Publicity is a great way to let others know of your business, your products or your book. But is it easy to get booked on radio shows, TV shows, in newspapers and magazines? It is when you know the publicity strategy to get you in the door that you can be successful. The media appreciates a prepared professional but you don't have to be a career publicist to act and look like one. You need to know what it takes to get the media's attention, prepare and pitch. You can enjoy publicity and exposure just like your competitors.
The right publicity tools are key to success. Before your first call to the media, create the materials you will need such as a press release, press kits, video demo or audio demo. If you have everything you need ready in advance, when the media asks you to email your media bio or view your media demo you can get the requested materials right over to them without delay. Once you capture the media's attention, you have to act fast to keep it. Any delay in sending the materials or doing what they ask you to do next, may cost you the media opportunity.
It's a good idea to build a set of goals for yourself. This way, you can target certain shows or media placements you would like to have in advance. Once you identify where you want to go, you can contact the outlets to be sure you are connecting with the right media people. When you identify your target contacts at your target media you can start the pitching process. Knowing the right people in the media who work in your area of expertise and pitching directly to them will save you a lot of time. Start small so you can learn the ropes and then go into the bigger markets or media placements. Starting small allows you to make a few learning mistakes without doing too much damage to your plan.
If newspapers and magazines are on your publicity goal list, start to follow these periodicals. Learn about the content and style and who writes in your expertise. Become familiar with what they have covered so you are pitching a fresh and "next level" article or story idea. When promoting your book or yourself, expect to make about 50 pitch calls before feeling comfortable with the content, style, language and tonality.
Can the media spot an amateur? You bet! Your pitch call is an audition. If you sound shy, uncertain and stumble over your words, the producer will think you will be shy, uncertain and stumble over your words on the air and will not book you. Your successful book promotion strategy or successfully creating expert status for yourself depends upon your development of strong presentation and communication skills and a certainty within yourself that you would make a great guest. If you doubt that you are ready for media your concerns will show in your presentation style and the media can sense this. Preparation, practice and media training can help you tremendously.