How to Get Free Publicity by Speaking to Local Organizations
One fantastic way to get free publicity yourself is by giving free talks to local organizations and businesses. There are several benefits to giving speeches.
You get to meet people face-to-face, which can help you to make new social and business relationships.
If you have ever dreamed becoming a published author, it can help you to make what is called platform, a base of followers or people who know who you are. This can make you a more attractive prospect to publishers. You can get more publicity by letting journalists know where and when you are giving your talk. They might place your talk in their calendar of events or even send a reporter out to do a tale.
It might lead to a lucrative career as a paid speaker.
Service clubs and business organizations offer fantastic opportunities for you to speak. Some of the better known are Kiwanis, Rotary, Knights of Columbus, Soroptimist, and Lions Club, though there are many others.
These types of groups have memberships that can range from a couple of dozen or so to well over 100. Most groups meet once a week; and the majority of them have speakers at their meetings who will talk for a predetermined time, usually 15-30 minutes. Generally, they don’t pay guest speakers, though if you’ve published a book, most of them will let you sell it at the meeting.
You can find these clubs on the Internet and the phone book. One of the best ways to get information on each local club is to call the Chamber of Commerce in your community and nearby ones.
Most chambers are extremely helpful, though they are often shorthanded. They usually keep lists of clubs in the community. Question them for contact info for the groups you want to approach. And while you’re at it, question the chamber if they are looking for speakers. Many of them now have links to member organizations on their websites, but usually for the main contact person, not the entire group.
Danek S. Kaus is a Silicon Valley business journalist and publicist. He is the author of “You Can Be Well-known! Insider Secrets to Getting Free Publicity.” You can learn More Publicity Secrets and learn how to Be Interviewed on Radio Shows