I didn’t know I was making a mistake… until nobody bought the book Yep, I’ve been there.   I once made the mistake of turning a whole speaking engagement into a walking commercial for my book. The message got lost. The connection with the audience? Faded. And the impact I could’ve made… missed.   Here are some actionable tips to make sure your book promotion feels natural and adds value rather than coming across as a hard sell during your next speaking engagement: 1. Bring and Showcase a Physical Copy Place a few copies of your book on a side table or podium so they’re visible as soon as you walk on stage. This primes the audience to recognize it as part of your message rather than an add-on sales pitch.   2. Negotiate Speaking Fees (or Fee Waivers) in Exchange for Bulk Orders Frame it as a partnership. When you’re in discussions with an event organizer, propose a deal like: “If you cover my travel/honorarium, would you be open to purchasing X number of books (e.g., 50 copies) at a special bulk rate?” This way, they’re not just paying you for your time but also investing in resources for their audience.   3. Integrate Your Book’s Content Seamlessly into Your Message Map your talk to a chapter or key concept. Rather than abruptly saying, “Buy my book,” craft your talk so that one or two stories or frameworks directly mirror a chapter. Something like, “In Chapter 3, I share a case study about exactly this scenario,” makes it obvious that the book deepens the audience’s learning.   By weaving these tactics into your overall speaking flow rather than tacking on a sales pitch at the very end, you’ll strike the balance between providing value and offering your book as a natural extension of your message.  

🎤 I teach strategies like this inside the Paid to Speak Intensive, where therapists, coaches, and authors learn how to turn their message into money and momentum this September 27th in Atlanta

If you’re done winging it on stage and ready to get paid plus sell books without the cringe…

🪑 Grab your seat now. The room is filling and these bonus resources won’t last.

Secure your spot here: 2025 Couch to Podium Conference

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