Event promoters and speaking bookers have a tough job. They have to find qualified people to speak, hopefully someone who can speak well and keep the audience engaged, who has information relevant to their audience, and most importantly, won’t be a flop, which would embarrass them at minimum and in some instances, could tank their event or career.
All things being equal, authoring a book is going to move you ahead of your non-book- writing competition in the qualifying process. Most of the bookers won’t actually read your book, even if you send them a hard copy. (This is where great cover design pays off.) Some may skim through your book to make sure you can put words together in logical order. But, for the most part, writing a book reassures them that you are serious about your work and that you can express yourself clearly. It gives proof that you have substance as evidenced by the fact that you had enough material to fill a book.
Your book can also be used as a premium for the audience. Fee-based speakers can offer to give the book to each attendee or sell at a discount, and stick around for a signing session. Speakers can waive all or part of their fee if the organization buys a minimum number of books (many times organizations have both a speaker fee budget and a materials budget) or they can offer to donate a portion of the net sales back to the organization (particularly useful if it’s tax-deductible).
You can use a book to give event promoters and speaking bookers more flexibility – whether it’s helping them stretch a thin budget or creating additional value for attendees.
If you’re speaking, you need a well-written, properly published book. Right now, it’s seen as an advantage. Over the next few years, it will become required. Get ahead of the competition. Write your book now.