Comments on: The best ways to get author and book publicity

By: How to Coauthor a Book - Productive Writers

How to Coauthor a Book - Productive Writers — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 05:31:08 +0000

[…] with the various aspects of marketing the book, which can include publicity; website creation; blogging; Twitter and other social media; interviews in print and on radio, […]

By: The best ways to get author and book publicity – Written By Sandra Beckwith – Writer's Treasure Chest

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 06:04:24 +0000

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By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 01:04:50 +0000

In reply to Kayleen Reusser. I love that you were proactive and got results, Kayleen. Stay with it! Sandy

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 01:04:17 +0000

In reply to Stephanie Patrick. Thanks! Sandy

By: The best ways to get author and book publicity - TVVT

The best ways to get author and book publicity - TVVT — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 21:50:40 +0000

[…] post The best ways to get author and book publicity appeared first on Build Book […]

By: Kayleen Reusser

Kayleen Reusser — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 21:43:16 +0000

After listening to a podcast of a favorite author in my genre (WWII), I contacted the podcaster, suggesting she may want to interview me for the approaching holiday of Veteran’s Day. She was happy to do so and plans to run our interview just prior to Nov 11. I’m happy to say she is out of my usual media area so it may bring new readers to my 9 books on interviews with WWII vets.

By: Stephanie Patrick

Stephanie Patrick — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 16:35:16 +0000

As a book publicist and both a former book reviewer and ex-journalist, I screen potential clients carefully. I also am very upfront about my charges and what is promised for that fee. My fee starts at $1,200 per month – much less than others because I tend to work with self-published authors or those from small publishers who are honest with their authors that they don’t provide much publicity. Unless you are a celebrity, most publishers do very little.
If an author calls me about a book with a small publisher, chances are I have been expecting the call because the publisher has referred the author to me. The publisher has given me information about your book, their previous publicity efforts if any and the publisher’s concerns about your book and you; that diva meltdown you had during the editing process, I’ve probably heard about it and decided it didn’t bother me. Otherwise, the publisher would not have given you my name.
If you are calling on your own with either a small publisher or a self-published book, I do the research on my own. If my fee doesn’t scare you off and I’m not called greedy (It’s happened many times), I know that you are probably treating this as a business – not a hobby. We all have budgets, and you have every right to choose how to spend your money, but no one owes an author a publicity campaign for peanuts; campaigns take many hours each month. Publicists have bills too.
Anyway, I am researching your background as much as possible. I look for arrest records, divorce records, college records, etc. I need to know who you really are.
I look at what you published in the past. if it’s hate speech or even just poorly written, I know I probably won’t want to read, much less represent your new book. A big red flag is if you have self-published more than five books in the last year; quality matters over quantity.
So, the first thing I do is a reality check. If you are first-time author, the chances of the Today Show or Good Morning America will even respond to a pitch are slim unless your book has already gained a following and is edging up the bestseller list – The New York Times Bestseller list.
I turn down most of the authors who approach me. Consider it like an agent audition because I, as a publicist, have to decide how I can help you, whether there is a market for your book and whether you really want to work hard. The third is the deal breaker most of the time.
Here are reasons I will decline to represent you:
1. You use the term Amazon bestseller when describing your book to me. There is no such thing. $200, an obscure niche and a quiet period in the day, and I can make almost any book climb up the Amazon charts. It’s meaningless.
2. Your Amazon reviews are obviously from family and friends. And I do Google both you and your friends and family.
3. You tell me you paid for reviews. Some publicists disagree with me, but this is cheating the readers to me.
4. You lead with all the media outlets you expect coverage in, and also tell me no one trusts the media and/or reads newspapers. We never disrespect the media, especially when we are asking for consideration for FREE coverage.
It’s great to have a wish list, but no publicist with any integrity “promises” media coverage; you pay for a publicist’s representation and expertise. If the publicist doesn’t come through with some successes after he or she has managed your expectations, you should fire the person; but there are no guarantees with news coverage – it isn’t advertising.
5. You tell me you don’t want to share your real name. More and more, media outlets are requiring that real names and pen names be used in stories; they will investigate you too.
6. You expect instant sales. PUBLICISTS DO NOT SELL BOOKS. IN 15 YEARS, I HAVE NEVER SOLD A BOOK. HOWEVER, I HAVE RAISED AWARENESS OF MANY,MANY BOOKS. THAT’S A PUBLICIST’S JOB.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 15:37:18 +0000

In reply to Stephanie Patrick. Great advice, Stephanie. Thanks. Do you screen authors and their books before taking them on as publicity clients, and if so, what does that screening process look like? Sandy

By: Stephanie Patrick

Stephanie Patrick — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 15:20:59 +0000

As always, great advice. If you have the money, spend it on a great book publicist. It will make a world of difference because publicists have the contacts and knowledge to make a better professional campaign.
However, there is nothing wrong doing it yourself with some thought and time. That means proper research, planning and understanding the difference between publicity and advertising. And, please, never send Spam emails to anyone.
Angles and timing are important. The fact you wrote a book about sheep farming is not news. The fact you wrote a book about your experiences working on a sheep farm in New Zealand and will be discussing them at a local university on Friday is news.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 27 Oct 2021 14:04:43 +0000

In reply to Arabella McIntyre-Brown. I love this, Arabella! Thank you for sharing your story. You are a walking news hook! Sandy