Exciting Highlights from Our Monthly PSASA Cape Chapter Meeting!
We were excited to get together for our monthly PSASA Cape Chapter Meeting, an evening that as always began with energetic networking alongside a delicious dinner and drinks.
Our newly elected Cape Chapter President, Marlene McConnell, set an inspiring tone for the night and our Immediate Past President and Master of Ceremonies, Marriet Visser, ensured the event ran smoothly. Marriet’s engaging manner captivated the audience, keeping them fully engaged throughout the evening.
Guest Speaker 1: Douglas Kruger delivered an engaging presentation that equipped us, as speaking professionals with writing aspirations, with actionable strategies to differentiate ourselves in a competitive landscape. He inspired attendees by challenging self-imposed limitations and urging us to confront cultural norms that can stifle innovation.
In his talk, Douglas guided us through the comprehensive creative process of writing and marketing a book. He underscored the significance of defining a clear purpose and understanding one’s target audience. Key topics included structured outlining, disciplined writing, professional editing, and selecting the appropriate publishing avenue—whether traditional, self-publishing, or hybrid. He took us into the publishing thought process to ensure our pitch and manuscript proposal were on point. Furthermore, he elaborated on self-narration of an audiobook, mistakes to avoid, effective marketing strategies such as selling books at speaking events, participating in book interviews, emphasizing the importance of building a robust author platform and engaging authentically with readers.
Exciting Speaker Factor Competition Winner Feedback: We were overjoyed to celebrate Viv Vermaak, our well-deserved Speaker Factor Winner! Viv captivated us with her inspiring journey and the creative process behind crafting her award-winning speech. She expressed her gratitude to the supportive community and mentors who guided her throughout her preparation. From honing her skills with diligent writing to practicing impromptu at the Gautrain Station, Viv highlighted the invaluable knowledge and encouragement she received from everyone around her. Her outstanding delivery left the judges in awe, and we are proud to celebrate her remarkable achievements within the PSASA Community!
Guest Speaker 2: Our next speaker, Kyle Jantjies, resonated with meeting attendees as he outlined strategies that could be set on autopilot, ensuring a sustainable flow of engagement and opportunities. He encouraged professionals, entrepreneurs, coaches, and speakers to see their books as crucial components of their business development toolkit. In this insightful session, he highlighted the value of Amazon Kindle reviews, reader magnets, lead magnets, and mailing lists—critical tools that can significantly enhance book sales. Through real-life examples, he illustrated that using your book to generate leads on autopilot was possible.
The evening finished off with closing remarks from Marriet Visser, followed by more networking.
Mark Your Calendars: Our next meeting is on 19 May 2025, so be sure to book your spot at PSASA Southern Africa.
We hope to see you there for another evening of learning, empowerment, and connection!
