Surfin

In every luncheon we have ever attended, the media always had one thing to say, "Know who we are and what we are covering!" Make life easier for yourself and visit http://newslink.org/broad.html. This great resource is easy to navigate and easy on the eyes. It contains links to tons of media websites. So whether you need to discover what the Washington Post or KEYE-TV in Austin, TX are covering you can do it all from this one site.

Focusing on smaller books, http://mostlyfiction.com is a nice addition to the Amazons of the internet - in fact Amazon is a sponsor. You can search the site in many ways but we enjoyed browsing by category - some of the categories included Latino Literature, The Wild West, and Facing History.

One of the most amazing and helpful sites we have ever seen, http://www.brainpop.com deserves to be bookmarked and sent to everyone you know. With the tagline "BrainPOP the more you know, the more you know!®" - they rule! BrainPop makes original animated movies that demystify just about everything. Aimed at kids the site contains cartoons, activities, quizzes and more that cover hundreds of topics. The content is great for parents too. You can find out all the answers to those hard questions before your kids even ask!

#2 Top tips on how to best prepare for a media interview:

Write down the five main points you want to cover.
List anecdotes, facts, or jokes that help you make each point effectively.
Anticipate the questions interviewers are likely to ask and prepare answers that include your main points. It helps to study the host's prior interviews to find his/her favorite questions and approaches so you'll know what to expect and how to respond.
Keep answers and explanations simple. Complex information tends to lose or bore interviewers and audiences.
Never try to steal the limelight from the host or interviewer. Your job is to make them look good, while getting your main points across.
Practice by having friends and family pretend they're the interviewer and question you.

When you practice, videotape yourself or stand in front of a mirror to observe your performance. Be conscious of your posture, facial expressions and gestures. Ask your interviewer to honestly appraise your performance.
When friends and family aren't available to help, interview yourself aloud.

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Get Your Audience Hooked!

Here is a great tip when you are doing an interview on TV or radio. You want to teach the audience. You want them to fall in love with you - and yes you want them to buy your book. When you are asked a question answer it in three ways

Problem
Example of the problem (that the audience will relate to)
Solution

This formula will save you over and over again. Make them know that they have a problem - and YOU have the solutions to their problems. Remember Prof Harold Hill in the Music Man?" "Well you got trouble my friends- right here in River City" He told them they had a problem and HE had the solution. Hook them with the Problem- and give them an example- and then give them the solution They will run to buy your book after that!

Remember- the media does not care about you- your book- or your product.
You must be newsworthy= and reach to what is in the news and you have to be entertaining!

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Make and Keep Friends in the Media

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.

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There is gold in the hills - at 6 am

Lets talk TV. The best place is News shows at 6:00 and also at noon. But 6:00 am right before the Today Show and GMA have slots for you to get on. They are short- but they are golden.

They want you to go on and talk about what is in the news today. A great 3 to 5 minute segment that you can put
on your site. And here is the good news---often there are 3 or 4 you can get on in every market. NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX,
and don't forget cable.

Call the producer when he/she gets off the air- lets say around 7:15 am and do your "pitch". Send him your press kit,
show the producer that you can react to what is in the news- and VIOLA! YOU ARE ON.

http://www.author101university.com

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How to Choose a PR Firm

How to Hire a PR Firm
May 6th, 2009
Interviewing and Hiring PR firms - Part 2 ****

Interview Checklist Personally interview every firm or consultant that you are considering. At the least, ask them the following questions:

How long have you been in business? How many books do you publicize each year?

What kinds of books are your specialty? Which do you do best?

Which don’t you handle well? What is your plan for my campaign?

What is the timeline for my campaign? What fees would you charge for my campaign?

How much in expenses should I expect to incur for my campaign?

How much access will I have to the strategists who design my campaign?

How much input will I have in my campaign? Will I receive weekly communications on my campaign?

How often will I get updates on my campaign?

How many calls will be made on my campaign? Weekly? Monthly?

What specific results can I expect to receive? In one month? In three months?

When my project is completed? How do I measure results?

What can I do if I don’t receive the results promised?

Can I fire you? Will you refund fee payments? If so, how much?

Will I receive extra work at no charge? What specific results have you created for similar clients in the past?

Who are they? May I contact them? What are your strong points, your advantages over other agencies or consultants?

or PR firms:

Who should I contact to get information about my account?

Who in your firm has the ultimate responsibility for my account?

Who runs the division or group that will be handling my account?

What is his or her experience and expertise? Who will lead my account?

What is his or her experience and expertise? How much time will he or she spend on my account?

Who is the person whom I will work with?

What is his, her, or their experience and expertise?

How much time will he, she, or they devote to my account?

Who will be under him or her; how many people? Who will supervise the work on my account?

What is his or her experience and expertise? How much time will he or she put in on my account?

There are good firms and sucky firms out there E mail me and I can help you find the right one

see you at AUTHOR101UNIVERSITY

http://www.author101university.com

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Here is great article on publishing-pass on to your authors
originally posted: April 23, 2009

http://www.successsystemsnow.com/newsletter/email04032009.html
This is a fabulous article on publishing

Pass on to your authors

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You got to know the Territory
originally posted: April 17, 2009

I am now a publisher and people contact me about 50 times a week about publishing their book. Literary agents get over 100 query letters a week. You know what - we hate it if you haven’t done research on our company. Before you write a literary agent- check out their site. Know what kind of authors they handle. Know everything about the agent- where they went to school, have they written any books- who their wife or husband is! Do your research.

I hate it when someone sends me a novel- I don’t publish novels-and if they read my site they would know it. If you haven’t done your research- you just look like a bozo. Here is a quiz I sometimes ask to see if they have done their research- On every site I have- in my bio the last line is about my family and ends with info on my dog-(now dogs)

If they know my dog ( now dogs) names- I know they have done their homework- and they are miles ahead of everyone else-

Bonus: I will give scholarships to AUTHOR101UNIVERSITY (May 28)
to the first FIVE people who e mail me and know the names of my new
puppies.

A little research goes a long way-

Bring a friend for FREE at AUTHOR101UNIVERSITY. Meet Mark Victor Hansen and panel of editors, agents and publishers. I have rooms for BEA near convention Center for $189 per night.
http://www.author101university.com

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“There are only ten people who understand and have mastered the book publishing process -- Rick Frishman is one of them -- i have counseled him, listened to him, and watched the books he promoted turn to gold. If you're looking for someone to take your book to the promised land, I promise that Rick Frishman is the rocket ship that will take you there.”

Jeffrey Gitomer , King , Buy Gitomer, Inc

“When I talk about excellence in the book promotion and publicity industry, the first name I always say is Rick Frishman! He is absolutely the tip of the top and the cream of the crop! He walks his talk and does what he says he will do and gets results, but most importantly he is a gentleman and a scholar! I highly recommend Rick Frishman!”

Willie Jolley , President , Willie Jolley Worldwide

Rick Frishman
Founder Planned TV Arts
Publisher: Morgan James Publishing

Rick Frishman, founder of Planned Television Arts, has been one of the leading book publicists in America for over 32 years.

Rick continues to work with many of the top editors, agents and publishers in America including Simon and Schuster, Random House, Harper Collins, Pocket Books, Penguin Putnam, and Hyperion Books. Some of the authors he has worked with include Mitch Albom, Bill Moyers, Stephen King, Caroline Kennedy, Howard Stern, President Jimmy Carter, Mark Victor Hansen, Hugh Downs, Henry Kissinger, Jack Canfield, Alan Deshowitz, Arnold Palmer, and Harvey Mackay. Rick has appeared on hundreds of radio and TV shows and has been a guest on "Oprah".

Rick is now publisher at Morgan James Publishing in New York. www.morganjamespublishing.com