Sourcebooks’ Post

Other than my publishing peeps (and even some of them) no one really understands what I do. I can't TELL YOU how much it means to read Kathleen Schmidt's Substack. She gets it. She's helping other people get it. It's so validating. "Book publicists update media lists, compile media lists, mail ARCs/books, attend meetings, participate in Zoom calls, write press materials, read manuscripts, cultivate/maintain relationships with media and influencers, and much more. Yet, we mostly only get credit when there is confirmed press and a successful book. It is as if all the work we do to garner even one response from our contacts is negated, and it is wrong. I want to impart this: Please recognize the invisible work book publicists do instead of instantly pointing fingers* at them when your book doesn’t receive enough attention. Usually, the problem is the ratio of media to books published and not the fault of the book publicist. Never mind the low salaries book publicists are paid." *This goes for authors AND sales folks, editors, marketers, etc.

Other than my publishing peeps (and even some of them) no one really understands what I do. I can't TELL YOU how much it means to read Kathleen Schmidt, MBA 's Substack. She gets it. She's helping other people get it. It's so validating. "Book publicists update media lists, compile media lists, mail ARCs/books, attend meetings, participate in Zoom calls, write press materials, read manuscripts, cultivate/maintain relationships with media and influencers, and much more. Yet, we mostly only get credit when there is confirmed press and a successful book. It is as if all the work we do to garner even one response from our contacts is negated, and it is wrong. I want to impart this: Please recognize the invisible work book publicists do instead of instantly pointing fingers* at them when your book doesn’t receive enough attention. Usually, the problem is the ratio of media to books published and not the fault of the book publicist. Never mind the low salaries book publicists are paid." *This goes for authors AND sales folks, editors, marketers, etc.

Think hiring a publicist means you can just sit back and relax? Think again. Effective book publicity isn't a one-person show—it's a collaborative effort requiring integrated communications between you, your publicist, and the media. As your book's launch approaches, your active involvement becomes indispensable. Being present and responsive not only supports your publicist’s efforts but amplifies them. When asked, we often recommended our authors plan to allocate three to five hours weekly to engage with media opportunities, provide insights for pitches/meet with their team, and participate in interviews or write guest articles. Communication is key. Inform your publicist of your schedule, especially any times you’re unavailable, to streamline the planning of media engagements. This integrated approach ensures that every opportunity is optimized and that your campaign moves smoothly. From my days as a publicist to my role now as president at Smith Publicity, Inc., I’ve seen firsthand the impact of a well-coordinated effort. Your engagement is crucial—think of it as co-piloting your publicity journey. Let’s bust this Smith Myth, collaborate effectively, and keep those lines of communication open. Together, we can elevate your book’s profile and capture the attention your work deserves. #marketing #author #publishing #marketingstrategy

Publicists: Quick post to remind you that this is the last chance to sign up for the upcoming workshop Jill Schildhouse and yours truly are hosting on February 7th. Can’t make it live? You can still get the video recording. Trust me, you’re not gonna want to miss this! Here are some more details: This industry is crazy right now. But don’t panic! There are some great strategies that can help you to navigate and still stay very much in the game. If you want to learn some great tips on: -Where to meet THE RIGHT new journalists to get your clients in front of and how to get their attention -How to build and maintain relationships with journalists -How to stand out in a writer’s call for sources, whether youre answering queries from a Substack, HARO, Qwoted, Twitter and beyond… (There are some easy tricks and they work!) Keep reading! Join Jill Schildhouse & me for a one-hour Zoom session for a group version of our super popular Become a Journalist’s BFF: Networking and Relationship Management Workshop. Here are all the details you need to know: What: Some publicists seem to have a transactional “wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am” approach to their work, but highly successful publicists know that building long-term relationships with journalists is truly the gift that keeps on giving. Learn how to meet new journalists, and discover best practices for staying in touch, following up, and creating meaningful relationships. Format: 1-hour workshop via Zoom with Jill and Nicole includes: 45-minute formal presentation of our best relationship-building and management tips Learn how to meet new journalists and develop a lucrative working relationship with them -Discover best practices for staying in touch -Learn the finer points of following up that will increase your response rate -Discover how to become a writer’s go-to source -Learn how to stand out when answering a writer’s call for sources (whether that’s on HARO, a FB group, Twitter, Substack etc.) — there is definitely an art to this and we will walk you through our magic formula! -Discover how to avoid common writer pet peeves that may make someone want to pass on working with you again. -Opportunity to network with and learn from your colleagues -Q&A: Anything and everything is on the table for discussion here and you will walk away with your questions answered Date: Wednesday, February 7 at 10 am PST/1 pm EST Questions? Ready to sign up? Reach out to us at info@toptierconsulting.NET today!

Overwhelmed by PR? This article got you covered! Discover the best PR tools for authors who prefer writing over publicity. Learn how to make book publicity manageable and less daunting. Start your journey to successful book promotion today. #PRTips #LeadersPress #BookPublicity #AuthorTools https://lnkd.in/gHFi_jqq

Usually when I'm on LinkedIn, I talk a lot about SLH Communications. And I'm never going to shut up about it as long as I'm doing kick-ass PR work for great clients. However, some of you might know that I write fiction on the side, but I've never talked much about that publicly until now. Long story short (but not THAT short): I wrote a novel and I'm in the process of editing it and getting it out to readers. If you want to know what I'm up to as an author, or just generally read my thoughts on reading and writing stories in this weird, evolving world of ours, subscribe to my newsletter, "What the Flock?". Here's my first post. Click below to read it and then subscribe to get it in your email inbox.

Using PR to Market Your Book – How to Write a Book Press Release - Promote Your Book Using a Press Release https://lnkd.in/gvNhMi28 #bookpromotion #bookpressrelease #bookPR #prguru #christophersimmons

It used to be that traditional publishers would promote authors using their marketing departments and internal PR staff. Now, authors are having to hire outside agencies to help them promote their book. Traditional publishers no longer have the resources. Even some well-known authors are hiring outside agencies to help them promote their book. If you are an author and you want to give your book the best chance to succeed, you'll need to invest in marketing and PR services either with your hybrid publisher who provides these services or with outside organizations that specialize in it. Here is an article that talks about it. https://lnkd.in/gpg9TCvD

THIS IS IT! The home stretch. Tomorrow is the final day to sign up for my masterclass, The Author’s Edge- Strategic Branding for Writers. In this full-day class, we’re covering branding, marketing, and networking for newer authors wanting to transform their careers. Use this link now: https://lnkd.in/g8ytjF7n Apply code "Fitzpatrick-Branding" for $50 off. See you there! #authorbranding #authormarketing #networking #writinghelp #writerlift #writingcareer

Struggling to get press coverage? You're not alone—it's definitely a challenge these days! As a former editor-in-chief, author, and self-confessed chismosa (that's nosy in non-English—IYKYK), I’m spotting some trends on the horizon that we might see more of: 1. Editors as creators: Editors are stepping into the spotlight as creators themselves. Expect to see more editors hosting podcasts and giving us a peek behind the scenes of media teams. 2. PR pros embracing Substack: Substacks are becoming a go-to for PR efforts. It’s a powerful tool for getting your message out there. And the trust factor on Substack is like no other! 3. The return of the personal essay: I keep seeing call for pitches from editors asking for personal essays. That means, if you're an author or have a business, you need to learn how to share your personal story. Sign up for my free training if you don't know how: https://lnkd.in/dfY9ypBj 4. Rise of thought leadership: It doesn't matter if you think it's a cringe term. Thought leadership is taking over every platform, from Substack to LinkedIn. Whether you're in a company or flying solo, you want to learn how to master thought leadership. 5. More audio/video content: While editorial writing isn’t going anywhere, the media landscape is shifting towards more audio and video formats. We have to adapt and think: how can my story be a good fit for a written piece as well as a visual one? What do you think? Have you noticed any other changes in the media world? #PressCoverage #PublicRelations #Marketing #ThoughtLeadership