ShareHow to Market Your Book on Radio & TV
…Without Buying Advertising Time
Here’s the situation. You have a great book and YOU know it. But just like the “better mousetrap,” it doesn’t mean a thing unless your market knows it too. TV and radio are great avenues for promoting to the masses. They are dynamic media allowing consumers to visualize and hear you enlighten them (the way only you can) to the great value of your message.
But you may think the only way to get TV and radio exposure is to buy advertising time, which can be very cost prohibitive. And that’s simply not true. An even better and more effective means of promotion is appearing as a guest on TV and radio talk shows.
What you may not realize is that TV and radio talk shows are always looking to interview quality experts who will help them entertain and inform their audiences. Regardless of the book you’d like to promote, with the correct PR strategy you can land these priceless interviews, and when you do, it’s pure marketing gold!
Why are these interviews so valuable? You see, when you are on the air, you’re on as part of a regular show with a host the audience has come to trust. By interviewing you, the host is giving an implicit endorsement so the listeners believe you – they’re hearing about you from their trusted friend. And they tell their own audience in turn.
You may think your message isn’t interesting enough for TV and radio interviews. But keep in mind you won’t be invited as a guest to deliver a commercial. You’ll be there as an expert to discuss an important issue which of course your book provides a solution to.
Let me share an example…
We had a client who was CEO of a life insurance agency. Now, I don’t think it will offend anyone if I say that life insurance is a pretty boring topic. An angle was needed that would generate interest from the media so they would have him on as a guest.
We created a very effective headline for our pitch: “Can You Afford to Survive without Your Spouse?” The interview focus was about the need for spouses and children to be protected financially after the death of the family breadwinner. In effect, it became a human interest story instead of a boring interview with an insurance salesman.
The CEO appeared on numerous radio shows, as well as on local and national TV shows, speaking to the vital issue of financial security for women and families. The result? The highest number of new leads the company had ever experienced, for any type of promotion.
We’ve had similar success arranging interviews for clients promoting everything from anti-fungal liquid to a book on ridding your home of termites!
The reason we’re so successful in arranging media is that we understand the formula needed to gain the media’s attention and interest in our clients.
Two crucial points we keep in mind when approaching the media:
1. We never pitch the client – we pitch the issue on which he/she is an expert.
2. We never pitch the client’s book – we talk instead about the problem the book addresses and how it ties in as a solution.
No matter what message you’re promoting, publicity is a valuable marketing tool you should make use of. The possibilities are endless, so get creative!
cforms contact form by delicious:days
subscribe to RSS feed
I am intersted in speaking to someone about PR. I am writing an Inspiratonal Historical Romance, and 2 publisher have stated they have an interst in the book.
Thanks,
Tina Roberts
I have 30 years of experience as a behavioral psychologist, specializing in developmental disabilities. From that work as well as my research, I wrote a book on why people or even animals behave from an experiential point of view that is not mainstream but really new and fresh and that can be used by anyone. I would like to get on some shows to discuss it.
Let me know if you can help.
Dr. Cayem
I have just got my book release by my publisher which is called Brutus The Swamp Man It is a adventure fiction, and I need to get it out to the media so I will be known as a publish writer and so people can enjoy my books.
I have also written a poem book called Love For All Mankind but haven’t had much getting it marketed so I am asking for help if you company does poem and adventure fiction books.
Someday I would Like To see my book On the Screen. It is a wonderful story and the whole family can enjoy it.
Thanks,
Larry
I am intersted in speaking to someone about PR. I am writing an Inspiratonal Historical Romance, and 2 publisher have stated they have an interst in the book.
Thanks,
Tina Roberts
Searching for PR for my book “High Heels Honey Lips and White Powder” Inspirational, Memoir of a life of addiction, crime, sex, violence, and homelessness for over twenty years. The story tells about the many pit falls and refresh our awareness of addiction. The Passion and mission is to share the story to all; and help others who are trapped beneath the trapping of addiction of any kind. We are setting up the Rose House(a spiritual rehab center)to help others.
Hi Rose,
Your book sounds most intriguing! We can definitely help you. If you’d like, send me a telephone number so that one of my personal team members (Steve or Mark) can call you to answer all your questions and let you know what options you have. Is this your first book? If so, congratulations! I know when I finished my first book, Celebritize Yourself, it was as if a major weight was lifted, but it was a labor of love.
Marsha
I stumbled on your web sight and found that I already posted a note (see above), but never heard from you. I signed up for your tips and hope to get a response. I am still looking to promote my book. I truly believe it isn’t selling because no one knows about it and I really don’t have thousands of dollars to promote it. So any tips will help.
Hope to hear from you.
Dr. Cayem
Hi Dr. Cayem,
I apologize I didn’t respond. Your previous post is not listed above. However, if you’d like, e-mail me at pr@marshafriedman.com and I will be happy to respond. Also know that on my site, I have a wealth of articles in the archives that can give you valuable information on book promotion and PR. Hope this helps, Maurice!
Have a great day!
Marsha