Book Promotion For Authors
The Tools For A Successful PR Strategy
Book promotion for authors requires a clear strategy, a media-ready website, and the right mindset. In this guide, Annie Jennings PR shares the exact tools, including the Optimization Wheel concept, that help authors build expert status and get booked on major media without overwhelm.
Guess What The Hardest Part Of Writing A Book Is?
The Answer Is NOT That It Is Hard To Write A Book.
The Answer Is How To Write A Book
That Readers Will Want To Buy.
Book promotion for authors is about more than visibility — it’s about creating a message that resonates. And that my dear friends, is the secret to Annie Jennings PR’s success. Annie’s friendly and high-energy PR firm is always thinking about how to create a message for the media that is authentic to your area of expertise. And one that readers will find relevant to their lives and becoming, a ‘must buy’ for them.
That is what Annie Jennings PR will do for you and your book. They discover the reasons your book will be a perfect fit into the lives of your targeted readers. Don’t ask the question. Solve the problem.
What Is The Mindset Of A Successful Book Promotion Campaign?
The first thing to realize is that there are a lot of moving parts in a book promotion strategy. Some of the media outreach and promotion strategies include getting booked in the traditional media such as on radio talk show interviews as the guest, on TV shows in local markets across the USA and in online media outlets considered to be of high impact. Each media opportunity brings a valuable deliverable to the author.
The mindset of a successful campaign for the author is when the author realizes that there is a lot of work to be done, however they can make it fun and most of all manageable with a strategy designed to be implemented over time.
There is no need to feel overwhelmed, anxious or fearful that there are too many other authors just being published, or recently published, that are also starting their marketing campaigns for you to successfully compete for readers.
Authors worry that with all of the competition they will fall short of their goals. This is because some authors want publicity and exposure for book sales only and don’t see the bigger picture of increased exposure, credibility, influence and clout!
Listen Here: Book Promotion For Authors Strategies By Annie Jennings PR
Can All Authors Be Successful In Their Promotion?
First, ask this question, what is it that the author wishes to accomplish? Once the author decides on their goals and objectives for their book promotion, they can create a PR strategy that aligns with their goals.
Every media outlet has a profile of the types of guests they book, the subjects they cover, and the issues they discuss. They know the demographics of their audience. A media outlet’s primary goal is to create a loyal following. To do so, they must align their content with the interests of their audience.
Is Blasting The Media A Good Strategy? Or Is It Better To Target The Appropriate Contact?
This is one of the main reasons “blasting” the media, contacting any and all media without tailoring your approach, is annoying. When so many authors .mp3Media
Does The Author Need A Website For Their Book?
Good preparation is the key to success. The author would first create an author website or a book website that is designed efficiently to contain all of the information about the book that would be needed should a member of a media outlet visit your site for more information. Great, you have peaked the media’s interest! So, give them what they are looking for when they come to your site.
Create a simple to navigate site that showcases not only the book, but also the author. Your site should include the navigation pages that serve the visitor and what they would want to know.
Here’s how to design an author website the media will appreciate: Include an ‘about the author’ page that presents a well-developed BIO noting your credentials as they relate to the subject matter in your book. It’s also great to have an ‘about the book’ page that includes a summary along with the benefits to the reader.
Create a a topic page with some developed ideas along with questions and answers. This way, the media can get an idea of your style and range. Create a ‘media page’ that will eventually include your media accomplishments.
Create a ‘speaker page’ on your speaking topics if you are a speaker. Importantly include a ‘blog” to showcase your ideas. Don’t forget in include a fast ‘contact me’ page.
Include Your Direct Phone Number Just For The Media
Why Should Authors Have A FAST And Direct Phone Number Highly VISIBLE For The Media To Reach Them?
Here’s a special note for your contact page on your book promotion website. Set it up so you are immediately notified if someone fills out the form. Here is why. The media has no way of knowing how promptly you will respond to a “contact form” or even if you will receive it, so they will quickly move onto their next choice to achieve their goal. The media does not take risk. If they cannot reach you within a very reasonable amount of time or you do not call or text them you will be “calling in 5 minutes” they have to protect the story or guest opportunity.
Your media contact is most likely on a deadline to get everything in place for the segment or article, especially the guest commentator or guest for the show.
Your best bet is to include a direct phone number so the media can give you a quick call. This way, if the media placement is a good match for you, you can lock in the opportunity for yourself right away. The media would not be reaching out to you if they did not think you were a good choice for the media opportunity. Now, it’s “yours’s to lose”. You are in a highly favorable position for success. Do everything you can to say YES to the media.
Say YES To The Media When They Contact You
Why Can Saying YES Lead To More Media?
Once you publish your book and start promoting, think of yourself as always being “on call” and media ready. Keep your hair and clothes ready to go when the media calls and arrange for someone to help with your other responsibilities should there be a conflict. Saying YES to the media is a very good look for you and can lead to more placements with the same person. Saying NO, well, they will probably find someone who can say YES fast and they will naturally want to work with that author or expert (little to no stress for the media).
One more media success tip: Always be ready to be called by the media upon at any time. Simply excuse yourself from a meeting or elsewhere to take a media call if needed (but be sure to set your call on silent). Remember, the media likes to move fast as that gives them the certainty that the segment or article will meet its deadline.
What Is The Book Promotion “Optimization Wheel” Concept And How Is Your Wheel Optimized?
How Does The Book Promotion “Optimization Wheel” (Created by AnnieJenningsPR) Help Manage Your Publicity Campaign Without Overwhelm?
At our firm, we encourage our authors to think of their book promotion strategy as a wheel. Much like a bicycle wheel with many spokes. Each spoke would be a method of outreach designed with a specific outcome in mind.
Successful book promotion for authors means building multiple channels simultaneously. Your spokes can include creating an author website, appearing on radio talk shows as a guest, being a quoted expert with a book mention in an online article, your social media, book parties, workshops, speaking events, book signings, creating expert status, guest blogging or creating a podcast, just to name a few.
Manage Your Book Promotion Strategy Like A Pro!
How Do You Simplify & Your Book Promotion Strategy?
With all of the ways to get book promotion, it can seem like a lot to do. The purpose of the Optimization Wheel is to simplify the strategy for you. The strategy of managing your book promotion wheel is meant to encompass all of your outreach endeavors. This helps you decide what actions to prioritize and which ones to work on tomorrow.
Now, you can choose a spoke to optimize and focus on just that spoke for now. Remember, you will be building up over time and as long as you are moving forward each day in your strategy, you are adding to your overall growth and potential. You’ll want to avoid burnout by moving too fast. Just choose a spoke and work on it in a way that brings anticipation and joy, rather than anxiety and stress.
Who Can I Share My Media Placements With & Leverage Them Into New Opportunities?
Authors are able to share their media success with their community by using their social media, newsletters, blogs, podcasts, your media page on your author website, in fact, you can leverage it just about everywhere!
Getting booked in the media is a big deal. Getting your book mentioned or your commentary published in a major online media site is significant to your growth and development as an author.
First, get the media placements using a publicity strategy that targets the media that is right for you, and secondly, once you secure the media for you leverage your success for more opportunity.
