by Scott Lorenz | Author Advice, Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Television, ZOOM
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Ever notice how some people look great on a Zoom call? What’s their secret? In today’s era of COVID-19, media interviews that were once conducted in a TV studio are now performed on Zoom, Skype, or Facetime. This presents more opportunities for interviews because you don’t have to go to a studio but there are challenges as well. Are you ready for your up-close TV interview on ZOOM?
My personal Zoom experiences and discussions with several experts in this visual field have allowed me to come up with a quick list of tips to help you crush your next Zoom call. Without further ado, here they are:
Dress Appropriately
You don’t have to dress up as much as you usually do. However, your attire should not be down more than one level from what you typically wear in the office. If you normally wear a suit and tie, for example, opt for a nice blouse or button-up shirt.
Jess Todtfeld, former producer and media trainer also recommends you avoid white, black, and red, ensure your clothing is wrinkle-free, remove distracting jewelry, and dress as simply as possible. “TV viewers should focus on your face and what you say, not your clothes,” he says.
You are the face of your company, your school, your brand. If you normally wear makeup to work, then you’ll need to wear it on a TV interview too.
Jess created a new video course on Udemy focusing on looking and sounding good for any online interview. He goes into much detail on doing the best job possible whether it’s for a media interview or a new job. Check it out at: https://bit.ly/ZOOM_Tips_JT
Invest in Reliable Internet Connection
Chances are you’ve seen someone freeze on the screen during a Zoom session. To reduce the risk of this happening to you, a reliable internet connection is a must. If you’re in the middle of an interview and your connection freezes, a TV station will stop the interview and go to someone else. A hardline wired connection to your computer vs. WIFI can prevent this issue. In the event you must use WIFI, request that others in your home or office stay off it during your interview.
Be Mindful of Your Background
Your background during a Zoom call is important. Do your best to make it visually appealing. Add fresh flowers, a potted plant, a painting, or your book cover enlarged on an easel. Remember that people will be able to read book titles so there’s a good chance they’ll notice dust, dirty clothes, and other imperfections in the background. Don’t sit in front of horizontal blinds as this confuses the camera and may cause pixelation of the image. (Vertical blinds are ok) Refrain from virtual backgrounds that come with ZOOM as they create distortion around your head and body. If you must use one due to a home office in a bedroom or hallway, then buy a portable green screen so you can choose a beautiful virtual background that’s free from distortions. You’ll look professional and feel good too.
Do you have a ZOOM Room?
TV and radio studios have acoustically padded walls, ceilings and are carpeted. The sound is absorbed and is not ricocheting around giving that ‘hollow’ effect. If your ZOOM Room is like a racquetball court then you need a new location or to figure out how to deaden the sound bounce with carpet, acoustic tiles, etc. Wearing a lapel microphone helps too. This should be needless say but, keep dogs, kids, and the neighbor’s lawnmower out of sound range.
Pay Attention to the Lighting
It’s essential that your face is well lit throughout the entire interview. If you’re in a dark room, use a circle light or lamp with a warm glow. Ideally, you’d be in a bright room with minimal windows. Excessive light may cause the camera lens to adjust when you don’t want it to. The cost is $50-100. I love mine and it’s really helpful on dark dreary days, late night or early morning interviews or when your spouse may need the living room light for reading!
Ensure the Camera is at ‘just a smidge below’ Eye Level
The camera should always be ‘just a smidge below’ eye level with you. Try your best to look at the camera instead of the screen at all times. Don’t let your eyes wander as this may cause others to believe you’re disinterested or disengaged in the interview. Put a little post-it notes near the camera lens on your camera to remind you to ‘look at the camera’ not the screen.
If you are using the camera on an iPhone or other smartphone, place it on a tripod and be sure to turn off the notifications and the ringer or everyone on the call will hear them.
Use the Skype App
For best results when using SKYPE use the SKYPE App and not your browser. The reality is that the browser accessed version won’t run at optimal speeds and there’s a good chance your screen may freeze. Download the app on your phone or tablet and test it out in advance to make sure it works well.
Opt for Wireless or Wired Earbuds
Speakers on your computer are ok. But, if you want best results, get wireless or wired earbuds. They can enhance your sound quality and help you sound great on camera. If you use wireless earbuds, don’t forget to charge them completely before the interview.
Have a Glass of Water Handy
You can enjoy a number of benefits if you keep a glass of water by your side during your interview. Since talking a lot and being nervous can lead to dry mouth and throat, water can help you keep your vocal cords moist. It can also serve as a prop so if you’re asked a tricky question, you can take a sip of the water and give yourself some extra time to think of a good answer.
Don’t Forget Pen and Paper
With a pen and paper nearby, you’ll be able to jot down the reporter’s name, questions you may have, and anything that you’d like to remember after the interview. If you take notes on your computer, you’ll distract the interviewer so doing so the old-fashioned way is ideal.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Make sure you know how to work ZOOM, SKYPE, and Facetime and are comfortable with all of the options. Practice using all of these with friends and family. Don’t let your big interview on national TV be a flop because of some technical issue you could have avoided.
The Bottom Line: By following these tips, you can nail your virtual Zoom interview and meet your goals from the comfort of your own home or office.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else?
Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Book Reviews
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
As a book publicist, I am always on the lookout for effective yet inexpensive ways to reach book buyers. Goodreads is one option. Owned by Amazon, With Goodreads, you can put your book into as many hands as possible, initiate word of mouth promotion and hopefully, succeed with flying colors. If you’re a published author, rest assured you already have a profile on Goodreads. Here’s how you can take full advantage of the platform:
1. Run a Goodreads Giveaway
Through a Goodreads Giveaway, you can promote yourself and your book to the ideal audience. A Goodreads Giveaway is exactly what it sounds like: You give away copies of your books to interested readers. To set up a Goodreads Giveaway, follow these steps.
- Set Up Your Author Profile: First, create a Goodreads account, find the book(s) you’ve written, click on your name from the book’s page, and “claim” your author profile. After you receive an email confirmation, you can customize your profile.
- Choose Your Book Format: Scroll down to “Your Giveaways” on your author dashboard and click on “Listing a Giveaway.” From there, decide whether you want to give away print or Kindle versions of your book.
- Choose a Package: Next, select the Standard Package ($119) or Premium Package ($599). “Do the $119 eBook Goodreads giveaway,” says Alessandra Torre, a New York Times Bestselling Author and co-founder of Inkers Con dedicated to helping authors.
- Choose Your Timeframe: Your giveaway can last anywhere between 1 week and 30 days. I recommend three weeks because it’s long enough for people to notice your giveaway, but not so long that they’ll forget about it.
- Choose the Number of Books: I recommend giving away 100 Kindle books.
- Spread the Word: While Goodreads readers will hopefully find your giveaway organically, it can’t hurt to promote it on your social media outlets and ask your network to share.
You can see a list of Goodreads Giveaways here. If you’d like to hear a pro/con on a Goodreads Giveaway, then check out what YA Fantasy author Bethany Atazadeh has to say.
2. Participate in an Online Q&A Session
Ask the Author is Goodread’s Q&A platform on Goodreads that allows readers to submit questions to Goodreads Authors whenever they’d like. Until you decide to answer a question, it won’t be visible to the public. This gives you complete control over when you respond to reader questions and how you respond to them.
3. Blog, Blog, and Blog
Goodreads gives you the opportunity to blog about anything and everything. If you have a blog, you can set it up, so Goodreads picks it up automatically via a RSS feed. You can write about your writing career, share reviews of your books, and position yourself as an expert. The sky’s the limit so get creative and think about what your reader base would like!
4. Publicize Upcoming Events
As an author you know how important it is to get out and about. If you have upcoming book signings and speaking engagements, you owe it to yourself to advertise them through Goodreads events.
5. Share Excerpts of Upcoming Publications
Excerpts can get your audience excited about a book you have in the works. Don’t be afraid to share them on Goodreads via your author blog.
6. Post Videos
Readers are more likely to remember your messages when you deliver them by video. If you can, create and publish unique videos on Goodreads about your books, charitable contributions, upcoming events, and more.
7. Create a Listopia List
Listopia is a way for people to find new books to read. Since most readers stick to a genre when they finish one book, they go to another in the same genre. I.E. Romance readers are not buying a business book after they finish their last romance book, they usually buy inside the same genre. Listopia allows readers to discover books that are similar to the ones they like or in the same genre because their book is listed as being similar. The concept is “If you like this book you’ll probably like that book.”
8. Share, Share, and Share
Last but not least, share your list of favorite books and recent reads with your fans! This tip is simple but very effective and important.
The Bottom Line: If you’re in search of a fresh yet effective way to promote your work as an author, you owe it to yourself to explore Goodreads.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Book Marketing, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Publishing, Book Title Generator, BookTok, How to title a book, Literary Agent, Writers Conferences, Writing a Book
By: Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
Have you been thinking about publishing a book for your personal brand or business? A strategized memoir or business book can elevate your authority and be a lead-generating machine for your speaking, consulting, or course offers. Today anyone can publish a book for next to nothing. But take it from a book marketer, just because it’s published doesn’t mean it’ll elevate your business.
On average, a self-published book costs around $2,000 to publish. But most of those books sell less than 100 copies. Wouldn’t you like your book to do better than that?
For the people I work with, investing in a professional book is a no-brainer. Speakers and business leaders see their books as a career investment, and it makes sense to consult the experts to get the best ROI.
“If you want to exponentially grow your opportunities as a consultant, speaker, investor, or leader, it’s time to get published,” says Marie Hasty. She’s a concierge ghostwriter for clinicians and medical entrepreneurs, and she loves helping her clients elevate their careers with a professional book. “These projects aren’t cheap. But investing in just one book can impact the rest of your life – your business, your personal brand, and your legacy.”
How much can you expect to invest if you want to put together a professional book for your brand? Here’s a breakdown of the cost of publishing a branding book today.
Publishing cost is different for every project. But understanding the rough cost for each step in the publishing process will help you make the best decision for your book (and your wallet). Let’s break down the book-building process into four categories: pre-publication, publication, marketing, and distribution.
Pre-Publication Expenses
Professional book development lays the foundation for an impactful branding book. As a book publicist and publishing expert, I can’t stress enough the importance of investing in the following areas to ensure your book’s quality and resonance with your audience.
1. Book Concept and Development
The first step in publishing your branding book is refining your concept and developing a well-structured outline. If you’re working with a ghostwriter or book consultant, they’ll help you with this. You’ll also need to get clear on your goals for the book, your audience, and the key stories you want to tell during this stage. Here’s a list of ghostwriters I like to work with: Ghostwriters
Ghostwriter: $20,000-$100,000+
Book Coach or Consultant: $1,000-$3,000 per month
2. Professional Editing and Proofreading
Editing is an indispensable aspect of publishing, as it ensures that your writing is polished, error-free, and ready for public consumption. Investing in professional editing and proofreading services will significantly improve the quality and credibility of your branding book. Skilled editors will help refine your content, improve flow, and ensure consistency for your readers.
Depending on the publishing route you choose, editing may be included in your publishing package.
Developmental Editing: $1,500-$5,000 per project
Line/Copy Editing: $1,500-$3,000 per project
Proofreading: $800-$1,000 per project
3. Book Cover Design
Don’t underestimate the power of a visually striking book cover. Despite what we’ve been told, your readers are judging your book by its cover. A good book cover can help sell a book – a bad cover can kill a book. Enlisting professional designers to create a compelling book cover that aligns with your branding visuals is well worth the investment. Here’s a list of Book Cover Designers I’ve compiled.
Book Cover Design: $200-$2,000
Publication Costs
The cost of publishing your book will depend on the publishing route you choose. Today, there are three main ways that authors are published: Traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing. For many authors, traditional publishing is not an option. But hybrid and self-publishing routes are rapidly gaining traction for authors who are able to invest in their book’s development and printing. Let’s compare the costs of each publishing method.
1. Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishing through big firms has significant advantages in that it won’t cost you anything to have your book edited, designed, and printed. Some authors even get advances on their book, although these aren’t what they used to be (think: less than $5,000).
However, there are still costs associated with traditional publishing. You’ll need to work with a literary agent, put together a book proposal, do most or all of the marketing yourself, and likely foot the bill on travel for a book tour. Check out my article with interviews from 18 literary agents about what they want from authors. What Literary Agents Want
Literary Agent: 10-15% of advances and royalties
Ghostwritten Book Proposal: $5,000-$15,000
Book Tour Expenses: $3,000-$20,000+
2. Self-Publishing
Self-Publishing has come a long way in the last decade, and several big authors have turned to this method as a way to keep more royalties and maintain creative control. Most importantly by self-publishing you can bring your book onto the market much faster by months and months. The downside is that this method is more work for the author, and you may need to coordinate hiring editors, designers, etc. to produce a professional finished product. Assisted self-publishing firms can help you save time and create a more refined book, but they’re not cheap, and you’ll need to vet your team before signing a publishing contract.
DIY Self-Publishing Expenses: $1,000-$2,000
Assisted Self-Publishing: $8,000-$25,000+
3. Hybrid Publishing
Hybrid publishing brings a mix of professional editorial support with the speed and creative control of self-publishing. Hybrid publishers share the publishing cost with their authors and provide in-house editing, design, and production. These firms help with some book marketing since their profits come partially from book sales. But keep in mind that hybrid publishers are not vanity presses, and many firms only select about 10% of the manuscripts they see in a year.
Hybrid Publishing: $6,000-$30,000
The publishing industry is always changing, and even experienced authors may change their publishing route depending on the goals for their book. Jane Friedman, an expert on book publishing and author consultant, summarizes the publishing process well:
“There is no one path or service that’s right for everyone all the time; you should take time to understand the landscape and make a decision based on long-term career goals, as well as the unique qualities of your work. Your choice should also be guided by your own personality (are you an entrepreneurial sort?) and experience as an author (do you have the slightest idea what you’re doing?).”
No matter what publishing route you choose, most book marketing efforts will likely fall on you, the author. So, let’s talk about what you might expect to pay for book PR, book promotions, and marketing a successful book launch.
Book Marketing
Investing in expert book marketing support can be the difference between a book that makes you a household name and a book that collects dust on your shelf. Book marketing costs money but obscurity costs more. Today, there are more avenues for marketing your book than ever. Here are the book marketing essentials to start with:
1. Hire a Book Publicist.
Have you ever wondered how guests on talk shows get those coveted spots? They’re likely working with a publicist or PR firm. Working with an experienced book publicist (like me) elevates your authority, gaining you media exposure with the audiences who need your book. A book publicist can also help you schedule appointments on your book tour, find book fairs and festivals, and connect you with journalists for interviews.
Book Publicist Cost: $5500-$7500 per month
2. Build Your Author Platform.
Where do you want people to go after they see you on TV, read your book, or watch your speaker presentation? Maintaining an author website and blog helps create more touchpoints for your audience to learn about you and your expertise. And this is a great place to recruit readers for your newsletter or course. Jeff Jacobs of the prestigious web design firm Marketing Success, says “I love working with authors because a website really elevates their book success. We’ve built dozens of author sites, and I recommend that every author keep a website.”
DIY Website Cost: $16-$50 per month
Professional Website Cost: $4,000-9,000
3. Social Media Promotion.
If you don’t have one already, building a following on social media can get more eyes on your brand and help you connect with more readers.
I know it’s difficult to be on all platforms, but you should be on at least one. If you have a business book and you are seeking business clients, then build out your LinkedIn page.
If you have a fiction book, then go for Facebook and Instagram.
If you have a younger audience then check out TikTok, and specifically BookTok, which has elevated dozens of authors in the last several years. Jane Friedman helped her client get to half a million followers on the platform, which led to a traditional publishing deal. “There are many approaches to getting your book out there to readers,” says Jane. If you’re wanting to build a face-forward platform, TikTok could be a great place to start.
You’ll need to think about who your audience is and where they live on the internet to best invest your time. Personally, I love Twitter or X as it’s being rebranded, and have 49K followers at @aBookPublicist. I promote my client’s books and my own services as well as Tweet about publishing, writing, and info useful to authors and publishers. I send out articles like this one to my followers and some are really happy to see this stuff!
DIY Social Media Cost: Nothing
Professional Social Media Management Cost: $200-5,000 per month
Social Media Ads Cost: $15-$200 per day
Distribution Costs
How and where readers access your book comes down to distribution. Most branding books are physically printed, and many authors opt for an e-book as well. Audiobooks are less common unless you’re working with a traditional publisher who will foot the bill. These are the main ways authors distribute their books today:
1. Online Retailers:
Amazon is the most common online retailer for books today, and a great option for self-publishing. Their print-on-demand option allows you to avoid the cost of large print runs. POD has a higher cost per book, but there’s much less risk. This costs nothing, but you won’t find your book in bookstores with this method.
Amazon Print-On-Demand Cost: $0
2. Brick-And-Mortar Stores:
If you’re working with a hybrid or traditional publisher, they’ll likely handle distributing your book to stores. Most publishers work with Ingram Publishing, which gets your book out to most bookstores nationwide. Retailers then order your book, and Ingram prints and ships it to them.
Book Distribution Cost: 10-26% of net sales
3. Do a Goodreads eBook Giveaway:
It may sound counterintuitive, but giving away your book can be a great marketing strategy. Sign up in your author profile on Goodreads and they do all the work. They’ll promote it to their audience and charge a nominal fee of $115. They’ll send out the eBooks to the winners of the contest. Some authors schedule several per year. Why do this? It puts your book into the hands of people who may read it and review it on Amazon or Goodreads. If you have a physical book, you can do the same thing but shipping the book is up to you. My recommendation is do the eBook.
The Cost and Investment of Publishing: Key Takeaways
There’s a reason why want to write a book but only a small fraction does it. Putting a successful book together takes time, money, and energy. But for the business leaders who commit to the process, there are big payoffs on the other side of being a “published author”. When you consult the experts in writing support, publishing, marketing, and distribution, you ensure the best results possible.
The Bottom Line: Your book will not write, publish and promote itself. If you want success get professionals to help you along the way.
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Communications, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Communications’ book marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
Would you like help promoting your book?
If so, tell us a little about your book. What is the title? Do you have a publisher? What is the publish date? How many pages is your book? What is the cost? Do you have web site? What is your specific goal I.E., to make money, raise awareness, get the attention of an agent or publisher, sell the story to a movie or TV studio or something else? Submit the form below with this information and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you!
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Book Publishing, Marketing a Book, PR Stunts, Writing a Book
By: Scott Lorenz
Westwind Book Marketing
It’s happened again. A female author client of mine decided that she did not want to conduct interviews with podcasters, radio or TV show hosts. Why? Because she thought her southern accent was too strong.
I disagreed emphatically… to no avail. I thought her accent was fine. She was easy to understand, and it added authenticity to the interview. I even offered more media training to help give her confidence. “Sorry, not going to do it.”
Now, had she or any other client had a strong accent making an interview impossible to understand, then we would most definitely focus on other methods to promote the book. We are not here to make a fool of anyone.
But having self-critical author is not new.
In another instance, a prospective female author, called me to discuss promoting her book. But she warned me that she was shy about getting publicity, and that she was not sure about using the incredible endorsement she got from a bestselling author of 30 million books – Jack Canfield. I was stunned.
I honestly have never come across a male author who said, “I am not worthy of the PR you are about to get me!” They may be out there, but I’ve never seen them.
I have, however, spoken to a number of women who have implied that, for a variety of reasons, they are not worthy of the attention, and I am here to tell you to STOP IT!
I explained to my prospective client that before I can even begin to help her, she needs to stop pulling punches, and to stop selling herself short, and recognize her self-worth.
Often, the biggest barrier between some women and success is themselves. This concept is discussed in the multi-year-best-selling book Lean In, written by Sheryl Sandberg, the former Chief Operating Officer of Facebook. Sandberg says that women are conditioned by society to blend in, to stay out of the limelight, and even to downplay their power or success. In the book, she cites a meeting with Tim Geithner, who was at the time the Secretary of the Treasury:
“Secretary Geithner’s team, all women, took their food last and sat in chairs off to the side of the room. … [They] had every right to be at this meeting, but because of their seating choice, they seemed like spectators rather than participants.”
It is no secret that some women have been taught to hold themselves back for cultural, religious and other reasons. This is archaic and has no place in our world today nor should it.
The Bottom Line: Women, put your foot on the accelerator and don’t let it off! Believe in your book, enter book award contests, listen to your PR professional, do the interviews, and believe that you are worthy of winning! Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Book Marketing, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
by Scott Lorenz | Blog, Book Marketing, Book Promotion, Book Publicity, Marketing a Book, Promoting a Book
Book Publicist Scott Lorenz Offers Tips on How to Contribute to the New York Times, Huffington Post and Success!
By Scott Lorenz
Westwind Communications
Whether you’re a new author or have been around for decades, it’s important to continually promote yourself. The more you build your brand, the more likely you are to get published, sell your works, and meet your goals.
By writing for prominent online publications, you can do just that. Do your research and find several publications that accept entries from authors. Then, follow their editorial guidelines and submit original, compelling articles.
Editorial Guidelines
Each publication has their own unique editorial guidelines so it’s important to write a piece to their target audience. If they say they want a 500-word piece don’t turn in 900-word piece. Simple right?
For example, The Huffington Post says they are “Looking for freelancers who have compelling and unique pitches about TV, film, music, celebrity and internet culture, with an eye toward how pop culture and entertainment trends reflect the world around us.”
A prominent business publication says “We inspire and educate small business owners to start and grow successful businesses. We also work with large brands that want to reach small businesses.”
Then each publication has their preferred article structure, which often includes information about word count, titles, headings and subheadings, paragraphs, and sentences. The article must conform to their linking policy. (Some allow links to websites, and some do not)
Here’s an example, “Your article length should be from 500 – 1,000 words – give or take. We want to avoid the death wall of text, especially as our posts are seen on mobile devices. Keep paragraphs between 3-5 sentences max.” “Sentences should be no longer than 19 words. Break up long sentences into shorter sentences where you see “but, that and because.”
Add a minimum of two links. Aim to place one around the 50% mark. Have at least one quality internal link that relates to the blog content as well as 1-2 external, authoritative links.”
Most editorial guidelines will also discuss what types of media (images, videos, infographics, etc.) are permitted. In addition, they’ll also mention any SEO preferences and byline submission requirements. Typically, you’ll be able to include your headshot, social media platforms, and a link to your website. This part is almost as important as the actual article so put some thought into it!
Publications Seeking Contributors
There is no shortage of online publications that accept submissions from authors like you. Here are a few options to get you started.
The Bottom Line: Make the effort to contribute to publications. One big hit could propel you and your book to great heights!
Book publicist Scott Lorenz is President of Westwind Book Marketing, a public relations and marketing firm that has a special knack for working with authors to help them get all the publicity they deserve and more. Lorenz works with bestselling authors and self-published authors promoting all types of books, whether it’s their first book or their 15th book. He’s handled publicity for books by CEOs, CIA Officers, Navy SEALS, Homemakers, Fitness Gurus, Doctors, Lawyers and Adventurers. His clients have been featured by Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, CNN, ABC News, New York Times, Nightline, TIME, PBS, LA Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Woman’s World, & Howard Stern to name a few.
Learn more about Westwind Book Marketing approach at https://WestwindBookMarketing.com or contact Lorenz at [email protected] or 734-667-2090 or fill out the form below. Follow Lorenz on Twitter @aBookPublicist. Want help titling a book? Check out Scott Lorenz’s new award winning, bestselling book: Book Title Generator- A Proven System in Naming Your Book www.BookTitleGenerator.net.
