
Published and Paid #3: Get Paid as a Writer with Public Speaking
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While it’s possible to make good money by writing and publishing books, is it really the best way to do so? What if you could get your message in front of a fully engaged audience, sell your books, and get real-time feedback – and get paid for doing all three at the same time?
In Part 2 of the Published and Paid series, Coach Tam introduces the second path you can take to earn money as a writer: through public speaking. If you’re serious about getting your message out, you won’t want to miss this episode or the simple first step that will help you get started today!
In this episode, you’ll also hear:
- How public speaking can help you earn money and grow your platform at the same time
- Why you, a writer, are already uniquely qualified to land speaking engagements
- The two things you need to get started with public speaking
- One simple step you can take today to get started
Are you a writer who feels lost, not knowing how to make a living off your passion? If so, you’re in the right place. It’s going to take some hard work and planning, but you can achieve your writing dreams. That’s what the Published and Paid series is all about: helping you get from where you are now to where you want to be.
Published and Paid Part 2 was all about the first path you can take to make money as a writer – writing books. This first path may seem like an obvious or even easy option, but it’s a lot more difficult to make a living just by writing books than you might think. To succeed on that path, you must:
- Write quality books that people want to read
- Manage your mindset
- Be strategic in your marketing so you’re reaching your target audience
With those three things – and some dedication and commitment – you can certainly make money by writing books. But it’s not the only way to make money as a writer – in fact, it may not even be the best way.
So let’s look at path #2, which uses the same knowledge you pour into writing books: public speaking.
The Importance of Public Speaking
Did you know that many of the earliest books were transcribed speeches? In early civilization, public speaking was one of the primary means of communication. Without the technology we enjoy today, public speaking was the only way to reach a large audience. As a result, many of the most important speeches were transcribed and published, allowing the spoken word to be preserved and disseminated.
For centuries, public speaking has been used to educate, entertain, and move audiences. And today, public speaking is still a very important skill. You see, in this era of digital media, it’s even easier to reach a wide audience without ever speaking to them in person.
That’s why, whether it’s online or in person, public speaking remains one of the most effective means of communication. It allows speakers to connect with their audience on a personal level and deliver a message in a way that is different from the written word. So for this reason, public speaking will continue to be an important part of our society.
Build Your Platform & Spread Your God-Given Message
Real talk: it can be nerve-wracking to stand in front of a group of people, be it in person or online. But the rewards can be great. Public speaking gives you a chance to share your ideas, tell your story, and make a difference in the world.
Imagine this: you’re in a physical or virtual room full of people, all of whom are waiting to hear what you have to say. You have their undivided attention and the power to influence them. That’s the power of public speaking!
And make no mistake, public speaking is a valid and potentially very lucrative way to make money as a writer. Firstly, you can earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars in speaking fees when someone pays you to make a presentation. And then, following the presentation, you can sell your books at the back of the room. If you sell 75-100 copies at $10 each, that’s $750-$1,000 – not at all bad for a writer without celebrity status!
Plus, public speaking is a great way to build your platform and broaden your reach. If you do it well, people will remember you long after the event is over – especially if you make a call to action that gets the people in the room to join your email list. Then you can continue to build the relationship with value-adding content and make even more money in the long run.
As a writer, you have a lot to offer as a speaker. Your years of experience and expertise uniquely qualify you to share your insights with the world. And when you speak on your specific topic, or the themes in your novel, your audience gets a firsthand account of your expertise. They can see and hear the passion you have for your work, and they can learn from your unique perspective.
When you speak live, you’ll also get reactions and feedback from your audience that will help you clarify your message and increase the value of your content. Seeing how your audience reacts to your message in real time will help you hone and refine your God-given message so that your message resonates even more deeply with the audience.
So if you’re looking for a way to make money as a writer, definitely consider public speaking. It’s a great way to connect with your audience and share your unique insights with the world.
The 2 Things You Need To Get Started
You may be wondering: Is it difficult to get started with public speaking? Good news – it’s actually easier than you think. You only need two things: persistence and a press kit.
What’s a press kit? It’s a simple portfolio, also known as a media kit, that includes your bio, headshot, and writing or speaking samples. You can easily create one using Canva, and then the next step is to pitch yourself to event planners and individuals who may be interested in hiring you as a speaker.
If that sounds daunting, just remember that everyone starts somewhere. That’s where persistence comes in: the more pitches you send out, the better your chances of landing work. So don’t be discouraged if you don’t get immediate results. Just keep trying and putting yourself out there.
Side note: we at 265 Point do lots of pitching for podcast engagements. But even as professional pitchers, we have to be incredibly persistent, too. It’s not that our clients aren’t highly sought after or don’t have a lot of value to add – it’s simply the nature of the business.
After all, we’re all busy. We get easily distracted. We get emails that we mean to reply to, but don’t. We go on vacation. We have conferences. And so on, and so on.
All of these factors play a role in when and how people respond to us. And that’s why the more pitches you send out, and the more persistent you are, the better your chances of landing a gig. That’s why you must be persistent.
Then, once you do get your first gig, be willing to test and learn. Some speaking engagements will be more successful than others, but each one will give you valuable experience, and you’ll get better with every opportunity.
So if you’re willing to put in the work, speaking can be a great way to make money as a writer.
The Next Step: Create Your Author Profile
Ready for your homework? This week, if you haven’t already, create a free profile on our Christian Authors directory. The whole purpose of that site is to connect you with event planners, podcasters, bloggers, and more. These people are actively looking for someone with a message to share, and that someone could absolutely be you!
And if you’re really serious about earning money as a speaker, invest in a premium profile like Laurel Handfield, Mimi Kroger, Alicia Roberts, and many more. Then you’ll be able to add your social media links, introductory video, and – you guessed it! – your new press kit. Plus, when you sign up, you’ll get a FREE marketing review from Coach Tam so you can be sure you’re on the right track.
Yes, it’s an investment. But this investment will pay off when you start landing those speaking gigs and earning money. So head on over to the Christian Authors directory, click “Submit Listing,” and let’s get started!
BIO
My name is Tamara “Coach Tam” Jackson and I am a published author, Facebook© Certified Digital Marketer, host of the Top 100 Publishing Secrets podcast, and founder of The Christian Authors Network (C.A.N.) Facebook© community. I specialize in helping mission-driven authors, coaches, and entrepreneurs increase their exposure, impact, and income through strategic self-publishing and digital media appearances. Just say yes and we will work together to attract a tribe of loyal followers that 1) “get you”, 2) love what you do, and 3) are happy to invest in your book, business, cause, or movement. Plus, we will accomplish all of this without fake, salesy, sleazy, or manipulative tactics. Yes you CAN write, publish, and profit in a way that honors God; join the community today at https://christianauthors.net/fbgroup.
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