"How do I set up a media event?" -- As a publisher, that's a
good question to have an answer for.
Media events and public appearances can fall into any number of
categories and include any number of venues (book stores, radio
interviews, television interviews, writing group speeches,
presentations, chat room interviews, online book tours, public
forums, and more).
A good place to identify possible media event locations is
through local bookstore. Most bookstores carry event calendars
or maintain a list of contact people who hold that information.
Browse the calendar listings and see if a certain book promotion
fits with their plans. Sometimes it might be necessary to tailor
a planned event for a particular occasion or holiday. If there
is contact information available, make a note of it so you can
pitch the appropriate person about your event.
Follow-up with prospective contacts who have not confirmed
dates. Selling yourself and your book is a numbers game, and as
any salesperson will tell you, the amount of contact is directly
proportional to the amount of sales.
Be persistent without being annoying. If, after three or four
attempts with a particular media contact, you are still
unsuccessful move on to another prospect.
Once you secure an event, prepare it thoroughly in advance.
People who attend or listen to your events are participating
because the advertisement or announcement struck a chord with
them, so be sure to deliver what they came to see or hear. Don't
be shy about letting them know how to order your book. After
all, that's the reason you're involved in the event in the first
place.
Promote your media event aggressively. Invite your friends and
family, and if it's within the scope of your marketing budget,
advertise in the local paper. Neighborhood papers may even
promote your event for free within their "Events" pages. You may
even be able to tie it into a book review.
The store is sponsoring the event to attract more customers; the
station is sponsoring the event to attract more listeners or
viewers. Whatever the venue, it is your responsibility to
attract the crowd. The venue is just that -- a venue.
About the author:
Brent Sampson is the President & CEO of Outskirts Press
Publishing at http://www.outskirtspress.com . He is the author
of Publishing Gems: Insider Information for the Self-Publishing
Writer (http://outskirtspress.com/publishinggems) and
Self-Publishing Simplified (free ebook edition available at
http://outskirtspress.com/publishing)
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