Help for the Publicity Challenged: 6 Ways to Gain Exposure Without Leaving Home
You’ve written a book, and you really want to get it out to the people who need it most… but you’ve never been good at public speaking and aren’t the type that wants to chat on a TV show.
Not everyone has an outgoing personality, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a successful publicity campaign. There are lots of ways to reach your audience without bright lights and fanfare. Here are just a few examples:
1. Book Reviews
You or your publicist submits your book to online or print publications that review books. This can help when consumers are searching online or perusing magazines. You can also use reviews as endorsements in your publicity of the book.
2. Blog Tours
Partner with a publicity firm that offers blog tours. This is where your book is offered to a large list of bloggers and whoever decides they want to blog about it jump aboard and the tour begins. This creates great internet presence.
3. Charity/ Giveaways
Be willing to offer your book to charity drives, share-a-thons, giveaways, etc. to gain exposure. You can bless others and start word-of-mouth about your book.
4. Website Promotion
Start a Website. This is an integral part of publicity. Every author needs to have a place that consumers can find them on the Web. Be sure to have a professional create your Website and spend the money necessary to communicate professionalism to your audience. WinePress offers 5-page custom websites that will meet your needs.
5. Advertising
Advertising is an excellent way to reach many different markets. Print and online advertising present your book to the public and lets them know you are willing to invest in your book. Advertising is best used as building blocks to branding your message. Keep your ads frequent, consistent, and professional.
6. Direct Mail Campaigns
Send impressive marketing materials directly to your audience. Schools, churches, specific ministries or organizations can be the target in a direct mail campaign. Postcards, brochures, special invitations, and more can arrive in the hands of who need it most. WinePress can handle finding a list, creating the materials, and sending them out for you too.
As you can see, if you’re not comfortable promoting your book publicly, there are still many creative ways to gain exposure. While this list can be accomplished to some degree on your own, it’s always best to have a publicity department or publicist with experience in the market, relationships with media, and media resources on your side.
Abigail Davidson has worked with WinePress Publishing since February of 2005. She helps promote WinePress authors through radio, television, print and Internet.
She also works closely with other WinePress staff on advertising and marketing to help WinePress authors build a publicity campaign that makes sense for their unique needs.
Tweet This!A Blog, a Website, or Both?
By Kevin Cochran
Do you have a Website and a blog?
Great!
That’s a very good combination to reach a variety of people.
Do you have one or the other? Well, you should seriously consider having both.
Have neither? Then you should start with this article. A common mistake people make is that a Website and a blog are basically the same. A Website and a blog serve a unique purpose and should not be interchanged. Here’s why.
BLOG
A weblog (blog) is a good way to communicate with folks on a personal level. Think of it like having a conversation through your browser. For speakers, it’s like having an “always on” audience. For authors, it lets you provide current information or new happenings with your topic. For anyone else, it’s a way to keep in touch with many, many people.
Your articles just might become valuable resources to people. As a programmer, I find a lot of really good tips on blogs. They’re usually down to earth and straight-forward. The reader comments allow me to know just how useful the information is.
WEBSITE
A Website is your professional presence on the Internet. For people who don’t know you and want to know just how “real” you are, a Website will establish that credibility.
While you’re encouraged to keep fresh content on your home page, visitors will know that the information is somewhat established. It’s easy to navigate to various pages instead of having to sift through blog posts. If you’re trying to impress someone (like buyers, media, publishers, etc.), a Website is a must-have. Unless your job is strictly blogging, you’ll need a Website to catch the full range of readers.
At WinePress we understand the importance for every author to have an Internet presence. That’s why we offer blog consultation and a variety of Web design options. Every WinePress and Blue Ribbon Pleasant Word author receives a free blog to kickoff promoting his or her book.
Kevin Cochran is the IT Manager at WinePress Group, and spends much of his time developing applications for the Co-Captain publishing software. In addition, he oversees the network, servers and computer systems at WinePress to ensure availability and productivity for both employees and authors.
Author Web Site: A Necessity, Not a Luxury Item
By Kevin Cochran
Do I really need a Web site to market my books?”
Authors often ask me this question and my answer is “Yes. Most definitely.”
Traditional marketing methods include advertising in catalogs, magazines, newspapers, over the airwaves, etc. Many authors who grew up in the pre-Internet era overlook the importance of having a Web site. But an author Web site plays a critical role in today’s market.
Here are three reasons why.
Credibility
Wouldn’t it feel awkward using a convenience store that’s run out of someone’s home?
Having a storefront establishes credibility of the store owner. The owner has taken the “risk” of the storefront in order to benefit his potential customers. That move automatically establishes a level of respect and trust that could not be gained from the “home store.”
A Web site is that storefront for today’s author. It’s a place where you can let people know who you are and why they can trust you. And as an added benefit, like the convenience store, your Web site is open to the public 24/7!
Buying Habits
Think about your habits. When something interests you, don’t you “Google” it? I can’t help but think of the many times I’ve lost interest in an individual because I couldn’t find their Web site. These days, an author without a Web site isn’t taken seriously.
Professionalism
What if your dentist came in to work on your teeth wearing last Saturday’s gardening clothes? Would you be impressed, shrug it off, or leave as fast as you could?
Like your dentist, you—the published author—are a professional, and you need to act like one. Your Web site speaks volumes about what you value; a cluttered, tacky-looking site is worse than not having a Web site at all. A great-looking site doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but a professionally designed site will earn you respect.
Kevin Cochran is the IT Manager at WinePress Group, and spends much of his time developing applications for the Co-Captain publishing software. In addition, he oversees the network, servers and computer systems at WinePress to ensure availability and productivity for both employees and authors.
Your Book’s Campaign Trail
By Robyn Williams
During presidential election years we hear a lot about campaigns and who’s on the campaign trail. Each candidate launches his or her campaign and builds a platform.
The same is true for authors.
If you want to reach large audiences, you need to plan a campaign. Working with a publicist is a great way to get started.
Your publicist helps you determine your target audience and develop the best campaign strategy for you. The options are endless on the campaign trail, from TV and radio appearances to book signings and book reviews.
Are you a go-getter?
TV, radio, and public speaking engagements may be for you.
Perhaps you’d just like to see your book featured in the newspaper or earn some reviews.
An Internet article campaign may best suit you.
Are you timid and fear public speaking?
You’re not alone. Statistics show that nearly 40 percent of us would rather not stand before a crowd. But, don’t count yourself out of that arena yet.
One author shared that she dreaded the thought of speaking publicly. However, she felt her message was important enough to share with others. She eventually accepted offers for speaking engagements, and they became an honor and a joy for her.
Keep in mind that the best campaign to launch is a combination of all different strategies. This helps to effectively reach the goal to target multiple media contacts. And again, the sky’s the limit.
Consider these tips when promoting your message and book:
- Contact a publicist who will work hard for you and get you started on your campaign trail.
- Determine who your target audience is.
- Brainstorm ideas with your publicist on how to get your message the most effective exposure.
- Establish what kind of campaign best suits you and your personality.
- Remember that publicity is time sensitive; be patient and watchful for opportunities.
- Enjoy yourself! You’ve worked hard writing your book, and now it’s time to share it!
Related articles:
- Three Free Print Publicity Options
- 7 Ways to Prepare for a Radio Interview
- Keys to a Successful TV Interview
- Home Sweet Home: How Local Media Can Jumpstart Your Publicity
As a member of WinePress’ Publicity department, Robyn Williams’ goal is to help authors promote their message and make media contacts. She loves getting to know authors, learning why they wrote their books, and helping them share their stories.
Tweet This!How to Develop Your Speaking Platform
A speaking platform is one of the most effective ways to sell books and get a message out. If you feel the Lord leading you to develop this kind of ministry, you may be wondering how you can become an experienced speaker without first being an inexperienced one!
After you have completed some training (through a Christian speakers bureau or through your local Toastmasters), check out the civic groups in your area. The Kiwanis, Rotary and Lions Clubs are always looking for speakers for their weekly and monthly meetings. They don’t pay, but they are a great way to get some experience under your belt.
If your topic is specific to a “felt need” in the church, there is probably a small group meeting in churches in your area devoted to the topic.
Some possibilities:
- single parenting
- mothers of preschoolers
- job support
- domestic violence
- crisis support
- seniors
- women’s abuse issues
- men’s issues
- depression
- special prayer ministry
- terminal illness or bereavement support,
- eating disorders
- post-abortion stress syndrome
- veteran’s issues
- wives of veterans
- chronic illness/pain support
- alcohol/drug recovery
- gambling addictions
- sexual addictions
- divorce recovery
Contact the Leader
Once you determine the group that would be best for you to share with, contact the church to find out who the leader is. Then contact the leader and ask if they are ever looking for a speaker resource for their meeting time.
Carry Business Cards
As you begin developing your speaking platform, keep in mind that while everyone you meet is probably not a prospect to book you for a speaking engagement, just about everyone knows someone who is involved in a group or organization that has need of speakers on a regular basis. Make sure you have a business card with your picture on it and some of the topics you speak on and hand them out to everyone you know and/or meet.
Try to get the contact information of the person they know who might be able to lead you to the decision maker for a group or organization, and then follow up.
Make Warm Calls
You might feel more comfortable making a “warm call” instead of a “cold call” so consider this: Send out a letter and brochure introducing yourself and your book as a resource to the group leader, and offering your speaking ministry to them as a way to encourage and build up their participants.
Follow-Up
Close the letter with a promise to follow up with a phone call in a week or two. That way, when you call, you are not catching them off-guard; they will be expecting you. (This method will not be as effective if you are sending your letter and brochure to Director of Women’s Ministries in care of the church name, because you don’t know who it’s going to or who to ask for when you follow up. It works best when you have a name of a group leader and send it to that person directly and then follow up with them personally.)
This fundamental building block in developing your speaking platform will go a long way in building credibility.
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