#40: How to Boost Book Sales Through Public Speaking: Secrets from Bobbie Carlton

Is public speaking the missing link in your book promotion strategy? 

In this episode of The Author’s Edge, Allison sits down with Bobbie Carlton, founder of “Innovation Women” and a trailblazer in speaker visibility. Bobbie shares how authorship and speaking go hand-in-hand to amplify visibility, credibility, and even compensation. 

Discover practical tips for landing bigger stages, overcoming industry biases, and leveraging your book to open career-changing doors. Whether you're an aspiring author or a seasoned writer, this episode is packed with actionable advice to transform your book into an unstoppable marketing tool.

🎧 Tune in to learn how public speaking can be the game-changer your book launch needs!

What You’ll Learn:

• Why public speaking is one of the most effective ways to promote your book.
• Creative compensation strategies for unpaid speaking gigs (and how to still make money!).
• How to leverage your book for high-profile speaking opportunities like TEDx and international stages.

Resources Mentioned:

• Innovation Women Membership: https://www.innovationwomen.com/ 
• Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore: https://bookshop.org/a/55773/9780062292988  
• Cait Donovan’s Podcast: Fried. The Burnout Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fried-the-burnout-podcast/id1469939920
• Allison’s Membership: The Next Chapter: https://www.lanelit.com/programs 

Timestamps

• [00:02:30] How authorship amplifies public speaking success.
• [00:06:00] Creative ways to get paid for speaking gigs—even without a speaker fee.
• [00:13:00] Why “speaking begets speaking” and how to get started sooner.
• [00:26:00] Real-life success stories of women authors leveraging public speaking.

Bobbie Carlton is the founder of Carlton PR & Marketing, Innovation Nights, and Innovation Women. Known as Boston's "Innovation Den Mother," she empowers startups and women in tech through PR, product launches, and visibility opportunities. An award-winning marketing expert, Bobbie is a passionate advocate for underrepresented voices in innovation.

You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/9MHsBWWYxic?feature=shared