chapter or idea it comes from.

Make the enquiry easy

Ask for what a planner already knows: event date, city or online, audience size, format and budget range. Say when you will reply, and then reply quickly. A planner with a deadline will book the speaker who answers first.

Our own example

Our founder, Olia Stasiuk, speaks at events, and we use her own talk recordings for the example video on our personal brands page.

What we can't promise

A better website does not guarantee bookings. Bureaus and planners also weigh your reputation, your topic, your fee and their budget. What a good site does is make it easy for the right planner to say yes, and quick for the wrong ones to move on.

Start a project

If you speak or write and want a site that planners can use, start a project. You can also see our prices or read the FAQ.

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Sources

1. International Association of Speakers Bureaus, "Resources for Speakers: FAQ". (undated; read 21 Oct 2026) Link
2. Remarkable! Speakers Bureau, "Remarkable Speaker Guidelines 2026" (PDF). (Feb 2026). Link
3. National Speakers Association, Crystal Washington, "Let's Get Candid About Keynote Speaking Fees!". (23 Jul 2025) Link
4. National Speakers Association, Linda Swindling, "The Real Deal: What Meeting Planners Want Speakers to Know". (30 Oct 2024). Background only: it says planners expect speakers to research the organisation and tailor the talk. Link