A book can be turned into a great marketing tool and help you get your next speaking engagement. This works especially well with non-fiction books.If you have published a non-fiction book, you may be able to break it into logical topics. Refer to the table of contents and create an outline or list of subjects that could each stand on their own. Each one should be able to make an interesting speech and have a natural transition to allow you to market your book. Develop a timed talk for each topic that includes room for questions.
Your talk must not sound like you’re reading your book aloud as if you were making an audio recording. You can do things like:• Consider varying the order of the information so it’s different than the order in the book (yet still has a logical flow). • Tie the topics of the book to current events and speak about trends in our society.• Connect the topic of your book to the interests of the group you are presenting to and build the speech around that. • Pull subsets of information from multiple chapters and use them to create a speech that touches on several topics at once.
Once you have your speech outlined and written, practice it. First practice alone, a lot. Get really comfortable with the material so you don’t have to “read” your speech. You may find it helpful to prepare some memory trigger devices such as creating 3-by-5-inch note cards or even a power point presentation (if it’s appropriate to the venue) with the key points of your speech. You should know the details so intimately that all you need is the memory trigger. Then you can talk extemporaneously about the topic while being true to the order of the topics and the details you intend to cover.Once you are ready, recruit some friends and present a trial speech to them and get their reactions. Ask for honest feedback and really evaluate their comments. Make any necessary changes, practice again… then present to a group that does NOT include family and friends. Again, change the speech as needed. Do this until you feel you have the best speech you can create. Then, create a description of the speech – what it covers, what audience it would benefit, how long it is, etc… and put that up on the ‘speaking’ page of your website, listed as a topic you are available to speak about.
Fiction books are a bit more difficult from which to create an outline. But look for topics anyway; they’re there. Your talk could be about the structure of the story, specific storyline, characters or the book’s theme. The books theme and setting are great items to connect to a speech. For instance, if your book includes a real town as the setting, you could speak at the town’s annual fair about how you incorporated the real history into the story and why it’s so important that all residents work to be good legacy keepers. If your book’s theme is about the survival of an enormous tragedy, you could speak about human perseverance, positivity, or the power of faith in overcoming obstacles… and you could give such a speech to corporate groups, churches, or organizations that support people with diseases like cancer or diabetes.
Whatever your book’s topics, you have a chance to give a really great presentation. Besides being well prepared with an outline and knowledge of your audience, make sure that you have chosen a relevant event that will get you noticed and sell your books.