Getting on TV can definitely help build
buzz for your book. No matter who publishes your book,
these 5 tips will help you:
1. Be unique
There are 200,000 books published every year in America.
Not only does your book have to be different, but
so do you. And you need to be able to demonstrate
that unique quality in an appealing, personable way.
Television is a visual medium - your uniqueness cannot
be off-putting; it needs to be engaging.
When Outskirts Press author Montana Hintermann appeared
on NBC, her age made her unique. She wrote Envisioned
when she was just 14 and published it professionally
with Outskirts Press just 2 years later. Her success
story lead to television interviews on NBC, additional
press coverage in local papers, and the upcoming publication
of her second book with Outskirts Press, titled Sahara's
Tears.
2. Be courteous
Television producers are busy people and they are
constantly under a deadline. There is a fine line
between persistent and annoying. Cross the line at
your peril. Get to know the producer's schedule and
always make contact when you know they are not "on-deadline."
How do you know? You ask them. The first words out
of your mouth during a phone call with a television
producer should be "Are you on-deadline at the
moment?"
3. Be prepared
Yes, being on Good Morning America or Oprah is a
great goal. In fact, the exclusive Outskirts Press
Marketing COACH offers a crash course on Oprah within
the first year after your book is published with Outskirts
Press. Before aiming for Oprah, aim for the local
television market. Practice being in front of the
camera and on live television so that when your moment
to shine comes, you are brilliant!
4. Be professional
Television shows are not interested in helping you
sell copies of your book. That will be a by-product
of a successful appearance. Instead, they are interested
in entertaining and educating their viewers. Be engaging,
professional, entertaining, and knowledgeable about
your subject. Share information with the viewers.
If you are a good guest, the show will promote your
book for you, and they may invite you back.
5. Be timely
Television is immediate. It is here and now. You
have to make a timely connection to your book, based
upon a holiday or a current events story already in
the news. Don't expect the producer to make the timely
connection for you. Your pitch should focus on how
timely your subject matter is. If you're not sure
what is happening in the news, start watching the
news. You cannot be news worthy if you are not news
savvy.
Outskirts Press author Barbara Bitela appeared on
CBS to discuss her book, The Art of Regifting during
the shopping and holiday season. The timeliness of
her topic and her steadfast adherence to the 4 tips
above also lead to a feature interview on National
Public Radio.
Is there a reason Outskirts Press authors are so
successful at generating buzz for their books? Perhaps
it is because Outskirts Press books look professional
and meet industry standards and specifications (like
perfect bindings and price-embedded barcodes). Or
perhaps it is because the exclusive Outskirts Press
Marketing COACH assists published authors for years
after publication.
No matter the reasons, Outskirts Press can lead to
wonderful success stories for you, too. Yes, the power
of the press works wonders for all authors, regardless
of who publishes your book. It just may be harder
if you publish somewhere else.