I’m writing a book, but don’t want to blog. How to get speaking/consulting/etc. gigs without excessive self-promotion? Or must I?

Chris Kaufhold ‏@ChrisKaufhold: I’m writing a book, but don’t want to blog. How to get speaking/consulting/etc. gigs without excessive self-promotion? Or must I?

ANSWER:

Gary Vaynerchuck’s books are perfect here: “Crushing It” and the “Thank You Economy”.

“Crushing It” means blogging everywhere you can. Become a presence, a PRESENCE, in every community you participate in. The “Thank You Economy” means you make money everytime you say Thank You.

The reality is: you have to market yourself if you are writing a book. Unless all you like to do is the writing part. But clearly you are willing to do more: you want to get speaking and consulting gigs. So you are willing to put yourself out there. You don’t’ have to blog. BUT: comment on everyone else’s blog, make a facebook fan page and do some basic ads to get fans (topic of a post in the next two weeks that I will do), send your book to bloggers, send your book to people you want to consult with, engage in the ongoing 24 hour conversation called Twitter, hang photos in Pinterest, answer questions in Quora and refer to you book.

You must engage with people in order for people to engage you.

Blogging is not mandatory but engagement and connection are. So Warp Factor Five, ENGAGE, Mister Checkov!