PR best practices for our books

[Mitch Ditkoff]

Hey folks! Let's use this space to share whatever we are learning about the art and science of getting good PR for our books. What's working? What's not? And what bold new ideas we have for each other.

[Susan Stiffelman]

I think one thing I'm discovering about PR for book authors is how limitless the options are. Submit articles! Post things on free press release sites! Keep a blog running! Sell parts of your book as e-booklets! Optimize your website! It goes on and on...and on...and on...

I love what I do, and I love the endless possibilities for promoting my message. It's an amazing time to be writing, and the Internet marketing options are a veritable candy store of possiblities for spreading the word--whatever our particular word happens to be. (In my case, it's about helping parents raise joyful kids.)

One of the things I'm doing that seems to be promising is hosting a free radio show on the Internet. I'm also generating articles for various sites, and doing a lot of workshops in southern Cal. where i can generate word of mouth buzz. But I'm with you, Mitch. I'd love to hear what others are doing with success. Thanks so much for creating this forum. It's comforting to feel this might provide a way to focus on the things that are really working for people.

[Teresa Holler]

Hi Susan,
I am curious about your workshops. I also have a message for parents, but mine is regarding raising healthy children. I would love to hold workshops, but don't know whether to sponsor them myself or find a sponsor. Also, how to target parents to attend. Any suggestions?

I love that you are hosting an internet radioshow; I hope to do this one day too!

Good luck with your endeavors.
Teresa

[Naomi Giroux]

I have a local weekly radio show on health and wellness. I'd love to turn it into a free radio show or podcast. I'm working on learning how to do this. Can you help out with suggestions etc.

[carol stanley]

Do you interview others... I would love to add my two cents on health as we age...

[Naomi Giroux]

Yes, as soon as I get my new BlogTalkRadio show on health operational, I'll send you an invite.

[carol stanley]

Also I have submitted gazillions of articles and I am hopeful that this gives credibility and interest for people to go to my site...

[Naomi Giroux]

Susan, what is your show and where is it on the net. My current one is at BlogTalkRadio Coffee with an Author.

[carol stanley]

I hope this is the right place to answer this...WHen talking about marketing the cheapest and best way is to network..It is amazing how many people we know (that we do not think of on a daily basis) When I had my business several years ago...a casual remark from a friend landed me a $30,000 per year account. I always ask people who they know (gently) and in turn share everyone I know or any ideas I might add.

[carol stanley]

Networking on line...There are a gazillion social websites...as we all know. Some of them give you freedom to network and others only let you contact who you already know. I regularly surf the netwith help from google alerts...and comment daily, I have met some great people who have let me write articles on their sites, and have given me countless ideas and support. Get people to spread your word and then you are not the only one tooting your horn...It is like a small pr firm,,,,,The big thing..is there is no one BIG THING...A little here and there...so that requires lots of patience...

[Naomi Giroux]

I thought I'd tell you about the latest adventure I've been involved in. It was the brainchild of my daughter and seems to be growing. I hope some of you out there are still listening (I'm worry cause there has been no action here in a Looong time).

The site is www.ijustfinished.com a conversation of books. It provides a place for established and new authors to meet with their reading public. Weekly I do an on-line interview with an author - BlogTalkRadio ijustfinished.com Coffee with an Author at 10AM CST each Monday. The show is then on the front page of Ijustfinished.com for a week. all shows are archived so you can listen to any you missed. They also appear on iTunes under Coffee with an Author or ijustfinished. BlogTalkRadio allows you to have listeners call in during your show to talk with the guest. It's great fun and FREE PR.

[carol stanley]

It has been a while since I have added anything on here. THis marketing experience is a daunting one and not for the weak of heart. There are many venues to follow...and most of us are looking to find ones that do not cost dollars. PR is the most valuable source...It is generally free and attracts more readers and credibility. Today with money crunch....and newspapers reducing, magazines going out of business and so on...this is challenging. The internet is where it is at. THe big question is ...how savvy are you on marketing online. I am sure all of your mailboxes are filled with get a thousand viewers today kind of advertising....However you have to purchase some expensive program...I am rambling..but really just looking for suggestions.

[Naomi Giroux]

You are so right about the internet being The Way. The key seems to be networking which takes a great deal of time. There are loads of people selling ways to get rick, market, and network all you can do is go with what feels right for your product/concept and find as many ways to let people know that you're out there. If you have a website it MUST be kept current and exciting to get people to return. Again a great deal of work. That's why so many authors have others to run their websites, facebooks, gather, twitter, etc. otherwise they'd never get to write.
Good luck in whatever you chose.