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Book Marketing InformationGetting on Radio…. Tomorrow!
by:
Penny C. Sansevieri
Whether you're simply starting your campaign or knee-deep into it, radio is a great way to promote yourself and gain valuable media exposure. Once
folk begin working on their book promotion, most of the time names like The Now Show and Oprah directly spring to mind. And spell these are admirable goals, I extremely
recommend you consider sound
into the resource of radio. With folk defrayment much and much time in their cars these days and radio is becoming a really valuable resource.
Before you launch into your radio tour there are a few things you need to know. First, a radio campaign is a great way to lay the foundation for all of your else promotional or media endeavors. If you've ne'er
done radio (or any else form of media), it's likewise a great way to get your feet wet. Cognize that radio hosts talk to one another and if you're a great interview you wish probably get calls from stations you ne'er
even as pitched. In fact, I have several clients that this has happened to. A great guest is a gem and radio stations don't hesitate to share this valuable information. Never, ever turn down the possibleness
to do a program. Do every interview that comes on
and discover from each one. And finally, do sure and support your expectations in check. Don't expect a ton of book sales from a single radio interview because you'll be disappointed. In fact, the way to garner sales isn't from one or two interviews, it's from doing them over and over again. Repetitive interviews start the media ball rolling and remember: media draws media. Position yourself to be a media darling. Offer a great interview with valuable content and be generous with your information. Not only wish you get asked back over again
and again, but you'll be able to navigate the radio circuit with ease!
Tips for a Flourishing Radio Interview
· Assume that you’re on the air as presently
as you pick up the phone. Often the host or producer wish call you and you’ll instantly be “live” so be prepared!
· Don’t assume the host wish see your book; they seldom
do this! Do sure to send a one-page precis with your book and press kit.
· Even as although you’ve enclosed
several great questions with your press kit, don’t assume they wish use them – be prepared for whatsoever
they strength
ask you!
· Don’t be long-winded. Execute your questions beforehand; support your answers brief and don’t venture off into tangents that wish distract the audience and lose valuable momentum.
· Try to listen to the station and the show you’re going to be on ahead of time. You can often do this from their site on the Web but if nothing else, you can always call the station during the program and ask to be put on hold.
· Sit up straight or stand up once
you speak. Unerect
wish cause you to sound less dynamic.
· Support an eye on the clock. If your interview is fifteen minutes, cognize that you wish need to start the wrap-up and mayhap a brief three-point recap of your talk two minutes prior to ending the call.
Make Every Interview Count
If you’re able to get the radio or television interview, do sure to tape it or get a copy. Armed with that, you can now get the interview digitized (transferred to CD). Once it’s transferred, it’s a lot easier to include a CD in your press kit than a large
tape. If you have a computer with a CD burner all the better. You can burn your own CD’s, do labels for them and you’ve got another great looking piece of marketing material to include with your media kits. Not only that, but you can likewise attach a digitized copy of your interview to the press room on your web site. That way folk can go on-line and see your interview as well.
Radio Tip
Don’t forget! Bring a container
tape to the studio or send one in advance if you’re going to be a “phoner.” This actually came in handy for me once
I was doing an in studio spot during a book tour in Oregon. It was a small station and they did not record any of their programming. Thankfully, I was able to whip out my tape and I had a copy of the show. Nice thing because it turned out to be a great program.
Pitch a Holiday:
I can't tell you how many an interviews we book once
we have a holiday hook. Dozens and dozens of requests pour into our office for bookings before, during and the week after the holiday. Once
you're pitching a holiday, your initial thought strength
be to pitch the obvious topics. But if you can put a non-traditional twist on a traditional idea, you've probably simply secured yourself a radio interview. For example, during Valentine's Day everyone wants to talk simply about dating, keeping love alive and meeting Mr. Right. But what can you offer that would-be be different? Here are several recent topics we've offered to shows. See if any of them spark your interest, or mayhap help you ignite an idea of your own:
· The Top Three Things Folk DON'T do that Screws up Their Marriages
· What's the Hottest New Place to Find Love this Valentine's Day? How simply about a soup kitchen!
· Sweetheart Private secrets to Do Your Valentine's Day Sizzle; Simple steps to rekindle the romance!
Pitching a News Topic
If you can tie your topic into thing
going on in the news, you can nearly double your chances of effort on radio. Watch your local news or morning shows, see the paper from cover to cover and see what you can comment on. Or, peradventure it's a several spin on an existing issue. Reality TV is a biggie these days, can you speak to that? If your book is all simply about relationships, this strength
be a perfect possibleness
for you to get on radio.
Pitching with Pizzazz
When pitching radio, we put together what we call our guest "one sheets." These one sheets are simple one page releases with a catchy headline, a snappy intro, and a bullet point list of "talking points" my guest can speak to (don't forget the contact information). Once
you're pitching radio, especially morning shows, do this one sheet fun! Don't hesitate to get creative with it as long as it fits in with your topic. The much creative and eye-catching you get, the better your chances of effort called back.
Follow Up
If you're submitting your one sheet to many an shows at the same time, it's often not necessary to follow up. Our team wish ordinarily simply send a fax over and let the station contact us if they're interested.
A Match Ready-made in Media Heaven
Because we've been able to clearly define an audience for any particular guest we offer, the magnitude relation of bookings is really high. If you've been causing out pitches with little response, consider reevaluating who your audience actually is. If your topic isn't morning driving time material, send it to an afternoon or evening show. Cognize the limitations of what you're promoting and decide wherever
it fits in. Knowing this wish double your chances of effort regular
on a program. If you can, listen to the show you're pitching. If the station is in another state, log onto their web site to see if you can hear what the program sounds like. If they don't offer audio streaming, call the front table
and ask to be put on hold! Five to ten minutes of listening to their show wish give you a nice idea of their format.
Be Helpful
It's important to cognize that spell you're promoting your topic, the 1st order of business is to offer assistance and helpful proposal
to their listeners. Be very, really generous with your tips, ideas, and suggestions.
Go For the Syndicates
If you want to get on several stations at once, pitch a syndicated show. There are hundreds of them to choose from all about the country. You strength
even as consider pitching (radio) news broadcasters. If you get an item picked up for news inserts it wish get recurrent
several times throughout the day!
Timing
When you pitch is often crucial to effort picked up. Depending on the show and the size of the station, you could get a same day interview or be regular
weeks out. Ordinarily the larger the show the longer the lead time. If you're planning on targeting a holiday, start with a 1st round of faxes a month out. As you get inside
the two week range, send them again.
One, Two, Three, Pitch
Unlike many an televisions programs and news shows that won't feature their competitor's information, radio stations ordinarily don't have this policy. Unless you're targeting a station like NPR (with competitive programming), you won't run the risk of effort unnoticed
simply because you've been on a several station.
A Few Pitch Potentials
There are a number of things that you strength
be able to pitch to. Consider Easter, Memorial Day, Mother's Day and Father's Day, Independence Day, the summer vacation season, back to school, Thanksgiving, Christmas, military holidays. All of these offer a myriad of great angels for pitch potential. For example, spell the summer vacation season strength
seem like a travel heavy topic, why not pitch thing
a bit different. Did you cognize that the figure of folk who get lost in the geographic region doubles during the month of July? If you have a book on survival in the wilderness, this strength
be a perfect time for you pitch yourself to radio.
Best Times to Pitch
There are certain times of the year that are better than others for pitching radio. Whenever possible, I always try to 'feed' the media during times once
I cognize they'll be hungry for news and guests. Several of the better times I've found for pitching are during holidays and vacations. The week between Christmas and New Year for example is excellent, as are the summer months. Another great time? Federal holidays once
news is simply about secured to slow down.
And finally consider doing an author tour without ever effort your office! How? Well, radio of course! Ninety-five per centum of the folk I book on radio do interviews from the comfort of their own home.
"See" you on the airwaves!
Radio Tip!
If you're searching for stations in your area? Then head on over to the following links. For a listing of AM stations: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/amq.html
For a listing of FM stations: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/audio/fmq.html
Another great radio locater is www.radio-locator.com
Just simply about the author:
Penny C. Sansevieri
The Cliffhanger was publicized
in Gregorian calendar month
of 2000. After a strategic marketing campaign it quickly climbed the ranks at Amazon.com to the ##1 better commercialism book in San Diego. Her most recent book: No Much Rejections. Get Publicized
Today! was discharged in Gregorian calendar month
of 2002 to rave reviews. Penny is a book marketing and media relations specialist. She likewise coaches authors on projects, manuscripts and marketing plans and instructs a variety of hunt on business enterprise and promotion. To discover much simply about her books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at www.amarketingexpert.comTo subscribe to her free ezine, send a blank email to: mailto:subscribe@booksbypen.com
Copyright ă 2004 Penny C. Sansevieri
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