Author 101
(Excerpted from , by Rick Frishman and Robyn Spizman; contact Rick at
www.author101.com) The public relations firms you choose to represent you should have solid media relationships. Authors may wonder why they simply cannot write their own press releases and do the same thing as the public relations professionals. Technically, they can. However, authors must understand that the consumer media is simply not interested in press releases that are entirely self-promotional. Writing a book is much different than writing an effective press release or pitch piece. The information must be presented in a way that is palatable for laypeople, and writers and producers are indeed lay people. Developing connections with the media is a full-time job. Public relations firms have a greater chance of solidifying connections with the press and are recognized as key sources for experts and stories.
Public relations firms initially help authors understand the marketplace by addressing a stronger position for their books and strengthening the competitive analysis specific to the books. Reviewing the marketplace reveals related titles that are already out there and then converting that information to pitch angles that will or will not work, products and experts that can help or hinder, etc. Most important, seeing this information forces the author to discover why his or her book will be different from its competition.
Another area where public relations firms can be invaluable to authors is in identifying which interviews or stories the authors should do. When authors use public relations, they must remember not to compromise themselves in the quest for media coverage. This means steering clear of media outlets that may be inappropriate because of their content or editorial slant and not compromising their beliefs to satisfy a particular editor or story.
Tune into the chocolate pages show this Thursday for heavy duty PR and branding advice from Pam Lontos and Melissa Johnson.
www.blogtalkradio.com/ministrymarketingsolutions (6 p.m. EST)
sent via your
www.PamPerryPRCoach.com
Posted By: Pam Perry
Tuesday, November 11th 2008 at 12:18AM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
