Every author should have a media campaign schedule. Here are a few components to consider:
1. Blog Tours & Book Blasts
Blog Tours and Book Blasts are great ways to generate excitement with a concentrated media presence. These tools work best for special promotion – Pub Day, publication anniversary, right before the release of the next book in a series, as a tie in (Awareness months, Children’s Book Week, etc.). I will caution on length of tour. Remember, you need to provide unique content and often extended tours become boring as readers get the “been there, done that” feeling. Blog Tours and Book Blasts should be fun, fresh, and flashy.
2. Ongoing Blog Appearances
It is important to keep your name in front of readers throughout the year. Your own blog and social media presence helps to keep you connected with your fan base. However, it is appearances on other blogs that will find you new readers. As a blogger who receives numerous review and tour requests each day, I often wonder if authors don’t know they can appear on blogs without a review or tour. Many bloggers have regular guest post features or welcome authors at anytime for interviews and spotlights. You should plan for 1 – 2 appearances each week. Also, authors should note that bloggers with weekly features often are booked 1 – 2 months in advance. Also, because interviews and guest posts are spread out, you can repurpose content easier.
In your review pitch, you should always ask if the blogger would like to host you for an interview or guest post.
3. Other Media Appearances
Blogs are not your only source of media coverage. Your media campaign should include 1 to 3 appearances on non-blog outlets per month.
A. Print Media
Many areas have an online community newspaper through Patch.com. They are focused on local interest stories and are often willing to do a story on local authors. Also look for Arts & Cultural magazines in your area or state. Most states have a state writing association (usually associated with a university). I recently had an article published in the Georgia Writers Association monthly publication. When contacting print media outlets, consider submitting your own article or ask for an interview. A press release should be included and have a press kit ready to send (or linked to in your pitch) should it be requested.
B. Radio/Television
There are a number of online radio shows about books and authors. Blog Talk Radio and Radio Guest List are great sources for finding radio shows. Also do a search for local programming in your area. AM talk shows focused on your community or public access television are great starting points for live media appearances.
I know you want national coverage, but starting with your local media will not only help prepare you for a national appearance it will also establish your reputation.
I will leave you with a final tip for planning your media campaign: Make yourself newsworthy. Public appearances such as book signings and library talks can get you on community calendars. Speaking engagements at the Lion’s Club or Rotary Club can often net more media coverage.
**Please note that guest posts and columns reflect the opinions of the individual author and not The Indie Exchange as a whole. Also note, The Indie Exchange uses affiliate links to offset the costs of hosting etc.**
Past Contributor
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Great tips, Donna!
I'd love to see an example of a review pitch some time!
Excellent read here. It's quite informative and direct to the idea. Brilliant piece Donna. Thank you for the tips!
Media campaign is really important. This s a great article providing essential information about media campaign.
That's a great article. What types of things should be in a press kit? I think I'd like to see an example of a review pitch as well.
:)
This is what was in my media kit for one of my books – eBook copies in all formats, 3 standard guest posts, a sample author interview questions, author bio, book trailer, high resolution book cover, 1500 word excerpt, press release, social media links… you can include a lot of stuff when you focus on what you're going to do with it.
Review pitches now-a-days are harder to get because book bloggers are so swamped. I decided to go a different route with my last one that worked. I rolled it into guest post/interview/giveaway/review. Even if bloggers were not taking reviews requests often times they were still doing guest posts/interviews. Also because I think book bloggers are the bomb, even if they didn't want to do any of the above, I still invited them to enter the giveaway and possibly win (this case it was a Kindle Fire).
Hope this gives you some ideas. There's nothing standard except think out of the box and be creative.
Thank you. This is very helpful. I've found your articles interesting and have been devouring them the past few days. :)