Welcome to week nine of the Christian Author Bootcamp! This is a ten week book promotion blitz created to help you whip your publicity plan into shape. This week your challenge is to create low cost marketing materials such as business cards, bookmarks and postcards as another way to promote your book.
We suggest checking out OvernightPrints.com for low cost marketing materials.
Welcome to week five of the Christian Author Bootcamp! This is a ten week book promotion blitz created to help you whip your publicity plan into shape. This week your task is creating a speaking sheet. As an author you are most likely an expert in something. As an expert you have an opportunity to take part in speaking engagements that not only allow you to share your expertise but also to promote your book.
Remember to include a brief bio, information about your book, contact details and a few options for topics you are willing to approach. Here is an example of a speaking sheet for author Mimi K.
Take a tour of the new and improved Ambassador International booth at the International Christian Retail Show! The show kicked off this morning and runs through Wednesday. Stop by booth 2010 and visit us if you are attending the show! If you’re not attending, be sure to enter our HUGE FREE giveaway! Our new division, Ink Swift, is giving away a free publishing package worth $995 and you can enter online at InkSwift.com.The winner will be selected at random here in St. Louis on Wednesday.
Welcome to the first week of the Christian Author Bootcamp– a ten week book promotion blitz. We’ll be sharing free or low cost resources to help you whip your publicity plan into shape. This week we’re focusing on creating an online home base.
You have a story to tell and Christian Media Connect has the connections to get it heard. Together you can reach dozens of Christian media outlets with the Christian Media Connect Source List. For just $29.99 you can get key contact information directly to decision makers at:
25 Christian Television Programs
More than 30 Christian News Websites
50 Christian Radio Stations
More than a Dozen Christian Magazines
Plus access to Internet Radio Stations and Blogs
This list is great for authors, non-profits, business owners and more looking to get their news event, information or story in the hands of Christian media outlets. If you don’t have the budget to hire a marketing professional, this is a great option to save time and money while still getting your story out to the public. Compiling a list like this yourself would take days, but now you can have it for just $29.99.
We are giving away one copy of this valuable, extensive list. To enter the contest leave a comment below. To receive additional entries tweet about this contest or blog about it. Leave a separate comment letting us know how you’re getting the word out and you’ll have an even better chance of winning your own copy of the Christian Media Connect Source List. The winner will be randomly drawn on Monday August 24. Can’t wait? Go ahead and buy your own copy from Christian Media Connect.
Last week we went through several ways to develop a story pitch in order to promote your book on TV. For part two in this three part series I will be giving you ideas on how to reach the right people with that pitch that you created. Reaching the right people is critical because not every reporter or every television station is the right fit for you and your book.
Become a Local News Fan
Your local news station is a great resource for promoting your book. Sure, sitting on Oprah’s set would be great, but let’s start with something more attainable. Every television market I’ve worked in has had a station that is interested in storytelling, sharing good news along with the bad and communicating the lives of the residents who live there. Every market also has a station that is more about concerned about crime and tragedy. Figure out the personality of each station in your community and you’ll have a better idea of which station might be interested in your story.
Determine your Beat
Your story likely falls under a beat. Whether it’s geographical (like the part of town you live in) or based on a topic (like education) you need to determine your beat. There is likely a reporter that specializes in that beat. For instance, the last beat I covered was for a growing community called Greer. I lived, eat and breathed Greer. If something happened in Greer, I wanted to know. Let’s say you were an author living in Greer with a great new book about how faith helped you deal with your daughter’s rare illness. Would I be interested in this story? Heck yes! Would my producers? It depends. If you were only willing to let me come to your book signing at the local Kmart, probably not. If you invited me into your home and let me meet your daughter then yes. If the story was aired on the same night you were planning a book signing, then even better because the story is now very timely.
There are plenty of other media outlets than just your local news station. Take some time to do a little bit of online research to find other Christian and secular media contacts. As long as you have developed your pitch and you know your focus, you have a great shot of getting some attention.
For part three of this series, we will look at how to be a great interview subject. This is something you will definitely need to know once you’ve secured your media coverage!
RT @newerakara: Looking forward 2 signing my new book, "Are You Keeping a Secret?" at booth 2121 (Winepress) Tues 9am at #ICRS! See u there! http://twitter.com/christianpubtip2010/06/29
RT @AngeStar: First full-I mean FULL-day of #icrshow & great 1! Meetings books etc.Must go to popcorn cart &see Like Dandelion Dust trailer. http://twitter.com/christianpubtip2010/06/29
