Are you having a hard time launching your book promotion campaign through conventional media channels? Then try podcasting.
By podcasting, you can host your own radio program and talk about your book. Then, through the magic of the Internet, you can post your podcasts on the appropriate Websites and, using your email list (or purchased email lists), invite people to listen to it.
Boost your book promotion campaign by reading about the benefits of podcasting -- and how to set up a podcast -- here. And then, once you've built a fan base, try approaching the conventional media again. Being a recognized figure who is a proven fan favorite can make a big difference in your book promotion success.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Book Promotion by Podcasting
Are you having a hard time launching your book promotion campaign through conventional media channels? Then try podcasting.
By podcasting, you can host your own radio program and talk about your book. Then, through the magic of the Internet, you can post your podcasts on the appropriate Websites and, using your email list (or purchased email lists), invite people to listen to it.
Boost your book promotion campaign by reading about the benefits of podcasting -- and how to set up a podcast -- here. And then, once you've built a fan base, try approaching the conventional media again. Being a recognized figure who is a proven fan favorite can make a big difference in your book promotion success.
By podcasting, you can host your own radio program and talk about your book. Then, through the magic of the Internet, you can post your podcasts on the appropriate Websites and, using your email list (or purchased email lists), invite people to listen to it.
Boost your book promotion campaign by reading about the benefits of podcasting -- and how to set up a podcast -- here. And then, once you've built a fan base, try approaching the conventional media again. Being a recognized figure who is a proven fan favorite can make a big difference in your book promotion success.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Book Promotion Firms Don't Work for Free
And neither do book publicists. Forgive me for venting, but I'm frustrated.
A few years ago, I promoted a novel for a small publishing company (the author and the publisher were two different individuals, but I worked with both of them during the course of the book promotion campaign).
About a year after the campaign was finished, I began to get media calls asking about books published by this small company. At first, I thought nothing of it except that someone was confused, and it would work itself out. But today I received another phone call from a reporter who told me that I was designatd on the publisher's Web site as the media contact for the publishing company and for all of their books.
Here's a snippet from the email I sent to the publisher:
<
I don't want your authors or you to miss media opportunities when those media inquiries come my way (obviously, the books/authors about whom the media is asking will not "ring a bell" with me), nor do I want to have my valuable time taken with media inquiries that are not meant for my clients. It's also not fair to those who are paying me for my time, and paying -- in part -- for the privilege of having their projects associated with professional media representation.
Please update your site at your earliest convenience, and let me know when you've taken care of the matter. Thank you in advance.]
Yes, I was annoyed, and I am hoping that the publisher hasn't known about his error for all this time that he was using my contact information as the go-to place for the media. As I said in my email to him, one of the things authors/publishers buy from me and other book publicists is the association of their work with a book promotion firm -- it's proof that they're taking their book seriously, and promoting it seriously.
I would no sooner lend my name and reputation to book promotion projects without fair compensation than I would expect my real estate agent to sell me a house without taking her commission.
It strikes me as a bad day when I feel cheated. And today, I felt cheated.
A few years ago, I promoted a novel for a small publishing company (the author and the publisher were two different individuals, but I worked with both of them during the course of the book promotion campaign).
About a year after the campaign was finished, I began to get media calls asking about books published by this small company. At first, I thought nothing of it except that someone was confused, and it would work itself out. But today I received another phone call from a reporter who told me that I was designatd on the publisher's Web site as the media contact for the publishing company and for all of their books.
Here's a snippet from the email I sent to the publisher:
<
I don't want your authors or you to miss media opportunities when those media inquiries come my way (obviously, the books/authors about whom the media is asking will not "ring a bell" with me), nor do I want to have my valuable time taken with media inquiries that are not meant for my clients. It's also not fair to those who are paying me for my time, and paying -- in part -- for the privilege of having their projects associated with professional media representation.
Please update your site at your earliest convenience, and let me know when you've taken care of the matter. Thank you in advance.]
Yes, I was annoyed, and I am hoping that the publisher hasn't known about his error for all this time that he was using my contact information as the go-to place for the media. As I said in my email to him, one of the things authors/publishers buy from me and other book publicists is the association of their work with a book promotion firm -- it's proof that they're taking their book seriously, and promoting it seriously.
I would no sooner lend my name and reputation to book promotion projects without fair compensation than I would expect my real estate agent to sell me a house without taking her commission.
It strikes me as a bad day when I feel cheated. And today, I felt cheated.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Starbucks Perks Up Book Promotion Campaign
Starbucks, in affiliation with Hyperion Books, will feature Mitch Albom's latest novel, "For One More Day," in its coffee shops beginning in October (the book's publication date is September). Of course, the visibility in Starbucks' coffee shops will perk up the visibility of Albom's book. But here's the question: does Albom's book promotion campaign really need the boost?
I'm an Albom fan, and I would have found my way to his latest novel even without the efforts put forth by Hyperion and Starbucks. His new novel will get reviews and shelf space in bookstores.
But what about all the novelists whose works will never enjoy the visibility that Albom's books receive? Why doesn't a major force such as Starbucks step forward and offer to give a boost to the book promotion campaigns -- where that boosts could do the most good?
Yes, you can pitch your book to Starbucks even if you don't have a Hyperion Books behind you. But good luck getting Starbucks' attention. If you're an unknown author, you'll need luck.
I'm an Albom fan, and I would have found my way to his latest novel even without the efforts put forth by Hyperion and Starbucks. His new novel will get reviews and shelf space in bookstores.
But what about all the novelists whose works will never enjoy the visibility that Albom's books receive? Why doesn't a major force such as Starbucks step forward and offer to give a boost to the book promotion campaigns -- where that boosts could do the most good?
Yes, you can pitch your book to Starbucks even if you don't have a Hyperion Books behind you. But good luck getting Starbucks' attention. If you're an unknown author, you'll need luck.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
A Book Promotion Opportunity for Marketing Books
MarketingSherpa has a book promotion opportunity for new books that relate to marketing, advertising, or publicity. You can read about it here.
If your new book relates to any of those areas -- and it's relevant to marketng professionals and a "good read" -- then you can send one copy of the book to Book Contest, MarketingSherpa Inc 499 Main Street Warren RI 02871 US. Include your contact information and the book's publication date.
If your book is chosen by MarketingSherpa's editors for their weekly Giveaway, then they'll request four more copies of your book. Marketing professionals can click here to register to win one of the books chosen for the Giveaway.
Your book competes with other books related to marketing for a book publicity opportunity, and marketing professionals compete with each other to win a free copy of winning marketing books. Sounds like a great idea to me, and a terrific book promotion opportunity for the right book.
If your new book relates to any of those areas -- and it's relevant to marketng professionals and a "good read" -- then you can send one copy of the book to Book Contest, MarketingSherpa Inc 499 Main Street Warren RI 02871 US. Include your contact information and the book's publication date.
If your book is chosen by MarketingSherpa's editors for their weekly Giveaway, then they'll request four more copies of your book. Marketing professionals can click here to register to win one of the books chosen for the Giveaway.
Your book competes with other books related to marketing for a book publicity opportunity, and marketing professionals compete with each other to win a free copy of winning marketing books. Sounds like a great idea to me, and a terrific book promotion opportunity for the right book.
Monday, August 07, 2006
A Book Promotion Don't-Do
Did you see the news item on MSBNC.com today, "Marie Osmond did not attempt suicide?" Ouch.
A tabloid ran a news story that, evidently, Marie's publicity camp disputed. The result was that MSNBC.com story that offered Marie's rebuttal to the tabloid's story.
Unfortunately, MSNBC.com ran that rebuttal in the most cringe-worthy way imaginable. They stated a memorable negative in a way that brings back memories of Nixon's "I am not a crook" and (to paraphrase Clinton) "I did not have intimate relations with that woman."
When you're in the midst of a book promotion campaign, you never want to answer a confrontational question (such as, "Did you try to commit suicide?") with a negative, "I didn't try to commit suicide." That would be repeating a negative, and if you do that, you can almost guarantee that the negative is the quotation people will remember.
Instead, you always want to state a positive. You might say, "I was very healthy and feeling quite positive, thank you for asking." Or, "I briefly experienced a bad reaction to my medication, but thank goodness, the doctors handled the whole affair beautifully and I'm fully recovered now."
For the sake of your book publicity campaign, steer clear of the trap the confrontational interviewers might be setting for you. Yes, some interviewers may want to be Howard Stern and infuse your book promotion campaign with questions that will make you squirm and want to walk off in a huff.
The best response is to stay calm and friendly in all interview situations that you find yourself in during a book promotion campaign. Don't take the interviewer's hostility personally; it's not meant personally. It's an act, and now that you know how to respond to it, you'll quickly take the wind out of the interviewer's sails and put an end to the negativity.
Just remember that headline about Marie Osmond, and be sure that doesn't happen to you. (And, for the record, I do believe Marie's publicity camp. She has a strong support system, and I have every confidence that it's working for her and will continue to do so in the future. But...please. No more feeding into a reporter's negativity, because I don't want to read anymore headlines like this one about Marie Osmond or anybody else.)
A tabloid ran a news story that, evidently, Marie's publicity camp disputed. The result was that MSNBC.com story that offered Marie's rebuttal to the tabloid's story.
Unfortunately, MSNBC.com ran that rebuttal in the most cringe-worthy way imaginable. They stated a memorable negative in a way that brings back memories of Nixon's "I am not a crook" and (to paraphrase Clinton) "I did not have intimate relations with that woman."
When you're in the midst of a book promotion campaign, you never want to answer a confrontational question (such as, "Did you try to commit suicide?") with a negative, "I didn't try to commit suicide." That would be repeating a negative, and if you do that, you can almost guarantee that the negative is the quotation people will remember.
Instead, you always want to state a positive. You might say, "I was very healthy and feeling quite positive, thank you for asking." Or, "I briefly experienced a bad reaction to my medication, but thank goodness, the doctors handled the whole affair beautifully and I'm fully recovered now."
For the sake of your book publicity campaign, steer clear of the trap the confrontational interviewers might be setting for you. Yes, some interviewers may want to be Howard Stern and infuse your book promotion campaign with questions that will make you squirm and want to walk off in a huff.
The best response is to stay calm and friendly in all interview situations that you find yourself in during a book promotion campaign. Don't take the interviewer's hostility personally; it's not meant personally. It's an act, and now that you know how to respond to it, you'll quickly take the wind out of the interviewer's sails and put an end to the negativity.
Just remember that headline about Marie Osmond, and be sure that doesn't happen to you. (And, for the record, I do believe Marie's publicity camp. She has a strong support system, and I have every confidence that it's working for her and will continue to do so in the future. But...please. No more feeding into a reporter's negativity, because I don't want to read anymore headlines like this one about Marie Osmond or anybody else.)
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Book Promotion by Novel Giveaway
Something very cool is happening in Australia. according to an article in the Courier Mail, here's what's going on.
To promote book sales, and for the sake of encouraging people to read, an organization called Books Alive paid Monica McInerney to write a novel. Her book, which is called Odd One Out, will be given for free to consumers who buy any of fifty books that are featured in the Books Alive Great Read Guide.
What a great book promotion opportunity for McInerney! And the fifty other lucky authors benefit from book publicity, too.
And I'm thinking: this isn't such a bad deal for consumers.
Okay. So we're not doing something like this to promote book sales and to support authors and publishers in the States ... why?
To promote book sales, and for the sake of encouraging people to read, an organization called Books Alive paid Monica McInerney to write a novel. Her book, which is called Odd One Out, will be given for free to consumers who buy any of fifty books that are featured in the Books Alive Great Read Guide.
What a great book promotion opportunity for McInerney! And the fifty other lucky authors benefit from book publicity, too.
And I'm thinking: this isn't such a bad deal for consumers.
Okay. So we're not doing something like this to promote book sales and to support authors and publishers in the States ... why?
Friday, August 04, 2006
Blogging Her Way to Book Promotion
How does novelist MJ Rose use the Internet to create a book publicity campaign that could only happen now? She blogs.
According to the Huffington Post, MJ Rose wants to link to 500 blogs as the main thrust of her book promotion campaign. To get out the word about her lastest book, The Venus Fix, Rose is asking bloggers to link to her multimedia book show and link to an interview about her book. In exchange for the "free" book promotion, Rose will donate five dollars to the blogger's choice of three charities. And, to sweeten the deal, a lucky blogger will win a signed copy of Rose's book.
Of course, by that time, the lucky blogger will presumably have already read Rose's book, but still ... it's the thought -- and the book publicity -- that counts.
According to the Huffington Post, MJ Rose wants to link to 500 blogs as the main thrust of her book promotion campaign. To get out the word about her lastest book, The Venus Fix, Rose is asking bloggers to link to her multimedia book show and link to an interview about her book. In exchange for the "free" book promotion, Rose will donate five dollars to the blogger's choice of three charities. And, to sweeten the deal, a lucky blogger will win a signed copy of Rose's book.
Of course, by that time, the lucky blogger will presumably have already read Rose's book, but still ... it's the thought -- and the book publicity -- that counts.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Self-Esteem Aids Book Promotion Effort
Typically, shy or modest authors are under-promoted authors. I like to tell authors to get excited about their work, and to convey that enthusiasm to the media, or to their in-house book publicist or independent book promotion specialist. Wax eloquent about your topic, and get let everyone know about how important it is and all that you can add to the public's understanding about it.
And now I have another piece of self-promotional advice for authors: call yourself a genius, and let the media know how similar your work is to that of Pulitzer Prize winners. It can only help your book promotion campaign.
That's what novelist Omar Tyree ("What They Want," published by Simon & Schuster) decided. According to an Associated Press article, Tyree is a literary genius whose work would be similar to that of Toni Morrison -- if only the public would buy such impressive books. As it is, he has to slum it as a novelist who produces sexy, gritty tales instead of the work that would Morrison herself would envy.
As excited as he is about his own potential greatness, Tyree certainly toots his self-promotional horn loudly enough to get the attention of the media, his book publicist, and his publishing company. Now the question is: would you buy Tyree's books?
I think I'll put them on my "look-see" list for next time I'm in a bookstore. Maybe -- just maybe -- they have potential.
And now I have another piece of self-promotional advice for authors: call yourself a genius, and let the media know how similar your work is to that of Pulitzer Prize winners. It can only help your book promotion campaign.
That's what novelist Omar Tyree ("What They Want," published by Simon & Schuster) decided. According to an Associated Press article, Tyree is a literary genius whose work would be similar to that of Toni Morrison -- if only the public would buy such impressive books. As it is, he has to slum it as a novelist who produces sexy, gritty tales instead of the work that would Morrison herself would envy.
As excited as he is about his own potential greatness, Tyree certainly toots his self-promotional horn loudly enough to get the attention of the media, his book publicist, and his publishing company. Now the question is: would you buy Tyree's books?
I think I'll put them on my "look-see" list for next time I'm in a bookstore. Maybe -- just maybe -- they have potential.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Book Publicity by ... John Irving and Stephen King?
Apparently, when you're J.K. Rowling, and you're in need of serious book promotion services, you call upon the world's strangest book publicists: John Irving and Stephen King.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not calling John Irving and Stephen King strange (although, surely, they wouldn't mind if I did). I'm just saying that it was a surprise to read this MSNBC.com story about a charity lovefest involving Rowling, Irving, and King.
It's interesting that three of today's top authors got together to talk about their books. But, from the perspective of this book publicist, what was most interesting was that the focus appears to have been on Rowling's work -- specifically, the upcoming final book in the Harry Potter series. Irving and King gave Rowling their editorial suggestions ("Let Harry live!"), and Rowling made no promises, one way or the other.
Sure, a couple of titles by Irving and King -- "The World According to Garp" and "The Dead Zone" -- received a token bit of book promotion in the article. But these plugs were eclipsed by the ostentatious plug Rowling received for her upcoming book.
I mean, who would not read an article about book promotion that contained the names Rowlings, Irving, and King? Irving and King probably aren't out to sell more copies of "Garp" or "The Dead Zone" right now. But Rowling's newest "Harry Potter" stands to benefit appreciably from this kind of book publicity.
So, if you're looking for endorsements from literary luminaries for your latest children's book, maybe you could ring up John Irving and Stephen King. Just tell them you're looking for some unusual book publicists ... and remind them that it's for a good cause.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not calling John Irving and Stephen King strange (although, surely, they wouldn't mind if I did). I'm just saying that it was a surprise to read this MSNBC.com story about a charity lovefest involving Rowling, Irving, and King.
It's interesting that three of today's top authors got together to talk about their books. But, from the perspective of this book publicist, what was most interesting was that the focus appears to have been on Rowling's work -- specifically, the upcoming final book in the Harry Potter series. Irving and King gave Rowling their editorial suggestions ("Let Harry live!"), and Rowling made no promises, one way or the other.
Sure, a couple of titles by Irving and King -- "The World According to Garp" and "The Dead Zone" -- received a token bit of book promotion in the article. But these plugs were eclipsed by the ostentatious plug Rowling received for her upcoming book.
I mean, who would not read an article about book promotion that contained the names Rowlings, Irving, and King? Irving and King probably aren't out to sell more copies of "Garp" or "The Dead Zone" right now. But Rowling's newest "Harry Potter" stands to benefit appreciably from this kind of book publicity.
So, if you're looking for endorsements from literary luminaries for your latest children's book, maybe you could ring up John Irving and Stephen King. Just tell them you're looking for some unusual book publicists ... and remind them that it's for a good cause.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
She Whined for Book Publicity.
She whined about the fact that her local newspaper hadn't reviewed her books in a decade. And it worked. She landed a book review.
"She" is Joni Rodgers, and she has a blog right here called BookWoman. In her July 30 entry, "Good grief, I finally get it," Rodgers explains how a "snarky comment" to the Houston Chronicle finally resulted in a book review.
Yes, Rodgers got to enjoy the Chronicle's review of her novel, The Secret Sisters. But I'd argue that she got that review despite the fact that she complained, rather than because of her complaining.
Reviewers don't owe authors book publicity. They are not obligated to provide book promotion to an author, local or not. They're not remiss when they overlook your book. They're making a choice about which authors to support and which books to promote -- and, whether we like it or not, that's their right.
The rule of thumb is this: if your book isn't reviewed by the publication that "should" review it, don't complain. Try a different beat editor, and pitch a story idea. Pitching different ideas to different editors, and to different media outlets, is a better idea than complaining about the lack of book publicity opportunitities 99.99 percent of the time.
Joni Rodgers' situation is the .01 percent of the time when whining worked. Congratulations to Joni, but as this book publicist likes to say, "Don't try it at home."
"She" is Joni Rodgers, and she has a blog right here called BookWoman. In her July 30 entry, "Good grief, I finally get it," Rodgers explains how a "snarky comment" to the Houston Chronicle finally resulted in a book review.
Yes, Rodgers got to enjoy the Chronicle's review of her novel, The Secret Sisters. But I'd argue that she got that review despite the fact that she complained, rather than because of her complaining.
Reviewers don't owe authors book publicity. They are not obligated to provide book promotion to an author, local or not. They're not remiss when they overlook your book. They're making a choice about which authors to support and which books to promote -- and, whether we like it or not, that's their right.
The rule of thumb is this: if your book isn't reviewed by the publication that "should" review it, don't complain. Try a different beat editor, and pitch a story idea. Pitching different ideas to different editors, and to different media outlets, is a better idea than complaining about the lack of book publicity opportunitities 99.99 percent of the time.
Joni Rodgers' situation is the .01 percent of the time when whining worked. Congratulations to Joni, but as this book publicist likes to say, "Don't try it at home."
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