Guest One-Sheet: What to Include to Get Booked on Shows

A guest one-sheet is the single page that helps a host say yes. Learn what to include, how to write it and where to share it, whether you are a coach, author or expert.

Laptop beside an open notebook and pen on a desk, a workspace for planning a guest one-sheet
Photo: Bluestonex on Unsplash

A guest one-sheet is a single page that tells a host who you are, what you can talk about and how to reach you. A good one includes a short bio, three to five specific topics, a few suggested questions, your contact details and links to your work, and it is easy to scan in under a minute.

If you want to be a guest on interview shows, a clear guest one-sheet saves the host time and makes it easy to say yes. This guide is for coaches, consultants, business owners, authors, experts and speakers. It works whether the show is a podcast, a YouTube channel, radio, a webinar or a livestream.

What Is a Guest One-Sheet?

Think of it as a one-page profile you can attach to a pitch or link to from your website. Hosts are busy. They often have a stack of applications to read, and they want to know quickly whether you suit their audience, whether you can speak clearly on a topic, and how to get in touch.

A one-sheet answers those questions in one place. It is not a CV and it is not a sales brochure. It is a short, honest introduction that helps a host picture you in the conversation.

It is sometimes called a media kit, a speaker sheet or a guest profile. The name matters less than the job: make the host's decision easy.

What to Include on a Guest One-Sheet

Keep each part short. If a host has to hunt for something, the sheet has failed. These are the parts that matter most:

  • A clear headshot. A friendly, well-lit photo of your face, taken recently, so the host and their audience would recognise you.
  • A short bio. Two or three sentences in the third person, so a host can copy it straight into show notes.
  • Three to five topics. Specific subjects you can speak on, written from the audience's point of view.
  • Suggested questions. Three to five questions the host could ask you.
  • Contact details. An email address, your website and the social links you actually use.
  • Links to your work. A book, an article, a talk or a previous interview.
  • Proof. A line from a past host, client or collaborator, or the shows you have already appeared on, if you have them.

Only include proof that is true and that you can back up. If you are new to interviews, leave that section out rather than stretch it. A clean sheet without it is better than a padded one.

How to Write Your Guest Bio

Your bio is the part hosts copy most often, so spend time on it. Lead with who you help and what you do, then add one credential or result that makes you credible, and finish with a hook that makes people curious.

For example, a business coach might write: "Sam Taylor helps new managers lead their first team with confidence. After ten years running operations teams, Sam now coaches managers across Australia. Sam's favourite topic is the conversation most new managers avoid." That is the shape, not a template to copy word for word.

We have a full walkthrough in our guide to writing a guest bio that hosts say yes to, including a simple structure you can reuse.

Choosing Topics Hosts Actually Want

"Leadership" is a subject. "How to give feedback to your first direct report" is a topic. Hosts are far more likely to book you when they can imagine a specific episode or video built around what you offer.

To find strong topics, try these questions:

  1. What do clients ask you again and again?
  2. What mistake do you see people make most often?
  3. What is one thing you changed your mind about?
  4. What story could a listener or viewer repeat to a friend?

Write each topic as a short line, then a sentence on what the audience will take away. Three strong topics beat ten vague ones.

Suggested Questions for the Host

Offering questions is a kindness. It gives the host a starting point and helps steer the conversation to ground where you are strongest. Make them open-ended and conversational, such as "What is the biggest myth about your field?" Do not insist on them. Say clearly that the host is welcome to ask their own.

Design and Format Tips

A one-sheet does not need to be fancy. It needs to be readable on a phone, because that is where many hosts will open it.

  • One page only. If it runs onto a second page, trim it.
  • Plenty of white space. Short blocks, clear headings and readable text size.
  • Clickable links. Save it as a PDF with live links, or publish it as a simple page on your website.
  • A sensible file name. Something like "jane-smith-guest-one-sheet.pdf" is easier to find later than "final-v3".
  • Consistent look. Match your website's colours and fonts if you can, but do not let design get in the way of clarity.

Whichever tool you use, check the finished file on your phone before you send it.

Tailor It for Each Show

The biggest upgrade you can make is a small one. Before you send your sheet, reorder your topics so the one that best fits the show comes first, and change the opening line to mention the host's audience.

If you are pitching a video show, add a line about your camera setup and where you will be recording. Our tips on looking good on camera as a guest cover what hosts like to see. For a pitch that goes with the sheet, see how to pitch yourself as a guest on a YouTube show.

Keep a master copy and make a quick, light edit for each pitch. It takes two minutes and shows the host you read about their show.

Where to Share Your One-Sheet

A one-sheet is only useful when the right people see it. Good places to use it include:

  • Attached to, or linked from, your pitch email.
  • On a hidden or visible page on your own website, so you can send one short link.
  • In your profile wherever hosts look for guests.
  • Alongside your application when a show asks for more detail.

If you want hosts to come to you, the free Guest & Host Directory lets you list yourself and be found by topic or name. Hosts can send you an invitation, and requests are answered within 7 days. Each listing shows up front whether an interview is free or paid, so nobody is surprised later. You can also apply directly to shows; the host reviews your application and approves it before you choose a time. Applications ask for your topic, a short bio, your website and social links, so having your one-sheet written already makes filling them in quick.

For more on getting booked from start to finish, read our step-by-step guide to getting booked as a guest, or the guest guide.

Common One-Sheet Mistakes

  • Writing about yourself, not the audience. Say what listeners or viewers will gain.
  • Listing too many topics. It makes you look unfocused.
  • Using a first-person bio. Hosts cannot paste it into show notes.
  • Hiding contact details. Put them near the top and bottom.
  • Leaving out a headshot. Hosts like to put a face to the name.
  • Never updating it. Review it every few months so links and details stay current.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a guest one-sheet be?

One page. A short bio, three to five topics, a few questions and your contact details fit comfortably, and a host can read it in under a minute.

Do I need a one-sheet if I am just starting out?

It is not essential, but it helps. Even a simple page with a bio, topics and links shows you are organised and easy to work with. Leave out any proof you do not yet have.

Should I send a one-sheet with my first email?

Yes, but keep the email short and put the key points in the message itself. Attach the sheet or link to it as extra detail, rather than relying on it to do the talking.

Get Booked With Guest Booking System

Your one-sheet is your introduction, and the next step is putting it in front of hosts. Create your free guest account, list yourself in the directory, and apply to shows that suit your topics. You can follow every application from one dashboard, and message the host inside Guest Booking System. Hosts, you can read the host guide to see how to find and book the right guests.

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