Build Relationships through Publicity
You worked hard to write your book, and you’ve done what few authors do: worked on publicizing it too! Congratulations on your media savvy! But your publicity efforts shouldn’t end at getting that media hit. You need to keep working with the journalist, podcaster, or other member of the media who covered your book, and you also need to get the word out about the interview, review, or other feature.
Relationships built through publicity and other avenues of promotion are often symbiotic. Journalists, hosts, podcasters introduce your work to their readers, listeners, subscribers to grow your reader base; you introduce your readers to publications and broadcasts to grow their readership, listenership, subscriber list.
Once you land an interview or feature, promote (and thank!) the publication and member of the media who helped promote you in order to enhance the spotlight on both your works. The larger they grow, the larger the audience will be for your current feature as well as for any features you might have in the future.
Establishing a mutually beneficial relationship with members of the media now might secure you another feature down the line of your career as well!
Maintain Good Relationships with Journalists
Maintain good relationship with journalists who covered you. They may need you for future stories or quotes.
You’ve probably heard the saying “don’t burn bridges,” meaning you should stay on good terms with people from your past in case your relationship is important in the future. (Even if there was something in the interview you took issue with…)
This is great advice when it comes to interacting with journalists and other media connections. After the interview is over, they may still need to contact you for more details and quotes for the piece. Even further down the line, they could cover you in another story or have an interest in your future endeavors!
Be sure to show courtesy when interacting with journalists: stay attentive and on task, act respectfully, and respond to requests in a timely manner. Thank them afterward for their time and for using their platform to spread the word about your book. They are professionals and so are you, right? 👍🏽
Online Networking
”Online networking is a wonderful way to meet people who share your interests, develop relationships with peers and potential customers, and ultimately increase book sales.”
— Dana Lyn Smith
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The internet could be a wonderful place if you know where to hang out.
