Start and Sustain

July 6, 2021-Public Speaking can be very intimidating as an author (most of us are introverts who shun the spotlight) and here’s where author mindset comes in. Sometimes when we go up in front of crowds, audiences or people at book signings, we feel very much under the microscope, like we’re an imposter or that we don’t really have a handle on what we’re talking about. Public speaking can seem like a daunting task, but there’s good news! Public speaking is a learnable skill. Here’s how you can start and sustain (which is equally important) your public speaking career as an author:

1. What are you an expert in? Maybe you know everything there is to know about self-publishing storybooks. Maybe you’re an expert in marketing your self-published book. Perhaps you’ve hit the best-sellers list. Whatever it is, you offer a unique perspective! To supercharge the expertise that you have, niche it down even further (if the topic is too narrow, don’t worry, you can broaden your scope later). For example, maybe you studied marketing in school, and you have a background in consumer neuromarketing (I’m using myself as an example). Give a talk on Consumer Neuromarketing and Why it Matters for Self-Published Authors. This leads directly into point two below…
2. Identify your target audience. Who are you speaking to, and why would they benefit from it? What type of author needs to hear your message? (We defined it as self-published above), Where do they live? Do they write full time, or do they work for someone and writing is their side hustle? The more clearly you can define your target audience (essential for ALL marketing), the better.
3. Education and Practice. Make these your two best friends, because with both of them combined, there’s nothing you can’t do! Educate yourself on your topics, your stage presence, your tone, pitch, and speed, watch YouTube videos of some of the greatest professional presenters/speakers and continue to hone your skills, sharpen them by practicing as much as possible. Take courses, classes, and workshops to glean techniques from those who captivate you during their presentation. There’s nothing worse than sitting through a two-hour presentation or weekend workshop given by someone who is boring and an impassionate speaker.

Stay tuned this month as we dole out more tips on Public Speaking for Authors and go further down the rabbit hole of how public speaking can open new doors you’ve never dreamed of!