Back to the Future
Tag: author information
What the (Func?)tion
It’s All Wrong
QR Code Comeback
Creating Your Campaign
Customer Experience Part 2/2
Marketing Media Mix
November 5, 2021-We’re only five days into November, and we’ve already chatted about press releases It’s November 1st! (You know what that means) – Pandamonium Publishing House, how to approach the media Media Madness – Pandamonium Publishing House, giveaways and promotions Give it Away Now – Pandamonium Publishing House, and customer appreciation Show Them What They Mean – Pandamonium Publishing House with lots more to come. Today we’re talking about mixing up your marketing campaigns to promote yourself and your books!
Focusing on strategic goals allows us to reach them. Where focus goes, energy and results flow. What outcomes do you want your campaign to have? Here are a few that you can expect when you do it correctly!
- Strengthen brand awareness: If people don’t know you or what you do, how can they buy from you? By having a strong campaign that encompasses the below marketing mix, you have the best chances of strengthening your brand awareness.
- Increase mindshare: When people see things repeatedly (7 times is the magic number), they start to associate your product with their needs or the needs of others, and you become first in their minds. When you see the golden arches, what do you think about it?
- Introduction of a new product: By having an excellent mixed marketing strategy, it’s much easier to introduce your new product more quickly.
- Differentiate yourself from the saturation: What’s different about your book from the books already out there? Focus on this point of differentiation in your strategy.
- Move inventory and overstock: With your strategy in place, you should be able to move inventory quickly. By selling multiple units (such as a series), you automatically give your customers the best bang for their buck.
How to do this: Use a mix of strategies but ensure that they all convey the same message.
- Print media:
–Display ads
-Classified ads
–Door hangers
-Direct mail cards
-Coupons
-Fliers
-Niche Magazines and publicationsBroadcast media:
–Cable TV
-Podcast
-Local television stations
-Local radio stationsInternet media:
–YouTube
-Search engines
-Google Business Page
-Instagram
-Facebook
-LinkedIn
-Blogs
-Amazon author page
-Online stores
-Website (banners etc.)
- Out of home media:
–Billboards
-Human bodies
-Bulletin boards
-Card racks in stores
-Vehicle signage
-POP displays
-Tradeshows
-Seminars
There are so many ways to promote yourself and your books, but without an organized, targeted plan, you won’t get the results you’re looking for. Plan, set goals and target your approach to be successful.
Check out some of the courses we offer by clicking here: Virtual Courses, Classes, and Workshops – Pandamonium Publishing House.
Digital Integration
September 15, 2021– Our theme is continuing education for authors this month and today, we’re talking about Integrating Press Releases with Social Media. Here’s what I learned while studying Crafting Viral and Contagious Content at Wharton Business School; let’s dig in:
I know what you’re thinking…press releases in this day and age? Yes. But let me explain:
Even though we aren’t only dealing with news outlets, radio stations, and newspaper journalists, press release distribution is still important. Influencers, bloggers, e-zine authors, editors, and online publications are essential in getting the word out about your books.
Social media is a great way to engage with your audience, be used as a public relations medium, and are relatively cost-effective when it comes to comparison pricing in traditional advertising. Have you ever heard of a Snap-Chat model? Yes, this is a real thing, and they’re pulling in over six figures a year (sometimes a month, sometimes per post). Social media has now surpassed all forms of advertising when engaging and interacting with your audience. It’s got a personal approach behind it, and there are ways to integrate it with press releases. Here’s how:
- Brand Recognition-building brand recognition is the main goal for all businesses. Getting your name in front of an audience is essential to your success and brings you publicity at an extremely low or even free cost. Posts like your participation in community events, people seen with your book, or a link to a podcast or article you’ve been featured in are excellent tools for building your brand. Adding your social media to your press release where your images are linked will help build your brand quickly and effectively. Essentially, people will go ‘down the rabbit hole.’
- Driving Traffic- Driving traffic to your website is imperative to your success. Online press releases will have a link to your website and social media where people can learn more about your products, what you do, why you do it, and the story behind the story.
- Improve Rankings- When you send out a digital press release with inbound links to your site, you improve your site and social media rankings, not only by acquiring new followers/customers, but Google also heavily celebrates rich content by moving your site up their search list. Your visibility on preferred search terms will also increase especially if you include keywords in your press releases.
- In the News- Journalists who write about you, bloggers and podcasters who interview you, and radio stations who have you on as guests boost your credibility and extend your reach. Adding all of the places you’ve been featured to your press release will encourage others to check out your work, the articles, and links.
- Announcements/Events- Putting out a digital press release that lets the media, the public, your readers, and everyone else know where you are and what you’re doing (e.g., a book signing, vendor at a street festival etc.) while announcing your product is the most traditional use of press releases (especially when announcing a new book).
Top Tips:
- Bloggers– Using them as a distribution channel is a genius way to get the word out. Identify the appropriate bloggers and other influencers and get them to post your news. The best way to do this is to email them (or email them a link to your press release) to see if they would share your article with their readers. You’re pitching them your book so give them all the info they require to share. Also, mention why your press release would be a good fit for their blog. E.g., A mental health for kids blog that shares your press release for your new book on emotions and techniques for kids to cope.
- Content Matters– Interest level, content, tone and engagement are keys to a compelling press release and getting people to share. When going digital, keep it to 400 words or less!
- Use Hashtags and Key Words– As usual, hashtags and keywords matter. Be sure that keywords and tags are included in your press release’s headline or first paragraph, and use some of your primary search terms.
Education in this space is so important as the world is digitally moving at a breakneck speed, and you don’t want to get left behind!
Pressed For Press Releases
March 26, 2021– Happy Friday, Friends! I hope that we’re in for a nice weekend. Next week, we’ll be wrapping up our theme for the month in which I answer your most asked questions. It’s been a really fun experience and I’m grateful to the people who sent in questions via email to pandapublishing8@gmail.com. Let’s see what the question is today:
Q: “I’m reading a lot about press releases and the importance of them when a new book launches. I’ve self-published and I’m wondering how to write one. Can you help?”
A: Great question! The main function of a press release is to announce to the media that you have a new book out and why they should talk about it/read it. Press releases contain the following things:
- The title of your book. This is self-explanatory.
- Where to purchase your book. Sometimes, the media such as newspaper reporters, bloggers, and book editors get free copies of books for review, but not always. Most are happy to purchase a copy to support the author and many of them pass the press release on to friends and colleagues that may be interested in reading you book. Be sure to include the websites, bookstores, the publisher’s website, and anywhere else your book is sold. You can also include social media handles provided they are your professional ones (e.g., Book pages, author page, Youtube Channel, Book Trailer etc.).
- Author information. A short bio works well to introduce you to your readers. Include things that are relevant like your education, interests, and anything you’ve previously had published. It should be short and to the point. Also, some authors include where to reach them as in an email address. For example, L. Colling was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and still resides there today. She’s completed her education in literature in New York, Boston, and London. Obsessed with Her is her first thriller. Including a professional looking headshot of yourself is always a plus. Plus, if you’ve won any awards for your book, mention them.
- Reviews. Positive reviews from satisfied readers are always excellent to include. Reviews let people know why they should read your book and potentially what they will enjoy about it.
- An interesting tidbit. This is the blurb usually found on the back cover. It’s a brief synopsis, usually no more than a short paragraph that’s a teaser for what’s inside!
- Make it clean and uncluttered. We don’t want the press release to be visually overwhelming. When there is too much info, especially info that is disorganized, it looks not only unprofessional, but it’s hard to read and understand the message that you’re trying to convey.
To contact your local press, do a Google search; start in your hometown and branch out from there. Local authors with new books make great news articles and interviewees for podcasts, blogs, etc. Happy Writing X LLB