Marketing Your Book From the Stage and Behind the Microphone
Are you an author wanting to take your God-given message to the stage or behind the mic on a podcast?
Author and speaker Marnie Swedberg is here to share how you can customize your book topic to each platform (and time limit) in a way that serves your audience best.
🎧 LISTEN AND LEARN 📝
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Speaking to market your book
Starting off, Marnie shed light on how vital speaking engagements are for authors. Whether you're writing your first book or figuring out how to market them, speaking engagements offer a platform to reach a broader audience.
Marnie introduces us to WomenSpeakers.com, a brainchild that emerged back in 2002, aimed at making it easier for smaller churches to find local, affordable speakers.
While megachurches can afford big-name speakers, smaller churches struggle with budget constraints. Thus, WomenSpeakers.com was born as a directory for local speakers, bridging the gap and making it easier for speakers and planners to find each other.
Impact of Speaking on Book Sales
Marnie shared that an unexpected benefit of writing a book is the invitations to speak at various events. As a published author, being a speaker allows you to share content beyond the pages of your book. This connection goes deeper than mere words; it enables authors to engage with their readers in real-time and foster a more personal relationship.
The strategy here is simple. When speaking, focus on delivering valuable content without being overly salesy. By creating a genuine interest in your book through your speech, you naturally encourage your audience to purchase a copy to delve deeper into the subject matter.
The Synergy Between Speaking and Podcasting
Years ago, Marnie started with morning drive-time radio, which taught her to communicate effectively within just a few minutes. This skill translates well to podcasts, where you need to fit substantial content into shorter spans like 15 minutes or an hour.
Podcasting hones your ability to deliver concise, compelling messages and allows for multiple formats of communication—tweets, articles, or book excerpts. Engaging various communication platforms makes one a more versatile speaker.
Becoming a Podcast Guest through Pod Match
Marnie's team uses PodMatch (where we connected) and likes that it allows for targeted searches, making it easier for them to find suitable podcasts and vice versa. For those who may not want to dive into becoming a publicist (or paying one), Podmatch streamlines the process by matching you with relevant podcasts based on your profile and keywords.
This service echoes the functionality of WomenSpeakers.com but within the podcast realm, making it simpler for authors to expand their reach.
The Importance of Early Marketing for Authors
Drawing an analogy between pregnancy and book marketing, Marnie emphasizes starting your marketing efforts about six months ahead of your book’s release. Share the journey with your closest contacts early on to build excitement and anticipation. Just as you wouldn’t keep the news of a new baby from close family, don’t withhold your publishing news from your network.
This early sharing not only builds support but also establishes a foundation for your book’s launch, making it a celebrated, shared joy rather than an isolated event.
This conversation with Marnie was packed with actionable advice, and we hope it inspires you to take your book marketing and speaking engagements to the next level.
Cheering you on one podcast at a time,
💛 Kim
📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED 📚
WomenSpeakers.com
Marnie's website
Try out PodMatch (for hosts and guests)
🎙 RELATED EPISODES 🎙
How Speaking Helps Market Your Books (ep #23)
Be Your Own Publicist with Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith (ep #39)
