Writing 101: Use public speaking to sell your books

October 14, 1:52 PMWriting ExaminerTiffany Colter

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     When marketing your book one very effective way to build your readership is through public appearances. These offer you the opportunity to personally connect with people who read your books as well as meet people who have not yet read about you.
     Marketing, however, can be an expensive and time consuming process. One thing that makes marketing profitable is if you can make it part of public speaking. Using public speaking to promote your book is a highly effective way to market your work because:
1. When done well, public speaking offers you a chance to let people “sample” your work. If they like you they are more likely to purchase products from your resource table.
2. Many people share stories when they do public speaking. This allows people to connect with you on an emotional level. When someone feels they know you personally they are more likely to buy your current work and backlist.
3. Public speaking gives you the opportunity to collect names and pass out cards. If you offer a newsletter or some form of update on your website these names become your permission based contact list that gets to be the first to find out about new releases.
4. Public speaking adds a sense of legitimacy to a person’s book and a person’s book adds a sense of legitimacy to a public speaker. You are simultaneously able to build up to distinct streams of income.
5. Publishers want to know you have a platform to sell future books. If you are speaking regularly to your target market you become more attractive to publishers.
     All of these examples hinge on you doing a good job, so take the time to learn how to do it well. Once you have done this, however, public speaking offers a great opportunity to earn a week’s wages in just a couple of days while at the same time building up your contact list for future sales.

To read more on a similar topic follow these links:

 Doing book reviews to build your writing sales

Fun Ways to Improve Your Public Speaking

Is your Marketing Stale?

Presenting yourself well

Using what you know to get to where you’re going

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