By: Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
Getting your voice heard off the page is essential for any author looking to expand their reach. While the college speaking circuit slowed down significantly during the pandemic, it has come back stronger than ever. Speaking gigs offer invaluable visibility, but what truly matters is who is in the audience. When it comes to influence, few audiences are more valuable than college students and university staff. So, how can authors break into the college lecture circuit?
Get Your Foot in the Door with NACA
NACA stands for The National Association for Campus Activities. It’s a nonprofit organization that “serves as the central hub for campus professionals, student leaders, entertainers, agents, vendors, and other entities involved in the planning and execution of campus events and activities.” While its mission may sound broad, NACA is one of the most effective pathways for authors looking to enter the college speaking world.
According to NACA Executive Director Jameson Root, “NACA helps bring the collegiate market to you. Through in-person conferences and an online directory, authors can access the largest network of campus activities talent buyers and decision makers. Additional opportunities to showcase your work include presenting educational sessions, getting published in Campus Activities Programming® Magazine or the peer-reviewed Journal for Campus Activities Practice & Scholarship, writing for the NACA Blog, or hosting webinars. NACA strives to foster environments where everyone belongs and can thrive in their careers.”
Membership opens the door to networking with universities across the country, and gives you direct access to decision-makers who book campus events. To join this community, simply visit their website, become a member, and take advantage of the contacts listed for questions or guidance.
Here are a few additional agencies and organizations that help authors book college talks:
Be Persistent and Find Your Niche
Finding the specific audience interested in your book can be challenging, but colleges make this easier by organizing students into majors, departments, and clubs. Identify the group that best aligns with your message. Use platforms like LinkedIn as well as university websites to locate the right contacts. Once you connect with a professor, department chair, or student organization leader, tailor your talk to that specific group. Don’t wait for a prescheduled event; create your own opportunities! Step outside the box by proposing workshops and guest lectures. The speaking industry is competitive, so having a clear and compelling message can set you apart from everyone else and spark interest.
Speaking to the Future
Booking the college lecture circuit can be transformative for your book sales. Speaking directly with students allows you to get your book in front of the next generation of adults. Don’t hesitate to reach out to students and staff directly. Engage them by connecting your book’s themes to their academic and personal interests. Create a professional author page that you can send out to provide a short bio of who you are and what you want to say. When you’re speaking at colleges, your job is simple: inspire students. Whether students buy your book or start conversations about it, both outcomes help amplify your reach. Check out my article about media training tips here!
Speaking from Experience
Back in the day I was director of Student Activities at UNLV. Our committee booked all kinds of speakers, and many were authors. We booked people such as: Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek), Lee Bailey (OJ Simpon’s defense attorney), Vincent Bugliosi (Charles Manson’s prosecutor), David Frost (Nixon interview) and Carl Bernstein (Watergate). We were members of NACA and used booking agents to get our next big guest speaker. Not all were celebrities, but they all had a message and most had a book.
The Bottom Line
Want your book to reach the next generation? Get on campus. Speak. Inspire. Sell. The college lecture circuit is your launchpad, start now and make your message unforgettable.
Want your book to reach the next generation? Get on campus. Speak. Inspire. Sell. The college lecture circuit is your launchpad, start now and make your message unforgettable. #Books #Authors #IndieAuthor Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! 𝕏About Book Publicist Scott Lorenz
Book publicist Scott Lorenz, President of Westwind Book Marketing, has spent more than 30 years helping authors get noticed. He works with bestselling, traditionally published and self-published authors to generate media exposure, book reviews, interviews and greater visibility through strategic book publicity and book marketing campaigns.
His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, The New York Times, TIME, PBS, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Washington Post and other major media outlets.
Lorenz is also an author. His books include Book Title Generator: A Proven System in Naming Your Book, an award-winning guide for authors, and Book Title Bible: How to Name Your Christian Book with Faith and Inspiration.
Lorenz shares book publicity, publishing and marketing advice on X (Twitter) at @aBookPublicist, where he connects with more than 47,000 followers across the book, author and publishing community.
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