1. Wearing the wrong outfit – a plaid shirt and wild tie or large earrings, a necklace that hits the mic, etc.. Keep it basic and make sure your attire reflects the image (your brand) you want to project about you, your business and your book. he topics in your book.
2. Forgetting your 3 main talking points. Practice, practice, practice. And be prepared to redirect if the host steers you off topic.
3. Answering in long paragraphs. You need to get to the point! Answer in bullet points and about 3-4 sentences at most. Practice this. This is crucial to doing a successful interview.
4. Assuming the host will mention your book and website. Don’t count on it! Be sure and hand the host a signed copy of your book before the interview – they will usually put it in the TV shot. Practice finessing your book title into the conversation subtly, give them a hand out and graphics to put on screen, and always thank the host at the end as you quickly mention where your book is available. (All major retailers and on your website!)

If you’d like to learn more about how to give a great media interview, join me and Peg Booth on March 25, 2023, for our much-requested MEDIA TRAINING FOR AUTHORS webinar! Sign up TODAY and get the early bird pricing!

The post Five Mistakes Authors Make During Media Interviews appeared first on Build Buzz Launch.

Have you ever wondered why a particular author was on TV News, or had a feature article written about them in the local paper? Are there authors that you keep seeing in the media and wonder why? It’s not that they have written the best, most important book to hit the shelves, although that could be the case. But if no one ever hears about the book, how would we know? Most likely they have a publicist and press materials working behind the scenes. And one of the most effective tools you can use to reach reporters, and reviewers is a Press Room. This is the first place journalists go when considering a story, review, or covering an event.

Here are some interesting new stats that concur:

• 93% of journalists visit online newsrooms frequently, 29% every day
• 79% visit online newsrooms of small to medium size organizations as well as large organizations
• 100% believe it’s important to able to access PR contacts on the online newsroom
• 88% believe it’s important to access backgrounders, such as the organization’s history, awards and white papers, within the digital newsroom
• 79% say accessing video files in the newsroom is important,
• 25% say it’s very important
• 82% believe links to the organization’s social media profiles is important
• (Survey by TEKGroup International)

So, if you don’t have an online press room or media page, I encourage you to add one. It can hold a lot of content that will not only encourage journalists to write about you or invite you to be a guest on their radio show, podcast or even TV show, but it lends credibility to you and your message. Keep in mind, the media is not your only audience here; book sellers, reviewers, event planners, potential clients if you have a business and the average book buyer often click on the PRESS or MEDIA tab to find out more about you and your project.

If you’re wondering what goes in your press room or media page, just think about how you can make a journalist’s job easier…

1. Succinct press release with quotes that describe your book/cause/project and why it’s important, why you wrote it and what readers can expect. Remember – it’s not about the book; its about the story behind the story.
2. Bio page with three versions of who you are: short (25 words), medium (50 – 75 words) and long (75-150)
3. Hi-resolution graphics. Book cover images in various sizes and orientation, logos, head shots, candid photos, sample social media posts
4. Previous media coverage. Media builds on media, so start small with local media outlets and build. If you want radio or TV interviews, include a high-quality sample.
5. An event Media Advisory if you have an online (or live) event coming up and you’d like some pre-event buzz. Don’t forget about online calendar listings which are free.

Publicity isn’t rocket science, but it takes some skill and experience to do it well. Get professional help everywhere you can, and if you want to get a quick jumpstart on your publicity efforts, check our our “PR Starter Kit”  or email leann@buildbuzzlaunch.com .

See you in the News!

The post Do I need an online Press Room? appeared first on Build Buzz Launch.

We’ve been extremely busy and focused on several exciting projects in the past few months. Most recently, a book launch and publicity campaign for client Dr. Edward Torba’s middle-grade fantasy that we are calling “Harry Potter with a dental twist”

We’ve set up book signings and launched publicity efforts in the Philadelphia area – the largest media market for Latrobe, PA where Dr. Torba, a local dentist and now author, is headquartered. We honed in on National Children’s Dental Health Month for our media hook and included a nonprofit angle which always encourages media coverage. Dr. Torba will donate proceeds from the sale of Matt Monroe and the Secret Society of Odontology to the pediatric dental programs for UPMC Children’s Hospital.

So far, we have six book signings at local Barnes & Noble stores AND Indie bookstores! The Indie stores have also agreed to stock his books on consignment… sometimes all you need is professional press materials and to ASK. Remember, book store owners are looking for new, exciting books to share with THEIR audience. 

Book signings and discussions are a great tool for marketing and selling your book, so it’s best to take advantage of all the opportunities that these events afford you. Though it may seem a lot of work for little profit, there are many benefits, like expanding your social network or building relationships with store owners and future readers.

As we do with all of our BBL Authors and consulting clients, we prepare you for any upcoming events to maximize your effectiveness – and sales. Below are a few tips from our Book Signing Tip Sheet. For the complete list, sign up below.

BOOK SIGNING TIPS

1. Invite everyone you can. Print small flyers. Call or text friends and family. Ask them to share. Post on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, LinkedIn if you’re a professional. And use professional, eye-catching graphics. Do whatever you can to get the word out there!
2. Arrive early and bring promotional materials, posters, bookmarks, event balloons, etc. to put outside or in the store.
3. Events at book stores offer the “optics” that your book is important and mainstream. Take advantage and use photos, posters, and in-store displays to promote yourself!
4. They give you something to talk about, and help you build relationships with bookstores and their buyers.
5. If an audience doesn’t gather, just sign books and chat with buyers.
6. Indie bookstores may carry your book on consignment. Have them pre-order the books and promote before the book signing.

Launching your book is a lot of work, but well worth the effort. Start planning early, remember that it’s about creating relationships with your readers, and put together a strong team to help you. Then celebrate!

To your publishing success!

Leann

Remember to get your Book Signing Tip Sheet here.

[mc4wp_form id=”465″]

The post Creating Buzz Through Book Signings appeared first on Build Buzz Launch.