While you may think you have good public speaking skills, that doesn’t always mean that you will dazzle an audience. Professional speakers spend years developing and refining their craft. At the very least, you should put some effort into cultivating your skills so that leave your audience with a great impression. Here’s how: 1. Develop […]
Whether you want to speak for free to sell books at the back of the room or you want to get paid to speak, there are many ways you can locate speaking opportunities. When you do locate opportunities, don’t be afraid to pitch yourself via phone or email. Just make sure you’re prepared with an […]
Each month, the Nonfiction Authors Association asks a burning publishing question of the industry’s best, brightest, and most innovative experts. Here’s what they have to say! NFAA: How do you get yourself booked for speaking engagements? PATRICK SCHWERDTFEGER I secure paid speaking engagements with three distinct strategies: First, I maintain a video blog and embed […]
As an author, if you want to increase your book sales and reach more potential readers, get yourself out on the speaking circuit. There are countless opportunities to speak at events in your own backyard including service organizations like Rotary and Kiwanis, chambers of commerce, schools, hospitals and trade association meetings and events. Following are […]
Recently I spoke with an author who was preparing to release a new business book. He doesn’t yet have a platform and wanted to know the best ways to make his book profitable. This isn’t uncommon; most new authors lack a platform (AKA: audience), which makes it much harder to follow the traditional book marketing […]
If you enjoy teaching, then workshops and training classes may be a great option for you. Similar to consulting packages, you can develop your programs in just about any way that you choose. The simplest option, and a good place to start, is to create a half-day event, which would be a three or four-hour […]
One of my favorite things to do when I have some free time is to watch videos on TED.com. If you’ve somehow missed the TED phenomenon, you should know that the site features 20 minute presentations from some of the world’s top thought leaders. Speakers for TED events are selected on an invite-only basis. You […]
If you want speaking to become a revenue stream for you, start by getting as many free engagements under your belt as possible. Then begin reaching out to companies and conferences that need speakers. Professional speakers typically earn $2,500 to $10,000 and up for a keynote presentation, plus travel expenses. It can be a lucrative […]
While you may think you have good public speaking skills, that doesn’t always mean that you will dazzle an audience. Professional speakers spend years developing and refining their craft. At the very least, you should put some effort into cultivating your skills so that you leave your audience with a great impression. Here’s how: Develop […]
The easiest way to get started with speaking is to reach out to local trade associations, charitable and service groups like Kiwanis and Rotary, schools, chambers of commerce, retirement communities, and other organized groups. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of trade organizations in every major city that need speakers for their weekly or monthly […]
How to Research Bloggers for Book Reviews, Excerpts, Etc.
Use these guidelines to perform your author research, or provide to an assistant to follow. Create a spreadsheet with the following fields: Blog Link, Reviews?, Author Interviews?, Excerpts?, Guest Posts?, Email, Submission Guidelines Link. Perform the following Google searches and log results on spreadsheet: Topic + book review When a book review is located, look […]
Watch for These Unneeded Wobbly Words by Barbara McNichol
To add clarity by taking unneeded words out of your writing, the easiest approach is to identify and attack wobbly words. But what are wobbly words? Well, they’re words that are vague, indefinite, and don’t add much to the meaning of a sentence. In fact, they can add word clutter to your paragraphs and detract […]
What strategies do you use to build your mailing list?
Each month, the Nonfiction Authors Association asks a burning publishing question of the industry’s best, brightest, and most innovative experts. Here’s what they have to say! NFAA: What strategies do you use to build your mailing list? MARQUINA ILIEV There are three main elements that I suggest authors use to build their mailing list. The first […]
Member Book Announcement: To Cast A Reflection: The Henry Family In Their Own Words
Member Name: Laura Suchan Book Title: To Cast A Reflection: The Henry Family In Their Own Words Synopsis In the summer of 2013 a box stuffed with old papers was donated to the Oshawa Museum. The Thomas Henry Correspondence Collection, as it became known, contained 520 individual documents including personal letters, receipts and business correspondence of […]
How to Research Bloggers for Book Reviews, Excerpts, Etc.
Use these guidelines to perform your author research, or provide to an assistant to follow. Create a spreadsheet with the following fields: Blog Link, Reviews?, Author Interviews?, Excerpts?, Guest Posts?, Email, Submission Guidelines Link. Perform the following Google searches and log results on spreadsheet: Topic + book review When a book review is located, look […]
Watch for These Unneeded Wobbly Words by Barbara McNichol
To add clarity by taking unneeded words out of your writing, the easiest approach is to identify and attack wobbly words. But what are wobbly words? Well, they’re words that are vague, indefinite, and don’t add much to the meaning of a sentence. In fact, they can add word clutter to your paragraphs and detract […]
What strategies do you use to build your mailing list?
Each month, the Nonfiction Authors Association asks a burning publishing question of the industry’s best, brightest, and most innovative experts. Here’s what they have to say! NFAA: What strategies do you use to build your mailing list? MARQUINA ILIEV There are three main elements that I suggest authors use to build their mailing list. The first […]
How to Avoid the Number One Mistake Too Many Authors Make
I love engaging with friends and family on Facebook (or as my 12-year old calls it, “Mom Book”), and also with our author community via our private group (you can join NFAA here to gain access). Recently, I noticed an old schoolmate making a big mistake that is also common among authors. This schoolmate—we’ll call […]
Hints for Conducting Radio Shows by Telephone by Brian Jud
Performances on radio talk or news shows are the workhorses of book-promotion activities. With radio as part of your communication plan, you can reach hundreds, thousands or millions of people at little or no cost. You can even sell some books, if you do it right. Most radio shows are conducted over the telephone, from […]
Checklist: Copy Needed Before You Launch Your Book
Write Copy: Book jacket copy Traditional media pitch Online media pitch (podcasts, internet radio shows) Blogger pitch Reviewer pitch Tweets for your own use Tweets others can share Short social media posts for your own use Short social media posts others can share Your updated bio Blog posts Email to announce your launch to your […]
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