How not to pitch a reporter

October 4, 2009 By Dan Janal - PR LEADS Leave a Comment

How not to pitch a reporter

PR LEADS alum Jonathan Fields wrote a great article for the Huffington Post on how not to pitch reporters. He cited his own experience with a PR person who mass mailed a canned pitch.

Read the article at:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/book-pitch-gone-bad-how-t_n_303197.html

I posted a response:

As a former reporter (and an award winning one at that) and PR person with 30+ years standing, I agree completely with Jonathan. If you are going to pitch a reporter, make it personal. Show her that you know her readers interests and her interests. That will make you stand out from all the sorry mess of pitches that crossed my desk as a reporter!

Media databases can actually help you accomplish that. At BullsEyePublicity,com, for example, the media databases include information on reporters’ interests and lets you find their recent articles so you know what they are interested in. I’d strongly suggest that you Google any reporter to find their latest articles and get to know them so you can pitch to them on their terms.

Of course, the hardest part of this is finding the right reporter, and that’s where a good media database comes in. But, as Jonathan suggests, use them to build a relationship, and not spam the marketplace.

Filed Under: book publicity, press releases

Here’s how to get on the Ellen TV show

August 31, 2009 By Dan Janal - PR LEADS Leave a Comment

Here’s what TV producers are looking for in a guest

Steve Spangler is a scientist who creates cool tools to teach kids about science. He’s also appeared on Ellen numerous times.

So when he spoke to the National Speakers Association a few weeks ago, he offered these tips to get on Ellen.

– Don’t ask me to introduce you. She really doesn’t know who Steve is. She interviews several people a day, several days a week. Outside of the interview, she doesn’t spend any time with the guests.

– Don’t pitch the producers. They get more material than they can look at. Instead, they have teams of people scour the web looking for new, interesting guests.

Their advice?

"Be active on the web and we’ll find you."

Steve posted numerous "science experiments" on You Tube, including many that blow up things. That’s great TV. See www.SteveSpangler.com for more info about Steve, or search You Tube for fun stuff!

I’m paraphrasing here, so please forgive any artistic liberties, or faults in my memory for exact quotes. But the sentiment and tone is correct.

Filed Under: authors, book publicity Tagged With: pitching, TV

How to use publicity to boost your webinar sales

August 19, 2009 By Dan Janal - PR LEADS Leave a Comment

Publicity can be a great tool to build your webinar profits. Here’s a great way to get the press to promote your webinar!

Write a press release and send it to reporters who cover your topic. There are many trade publications - online and in print – that print notices of events. The press release should contain the essential information of your webinar, including:
1. Title
2. Date and time (include time zones!)
3. The cost of the webinar. If it is free, say so. That’s always good!
4. What topics will be discussed
5. Who the appropriate audience is (perhaps by skill level, i.e. beginner, intermediate or advanced)
6. How to register. List your website sales letter. Don’t list the front page of your web site. They might not find the link to register.
7. Contact information, including your phone number, email and website
8. Send this via email about a month before your event to online publications and blogs. Send this via email to print reporters about four months before the event. For a list of reporters, go to www.BullsEyePublicity.com They have a database of more than 50,000 reporters in every vertical market you can think of. They are always looking for a good story to write about!

Filed Under: authors, book marketing, book publicity, conference, free publicity, General Advice, presentation tips Tagged With: internet marketing, Marketing, publicity, teleseminars, webinars

Surprise! Reporters like RELEVANT follow up phone calls

June 9, 2009 By Dan Janal - PR LEADS Leave a Comment

Frankly, I was stunned to read this report that shows that reporters actually like to receive follow up phone calls. Most reporters don’t answer their phones, so this is doubly shocking.

I think the key here is the word RELEVANT phone calls. Don’t call them to ask "did you get my pitch." They will hate you!

What’s relevant? New information, new insights, updates. In other words: value to the reporter.

So this study by Jeremey Porter at Journalistics is well worth reading: http://sn.im/jrq3q

He also gives advice on how to pitch. Very worthwhile. Thanks, Jeremy.

Filed Under: book publicity, press releases, public relations, publicity

Publicity Expert Dan Janal to Speak at “Publishing at Sea” Conference

September 23, 2008 By Dan Janal - PR LEADS Leave a Comment

Publicity expert Dan Janal will be on the faculty for the “Publishing at Sea” seminar, the first event for independent book publishers who want to learn how to sell more books while aboard a luxury cruise ship.

Janal is the founder of PR LEADS, a publicity service that has helped more than 3,000 authors and speakers get publicity in daily newspapers and magazines. He is also an author and professional speaker. He can be reached at http://www.prleads.com

The “Publishing at Sea” seminar will sail from February 15-21, 2009 and visit exotic ports including Cozumel and Belize. Along the way, a limited number of highly qualified publishers will learn how to publish and market books more effectively in these economic times. For information about this conference, please see http://www.publishingatsea.com

Specific topics include:

Become profitable in publishing where most authors barely make minimum wage
Create the hook that says “buy this book” (later in the day you can take a different “hook” fishing)
Establish the most profitable price for your book
Understand the true cost of your book – and how to lower it without sacrificing quality
Choose the printing method that is right for each title
Become the instant expert on your topic
Coin words that give you immediate – and national — brand recognition
Sell your books at 100% plus of retail price – with no returns
Create a WOW title
Develop a doable strategy to market your book
Define a production time line so you don’t miss any steps that could cost you dearly
Pay for your printing with our savvy secrets to pre-sell your book
Create a “marriage made on the high seas” with your wholesalers and distributors
Construct Mail-Box Money from spin-off products
Conduct book-signing events that sell books
Discover which rights (foreign, electronic, movie) are most lucrative for your book
See why book marketing is as simple as PIE
Maximize your Unfair Competitive Advantage
Uncover special markets where you can sell large quantities of non-returnable books – with no competition
Discover an easy-to-use formula for writing a press release that will knock their socks off

The “Publishing at Sea” faculty includes:

Brian Jud –book marketing expert

Judith Briles – book shepherding expert

Eric Kampmann, book distribution expert

Katherine Carol, transformation expert

“Over the week, each of the faculty will lead a session with the others contributing. This maximizes their combined expertise to give you quadruple the coaching you would get in any other workshop,” said Brian Jud. “Publishing Panache, Marketing Moxie, PR Power, Distribution Doability and Speaking Savvy will be your guaranteed take-aways and how-tos from this glorious week at Sea.”

Attendance is limited to 100 publishers. Families can attend the cruise and can lounge at the pool or participate in a host of fun activities provided by the cruise company while the publisher attends the conference. Ample “family time” is built into the schedule so that publishers and their families can have a true vacation as well as learn how to grow their businesses.

“So roll up your sleeves and your Capri pants for the publishing event of the year and relish the fact that your friends are probably shoveling snow back home. It will fast track you as no other will,” said Jud.

For more information, please visit:http://www.PublishingAtSea.com

Filed Under: book marketing, book publicity

PR LEADS’ Cool Book of the Day Posts 100th Interview!

July 25, 2008 By Dan Janal - PR LEADS Leave a Comment

Cool Book of the Day.com posted its 100th interview with a deserving author recently. The site helps promote authors who have written worthwhile books and who need to promote those books online.

The site is the brainchild of Dan Janal, whom USA TODAY called “a true cyberspace pioneer” with more than 25 years of experience promoting technology and authors.

“Many publications ignore experts who have written great books. They do not print book reviews or interviews with authors who have worked hard on their books. These authors deserve recognition and readership,” said Janal. “The mission of Cool Book of the Day is to spread the word about lesser-known authors, who comprise 99 percent of the people who write books.”

The range of books covered includes more than 25 genres, including novels, self-help books, relationship books and financial planning books.

The site features interviews with authors who answer such questions as:

What is the title of the book?
Who is the intended audience?
What is the book about?
Why are you the best person to write this book?
How is this book different from other books on this topic?
Is there anything else we should know about this book?

“People who read Cool Book of the Day will find many interesting works that will make them happier, healthier and smarter,” said Janal. “Authors deserve to be read and we’re happy to offer the best of the breed the chance to get exposure. We consider this a public service to deserving authors and don’t charge for posting interviews.”

Dan Janal is the founder of www.PRLEADS.com a publicity service that helps authors and experts get the publicity they deserve to build credibility to sell more books and consulting services.

Filed Under: book publicity

Did you get a “nice deal” on your book contract?

July 10, 2008 By Dan Janal - PR LEADS Leave a Comment

If you write books, you probably wonder about advances.

Your own advance.

And what other people get.

If you’re wondering if you got “a good deal,” there’s a great resource for you called Publishers Lunch. It is an institution in the publishing industry — everyone reads it.

They have lots of news and gossip about the industry.

Plus they list a few deals each week. Here’s their key to understanding the deals:

“nice deal” $1 – $49,000
“very nice deal” $50,000 – $99,000
“good deal” $100,000 – $250,000
“significant deal” $251,000 – $499,000
“major deal” $500,000 and up

PR LEADS alum Michael Port got a “very nice deal” for his new book to be published by John Wiley, according to Publishers Lunch. The book’s called ” ‘The Think Big Manifesto’ in the tradition of Napoleon Hill, offering a paradigm of centered collaboration as a new path for business and personal growth that produces dramatic results over the small-thinking ways that plague our everyday experiences in work, relationships and society, again to Matt Holt at Wiley, in a very nice deal.”

Filed Under: book publicity

PR LEADERS Continue to Get Top Tier Press!

July 7, 2008 By Dan Janal - PR LEADS Leave a Comment

From time to time I like to let you know of achievements of our PR LEADERS.

On Sunday, July 7, workplace expert BJ Gallagher was quoted in the New York Times Business Section, thanks to ProfNet and PR LEADS.

“PR LEADS is the BEST!!!” writes BJ. Thanks!

Relationship coach Mary Jo Fay was quoted in Cosmo in June and July!

Filed Under: book publicity, free publicity

Newest PR LEADER appears on Oprah’s radio show on first day!

May 8, 2008 By Dan Janal - PR LEADS Leave a Comment

I had a great time speaking at the NSA Marketing Lab in Boston last weekend. It was great to see so many old friends, current clients and new friends!

Many people signed up for PR LEADS as the service is a great help to speakers and authors.

One expert who signed up for PR LEADS had phenomenal success right out of the gate! Russ L’HommeDieu responded to a lead and appeared on Oprah’s radio show right away! Here’s Russ’ story:

“I met Dan at a weekend NSA jam session on branding and promotion. He impressed me enough for me to give his company PR leads a try. I got my first email from him that very Monday and I was on an Oprah and friends radio show by Tuesday afternoon. What is even more amazing Is that, I was not even entered in Dan’s system yet. When he saw the lead he immediately thought of me and sent me a personal email. He simply knew it was perfect for me and then personally saw to it that I got it! Incredible service from a guy that I just met. I am thrilled to have Dan working for me. He just became my most valuable consultant!”

Dr. Russ L’HommeDieu, DPT
Author
The Truth Diet
http://www.NewLifeInProgress.com

Filed Under: book publicity, radio publicity

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