Become a Speaker to Promote Your Book

Regarding book marketing, increasing your visibility as an author is crucial. Taking the stage and delivering a captivating speech is an excellent way to achieve this. Fortunately, the number of speaking platforms is rising, with new virtual opportunities emerging during the pandemic that will likely remain a permanent fixture. For nonfiction authors, addressing trade and professional groups can be immensely beneficial, especially since these talks are often recorded and made available for online viewing. The ultimate objective is to make multiple impressions on your target readers through various avenues. 

Experienced book publicists have noted a growing openness among event sponsors and organizers to a more diverse range of speakers, creating opportunities for authors who may not have previously been considered for specific speaking engagements. Engaging a  publicist to seek out speaking opportunities can be incredibly advantageous. Therefore, meticulously planning your PR campaign and targeting your pitches is important. The surge in virtual speaking engagements has also expanded the range of opportunities available. Online events typically commence on a smaller scale, focusing on specific topics. 

A successful book PR campaign is usually built incrementally, starting with small, local (or online) events before progressing to larger audiences and venues. Participating in local speaking engagements, especially ones that are recorded and accessible online, can increase your visibility. Having a recorded presentation for potential event organizers to review can go a long way in persuading them of your appeal. Furthermore, depending on the performance of the online recording in search results, it has the potential to reach thousands of viewers over time, which can boost book sales on a global scale. 

Leveraging niche marketing when securing speaking engagements is also a smart move. Addressing a general audience with a casual interest in your work may not yield as many sales as engaging with a more invested audience. Over the years, blogs and podcasts have demonstrated the effectiveness of selling products, including books. Similarly, speaking engagements, like media appearances, can yield exceptional results by targeting specific niches. Furthermore, speaking to focused audiences can be more enjoyable as it allows for deeper discussions, capturing the audience's heightened interest.