Boost your speaking career by developing books

 

by Marilyn and Tom Ross

 

Is there a proven method for attracting new clients, building your professional reputation, and boosting your bottom line? You bet! The key is identifying your special knowledge, then packaging it in book form. Capturing ideas on the printed page can catapult a speaker into overnight "celebrity"  status. It gives you a reason to be news—to be noted and quoted.

 

Using a Book to Position Yourself and Create New Opportunities

Print has permanency. While producing audio and video programs makes sense, they have limited advantages. Books, on the other hand, can lead to fame and fortune.

The general public perceives authors as experts. When you've written a book, you are considered the authority. This positions you above the competition. It gives you more clout in the minds of your prospects. Not only does it lay the groundwork for getting more business, but several speakers tell us they command higher fees once they gain author status.

Many savvy speakers use a book as their calling card instead of a brochure. Brochures are tossed. Promotional kits also hit the round file. Books aren't thrown away. Instead they are placed on bookshelves . . . where they may be readily retrieved whenever a need arises. Meanwhile, they serve as impressive reminders of who you are and your area of expertise.

Prestige, however, is only part of the payback. Books work superbly in conjunction with audio or video albums. You'll sell more of these high-ticket products if you offer a book as a free gift.

Of course, your book is a wonderful passive income generator. Once it's done and properly promoted, it earns money for you month after month and year after year—while you're out on the road speaking or consulting. During tough times, this residual income can mean the difference between profit and loss, survival or extinction.

And if you've handled the publishing arrangements astutely, you can sell large quantities of your books to corporate and association clients and make a bundle of money. Organizations that have hired you as a speaker are already "sold" on you. Convincing them to purchase your book for internal training reinforcement is one option. Or they might buy your books as gifts for their customers—or to use as a goodwill prospecting tool to attract new business. For a creative speaker, there is extensive life beyond back-of-the-room.

A book equals more bookings, more revenue, more exposure. It gives you a reason to be "news"—to be noted and quoted and gain exposure not only for your writing, but also for your speaking. By packaging your knowledge between covers, you'll have greater visibility, credibility, and profitability.

For many, self-publishing is indeed the "write" way to success. With this method, you invest in your own book, maintain complete control, and reap all the rewards. You can turn out a product in mere months. And it will generate profits for years to come.

 

© Copyright 2005 Marilyn Ross

 

Marilyn and Tom Ross are the coauthors of 13 books including the best-selling Complete Guide to Self-Publishing and the award-winning Jump Start Your Book Sales. Through phone consultations and ongoing coaching/mentoring, Marilyn empowers authors and self-publishers to realize their dreams. She can be reached at 719-395-8659 or Marilyn@MarilynRoss.com. Visit http://www.SelfPublishingResources.com for free meaty information on writing, self-publishing, and book marketing strategies.

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