When I can’t think of a clever idea for an article that’s due tomorrow, and my brain is stuck in neutral, I leave the office in my home and head for the kitchen. I squirt Palmolive into the sink and fill it with hot water. Then I reach for my scrub brush and start working.… Read More
Authors & Publishers
7 things your 2015 Publicity Plan must include –free training Oct. 15
If someone has a problem and they’re searching online for a way to solve it, but they don’t know you, have you made it easy for them to find you? Too often, people who want publicity spend the majority of their time on outreach—hunting for journalists, bloggers and others who they can pitch. They seldom… Read More
Why your author media kit needs four bios–free training Sept. 25
You send an email pitch to a freelance writer who writes about the same topic as your new book. He tells you he’s interested and asks you to send the PDF version along with your digital Media Kit. You’re elated and can hardly wait to read the article. But he’s working from home, where his… Read More
How to find the perfect target market for your book–Free training tonight
One of the big mistakes authors make dooms their books to failure even before they’re finished writing. They have no clear picture of the target market. They spend months writing, more time editing, rewriting and proofing, and they call me when they’re ready to launch their a publicity campaign. The first question I ask is, “Who’s… Read More
Book Launch Tip: Gather Blurbs, endorsements long before launch — Free call July 30
In marketing-speak, it’s called social proof. Translated, it means, “Buy this product. Right now. Or you’ll be sorry.” For authors, social proof includes book blurbs, endorsements and testimonials, three important types of marketing copy. You find them on the inside flap of a book you’re thinking of buying at a bookstore. You also find… Read More
Snappy Sassy Salty: A treat for the writer or author in your life
Every time I’ve spoken at one of book shepherd Judith Briles’ events for authors, I return home with one of her pithy phrases ringing in my ears. On our Publishing at Sea cruise to the Caribbean last year, she said this about authors who want to do their own editing and design their own… Read More
What to expect from a literary agent — free call tomorrow
Authors who are thinking they might need a literary agent can hear many of their questions answered during a free call tomorrow, July 24, 2014. Edward Vilga, author of the best-selling novel Downward Dog, will interview his literary agent, Beth Vesl, senior vice president at the Irene Goodman Agency, at 3 p.m. Eastern Time. The… Read More
Ebook publicity idea: Name fictional characters after your fans–they’ll help you promote
When sci-fi novelist Chris Kennedy writes an ebook, he names characters in his novels after real people, many of them his fans. He calls the characters “Redshirts,” a term that originated with the Star Trek TV series. Starfleet security personnel who frequently died during episodes wore red shirts. “If you want to be in one… Read More
Start a book publicity campaign at least 6 months before launch
I wish all authors would refer to the chart above, a complete timeline for book publicity campaign, a full year before they start writing their books. It’s courtesy of book publicist Kate Bandos. When she showed this to me a few years ago at an authors conference, my jaw dropped because it’s such a handy… Read More
11 ways to use this publicity cheat sheet with your PR team
I found a gem of a little publicity cheat sheet I know you’ll love. Actually, it’s a big cheat sheet which is all the better because it’s one of the most thorough at-a-glance summaries I’ve seen anywhere on how to get publicity. It’s called simply a Publicity Primer and it was written by Kirk… Read More