What are the Value of Book Signings?

“Bookstores are the meeting place of the 21st Century,” says Marcia Bliss of Bliss Connections in San Diego. In working with authors to help them promote their books, she cites numerous benefits of book signings: 1. BOOK SALES (first and foremost); 2. gains local exposure for author; 3. meet prospective book buyers; 4. involves people in author’s worthy cause; 5. a chance to inspire and educate others; 6. an excellent tool for local publicity; and 7. the opportunity to promote... Read more »

Are Author Tours Still Valuable?

In the simpler days, before radio interviews were conducted by phone and the technology of satellite TV and the Internet, book sales relied heavily on book reviews and “author tours.” So, in today’s world, does the “author tour” still make sense? We believe the answer is, yes! A publicity campaign should be viewed as a two-part strategy. The first part is a publisher’s in-house efforts. These usually consist of book reviews (minimally) and sometimes an effort... Read more »

Every 1000-Watt Station Can Help: A Strategy for Today’s Talk Radio Scene

Bill O’Reilly, host of Fox News Channel’s The O’Reilly Report, was quoted in Talkers Magazine about how he cracked the bestseller list. “In the beginning, we couldn’t get on Good Morning America, or the Today Show or any of that. Elite newspapers wouldn’t review the book. We had to rely on talk radio,” O’Reily said. “Talk radio has shown a much better return (than our advertising dollars).” There’s no doubt that talk radio is a... Read more »

Two Neat PR Tricks for Great Authors Who Aren’t Great Book Promoters

You know how hard it is to write a book. It may be a labor of love, but it’s still a labor. And while you’re not out there cracking rocks with a sledgehammer, some might even call it hard labor. That’s totally fine. Nothing good comes easy. And there’s no question that you’re wonderfully suited for this kind of labor, right? But the problem in fact, the big sneaky surprise, comes shortly after you finish laboring on your masterpiece: That’s when most authors realize... Read more »

Book Publicity: Ten Ways to Find Your Book’s Best Publicist

It’s hard to say it any better: “Publicity is the voice of visibility.” That’s from the book, High Visibility. And its lesson to authors is clear, nothing can spotlight your book faster than good publicity. But how do you find a publicist that best fits you and your book? Here are ten easy rules to follow: 1. Publicists often specialize in different genres of books (e.g., non-fiction, fiction, children’s books, religious titles, etc.). So, if your book is religious,... Read more »

8 Insider Tips to Build Your Business

Few marketers know a thing about using radio and TV interviews to promote their products and generate sales. Which comes as no surprise since media interviews are among the most effective yet least known marketing methods you could ever use. But as good as these interviews are, they can be made even more effective. As with most things, there are insider techniques that can help radio and TV interview “first-timers” do a powerful job. In fact, here are eight: 1. Like the Boy Scouts,... Read more »

Will Your Product Be One of the Breakout Hits of the Year?

The list of best selling products often feels like a re-run, with the same names seemingly dominating the marketplace. With so many fantastic products and services out there, I’m sure it’s frustrating to some new companies that established names like Schiff and Country Life seem to have their products flying out of the stores all the time, while others are often left out in the cold. What are these companies doing differently? The answer has everything to do with promotion, promotion... Read more »

You Need Publicity For Your Book. Where Do You Start and What Do You Look For?

It’s an absolute must. If you want to sell your book to the masses, you have to get out there and publicize it. You need to be on the radio, in magazines and newspapers and on TV. The more the public hears about you and your message, the more likely it is your book will stand out from the other hundreds of thousands published every year. You know you have to alert the public about your book, but you may not have any idea how to get started. Having been in the book publicity business for... Read more »

Five Author Tour Tips That You Need to Know

When it comes to book promotion, most authors are hitting on just one cylinder (if that). In the “old days,” there was a specific formula to book promotion. It was a hold-nothing-back author tour where the writer would “appear” in a given city and get some combination of heavyweight radio, TV, book-signing and newspaper coverage. When the author left that city, residents knew his or her name - and the name of their newly-released title. So…is this kind of intense media... Read more »

Should You Talk to Men and Women Differently About Your Product?

You probably chat with both men and women just about every day, right? But are they hearing you in exactly the same way? And when it comes to the selling of your products or services, would it pay to speak to them differently? That’s what marketing experts, like author Martha Barletta, believe. Owing to the way we’re made up, the way we’re raised, men and women can process information very differently. For example: “Consistent with men’s inclination to simplify and... Read more »