Step 1: Define your target audience.

Who is your main customer? What do they look like? What do they watch? Listen to? What other media do they consume? The more research you do the more you can identify and target your ideal customer to BUY YOUR BOOK!

Step 2: What’s your PLATFORM? Find your “book hook.” What message are you marketing?

Get your message “out there!” But what do you want to say? Are you an expert? An evangelist? Do you want to position yourself as a “brain” or a “creative” – or do you have endorsements that will speak volumes for you? Who you have endorse you will “pin point” how you will be perceived/branded in the market. Make sure your message that you communicates makes the media say “wow” and not yawn. Examine yourself and find your unique selling position. Why is your book worthy of media attention?

Step 3: Build a media “wish list”

We would all love to be on Oprah, Tom Joyner and Steve Harvey and TBN…that’s a for sure best-seller status. But starting out, get a focused, realistic media database that reaches the core target audience. What do you read, watch and listen to? Do you really know the media? Google the media you know matches your platform. Look up other authors in your genre and Google them to see where they have had media hits. Put those on your “wish list” and go and find those same reporters/stations. No need buy expensive media lists and doing mass mailings – that is old school and doesn’t work.

Here are some Eblast services/media to look at:
(targeting the African-American and faith-based African-American markets)
BlackGospelPromo.com
DetroitGospel.com
GoodGirlBookClubOnline.com
UrbanGospelPromo.com
GospelCity.com
BlackBookPromo.com
UrbanRoundUp.com
GospelEblast.com
GospelEFlyer.com
TheLoopOnline.com
MIProductions.org
GospelTruthMagazine.com
CushCity.com
UrbanGospelPromo.com
GospelFlava.com
Rawsistaz.com
MosaicBooks.com (300 BookClubs)
FriendshipProductions
GospelFruits.com
Izania.com
BlackChristianbookpromo.com
Gospeltube.com
Blacknews.com
Christianbookbuzzonline.com

Step 4: Create dazzling press materials

If you’re trying to pitch Essence, “O” magazine or your local weekly neighborhood newspaper, you better come correct. You only have one chance to make a first impression. Get customized press kit folders if doing mailing. Or get graphics help to design your EPK (electronic press kit). But whatever you do, get great author photos. A picture is worth a thousand words – and a “glamour” shot will get you noticed. Even in the Christian market, sex appeal sells. Make sure your press releases, fact sheets, articles and pitch letters stand out from the crowd and “position” yourself. BRAND!
Great error-free press material is the foundation to a good campaign.

Step 5: Media contact – they are your friends.

How do you meet the media? Go where they go. Go to conferences where you know media will be there like the Gospel Heritage Conference, The PowerNetworking Conference, The Stellar Awards, ICRS (formerly CBA) and even the regional/local National Black Association of Black Journalists. Not a bad idea to even join as an associate member. You’re a writer, right? Networking and building relationships is critical. If you can meet them, keep in contact by commenting on their work – so they know you’re just not “begging” allllllll the time – but really are an educated media consumer. (Also get their name right!)

When you prove yourself as an “expert” and dependable source of information, you get reporters to contact you over and over. And they will tell their friends about you because you will become known as a good source.

But never brow beat and badger a reporter/producer with unwanted phone calls, faxes or E-mails – that’s a quick way to make an enemy with the whole industry. If they don’t respond, ask them why and then move on. There are tons of other media that will reach your target market. Use your time and energy wisely and don’t be a pain – and when you really have something to contact them about – just a quick email is all that is needed.

For more info go to: www.pamperryonlinepr.com

See youtube.com/pamperry1 too for videos

Pam Perry talking about branding at Christian Writer\’s Meeting

1. It’s all in the title.

The title of your press release should be short, meaningful and descriptive. The title is the determining factor of whether or not people will ever bother to read further. Consider using a subtitle to summarize the content.

2. Make sure the information is newsworthy.

You are wasting your time and money sending out information that people wont care about. Ask yourself –“would I read this?”

2. Speak to your audience.

If your sending a press release out to the Black media, you must make it obvious how your information relates to the African Americans.

4. Don’t be too fancy.

Avoid the excessive use of adjectives and fancy language. Don’t bold or underline words within your body. This is unprofessional. The content alone should sell its self.

5. Include all forms of contact info.

Include your email address and 1-2 phone numbers. If someone is trying to reach you for an urgent story, you want to be easily reached. Also, include your web site address so they can research more about what you do.

6. Use BlackPR.com for distribution.

When your press release is final, use BlackPR.com to distribute it to all the Black newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations. They only charge $150 bucks to do this. Also, consider using PRweb.com to increase search engine visibility.

7. Send press releases regularly.

A well- written press release can easily get you radio interviews and other media coverage. This, in turn, drives traffic to your web site, and more sales to your bottom line. The key is to be consistent. Send out press releases on a monthly basis, and consider writing weekly or bi-weekly columns to distribute as well.

Dante Lee is the founder of Diversity City Media, a multicultural marketing empire. Visit his daily blog at www.DanteLee.com

I was a guest on Yvonne Perry’s podcast, and I just love her blog. She is a great PR colleague and resource.

Here she writes about marketing promo pieces! Yaay!

————

Postcards and bookmarks are a handy tool for giving people information about your book using as few words as possible. They may be used as handouts at speaking engagements and book signings, or as giveaways with the purchase of your book. You can include one in the correspondence you have with clients, friends, or co-workers. I have even enclosed them with my bill payment. After all, someone has to open the envelope to log in your payment, which means a connection with a potential reader.

As a marketing piece for a book, the postcard or bookmark should have these items:

· Your book cover photo
· Book title
· Author’s name
· Very brief book synopsis
· URL to purchase

If you have enough space in the layout, you can add an endorsement from a celebrity (if you were fortunate enough to garner such an endorsement), or someone who is well-known as an expert in the topic of your book. If you don’t have an endorsement that carries clout, pull something from your best book review and use it as an excerpt. Be sure to give credit to the person who gave you the endorsement or wrote your book review.

Once you’ve got an idea of what you want to include on the bookmark or postcard, you’ll need to find someone to design and print them for you. If you design them yourself, you can take them to Kinko’s or your local printer. Call first to get their upload specifications. Some will accept an MS Word document, but others prefer a PDF and will charge an extra fee to open a Word document.

There are plenty of companies online that can design and print the cards at an affordable price. I’ve made a list of places to get the bookmarks or postcards printed. This came from a social networking site where several folks chimed in.

One person was very pleased with the results when they used http://www.48hourprint.com/ and stated that she found their prices to be the most reasonable; they shipped quickly and the quality was very good.

http://www.earthlycharms.com/ has author-related items. They also have stickers that read Autographed Copy, Local Author, or Award Winning Author.

I’ve personally used http://www.vistaprint.com/ for business cards, postcards, tee-shirts, and check printing. Use their designs or upload your logo to create your own design. This company offers several other promotional items free with purchase. I’ve been pleased with the quality of their products and their customer service.

PS Print http://www.psprint.com/ has several promotional items as well as postcards. Even though I haven’t used this company, others in my network report they have quality service and reasonable pricing. A bulk of 500 color 4” x 6” postcard run about $0.08. This company also provides mailing services.

http://www.gotprint.com/ for full color, high gloss products such as bookmarks, postcards, business cards, and brochures. Their work is outstanding and the shipping price is low.

Yvonne Perry, is the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services—a team of highly qualified writers and editors with many years of experience in writing for articles, books, ad copy, media releases, PR kits, Web text, biographical sketches, and newsletters. Editing, proofreading, book review, and book evaluation services offered individually and as packages. Find us online at http://www.writersinthesky.com

Follow WITS on Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersinthesky

Get more FREE info at www.e-junkie.com/pamperry

Pam Perry and Rick Frishman, book PR mentor

from Rick Frishman’s Amazon Blog

Cultivating relationships with the media is crucial to the success of a publicity campaign. In order to get optimum publicity, you need to become a media resource. The fact is the media is interested only in what you can do for them or their audience so you need to frame your presentations to show the media how your story can satisfy their goals.

Always be a professional. If the media doesn’t respond to or return your call, understand it’s not personal. Remember there are thousands of other people doing exactly what you’re doing and it takes time to respond to everyone.

Stay on their radar screen by periodically calling or e-mailing to gently remind them that you’re still around and available if they need your expertise. Follow the careers of your media contacts. Learn which subjects interest them, the projects they’re working on and those they plan to cover. When you make new media contacts, ask how they prefer to be contacted-email, phone, fax or mailing and be sure to note their preference on your media list.

Be available when media contacts call, consider it an opportunity and go the extra mile. If you can’t supply what they want, think of who else you know that might. Give the media names and leads, make some calls, check with your network and do research . . . whatever might help. They’ll remember that and you.
This is syndicated from Rick Frishman’s Blog.

Get the both books on Amazon.com: Synergy Energy and Networking Magic

Web 2.0 Recommended Reading List

1. Taking Your Business To the Next Level: An Essential Step-By-Step Success Plan for Small Business by Frances McGuckin

2. How to Be an Entrepreneur and Keep Your Sanity: The African-American Handbook & Guide to Owning, Building, and Maintaining Successfully Your Own Small Business by Paula McCoy Pinderhughes

3. Complete Publicity Plans: Create Publicity That Will Spark Media Exposure and Excitement by Sandra Beckwith

4. Branding for Dummies: Discover a Dynamic System for Brand-creation & Management by Bill Chiaravelle and Barbara Findlay Schenck

5. The Brand YU Life: Re-Thinking Who You Are Through Personal Brand Management by Hajj E. Flemings

6. The New Influencers: A Marketer’s Guide to the New Social Media by Paul Gillin

7. The E Code: 34 Internet Superstars Reveal 44 Ways to Make Money Online Almost Instantly – Using Only Email! By Joe Vitale and Jo Han Mok

8. Advanced Email Marketing: How to Deliver the Right Message to the Right Audience by Jim Sterne

9. Blogs, Wikis, MySpace, and More: Everything You Want to Know About Using Web 2.0 but Are Afraid to Ask by Terry Burrows

10. Permission-Based E-Mail Marketing That Works!: Everything You Need to Know by Kim MacPherson

11. What No One Ever Tells You About Blogging and Podcasting: Real-Life Advice from 101 People Who Successfully Leverage the Power of the Blogosphere by Ted Demopoulis

12. Red Hot Internet Publicity: An Insider’s Guide to Marketing Your Book on the Internet by Penny C. Sansevieri

13. From Book to Bestseller: An Insider’s Guide to Publicizing and Marketing Your Book! by Penny C. Sansevieri

14. Publish & Market Your Christian Book in 10 Easy Steps by Tamika Johnson-Hall

15. The New Rules of Marketing & PR: How to use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing & Online Media to Reach Buyers Directly by David Meerman Scott

16. Blogging for Dummies: Set up, publish and maintain a blog that draws readers by Brad Hill

17. Amp Your MySpace Page: Essential Tools for Giving your Profile an Extreme Makeover by Eric Butow & Michael Bellomo

18. Be The Media: How to Create and Accelerate Your Message…Your Way by David Mathison

19. You Want Caviar but have money for Chitlins: A Smart PR Guide for Those on a Budget by Karen Taylor Bass

20. Syndicating Web Sites with RSS Feeds for Dummies by Ellen Finkelstein

Prepared by: Pam Perry, www.MinistryMarketingSolutions.com & see www.e-junkie.com/pamperry

for products
President of American Christian Writers/Detroit Chapter*

*FREE ACW/Detroit Meeting every Third Monday
(except during the summer) held at
Greater Grace Temple City of David, Conf. Rm. 200 C.
23500 W. Seven Mile Road (near Telegraph) – Detroit, MI 48235
313.543-6000
Next Meeting: Monday, May 18 meeting at 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Topic: Publishing & Dream Management with Cliff Hubbard
All authors, writers and aspiring welcome!