Book publishing for professional speakers

It takes more than a message and a microphone to cultivate an accomplished public speaking career. To establish yourself as an expert and an authority in your niche, you need a published book to sell too—something you’ve heard from just about every thought leader, booking agent, and professional public speaker you’ve met.

Books are a must-have to be a successful sought-after public speaker because they highlight a brand or showcase expertise and credibility in a chosen field. Books aren’t just for motivational speakers or public conference speakers either, but people whose occupations or fields of study put them in a position to speak or be invited to speak professionally to a group of their peers, such as pastors, politicians, professors, doctors, tech innovators, artists, business owners and even comedians. The truth is, having a book to sell will help you connect better with your audience, and writing that book will help make you a better professional speaker while adding “author” to your resume.

The experts at BookBaby have published thousands of books for speakers, which can provide an additional revenue stream, increase publicity, and can even be used as a hook for invitations to media events and professional speaking gigs.

In today’s publishing world of Amazon and Print On Demand book printing, those who speak professionally will choose to self publish. But if you go the DIY route, it’s crucial to produce a quality product because your image, brand and book sales depend on it.

1. Focus on your book cover.

Think of it like a billboard: When you’re driving down the highway and glance at the giant display, you have a couple of seconds to grasp the message. You process a series of elements all at once: a few words, the basic imagery, colors, and the overall style. This is the same process a reader experiences when seeing your book cover for the first time.

2. Include a “what’s next” element.

You inspire and challenge your audience with your words, but what happens when your speaking engagement is over and your audience goes home? A professional speaking for authors must is to make sure your book is written and positioned as a product that helps your audience remember and apply your words long after the conference is over.

3. Harness the power of testimonials.

Don’t forget about adding short endorsements from subject matter experts and thought leaders on the front/back cover or front matter. Allow some time to get your testimonials as VIPs are usually very busy.

4. Lure buyers with a short and snappy book title.

Speakers should work to create clear and concise title and subtitles. The best performing books usually have a short, memorable title accompanied by a more descriptive subtitle. Your subtitle should contain specific keywords important to your business or service.

Already have your book? Learn how to use it to build a profitable public speaking career.