Smith Publicity Blogs

As more and more of the old rules fall by the wayside and more things are decided case-by-case, it's now becoming common for self-published books to become traditionally published. It's a trend with literary agents as well, as they may come on board once they've read an excellent self-published book. Publishing industry trade media report that about half of publishers today acquire titles that were self-published originally. It says a lot about how the industry is changing and the ever-increasing quality of self-published books. Authors today can take several routes to publish successful books. It's also worthy to note that not every self-published author aspires to go traditional. Some do very well on their own and prize independence and a full share of the profits. But for authors who would like to work through a traditional publisher, the percentages are becoming large enough that it's a realistic goal—the most effective way to improve your chances is to write a...

If you've written a book and plan to publish it independently, one thing is for sure: you need a marketing campaign to make it a success. While you might dream of going viral, it happens only to a handful of people each year, and it's not something you can peg your hopes on realistically. The best book marketing companies come to the table with unique plans for every book, and it's wise to work with a book PR firm if you can. Much of doing well today depends on rising above the competition because it's fierce – each year, the number of new books published increases. Your work needs support to succeed. Given the preeminence of the internet today, some question the value of pitches to the media for traditional publicity. But when you take a closer look online, you'll see that much of the most often shared information originated with TV shows and print brands (newspapers and magazines). All today have websites, many with high traffic numbers. When they post videos an...

Nearly all people who read and buy books want to know something about their authors. It's the same with media which include mentions of them in their stories. Therefore, it's easy to see why the most influential   book marketing companies   make sure their authors have outstanding bios readily available. If you've written a book or plan to write one soon, make sure you also put some time into composing your biography. First and foremost, you need more than one version. Longer-form text is best for author websites and media kits. A shorter version works well in other marketing, and social media requires a very short one. Even though you're writing a bio yourself, do it in the third person. Many people react unfavorably to first-person bios, and there's no reason to cause skepticism. Because you're writing an author bio, make sure to begin by talking about your work and writing. They are what give you credibility (and permission) to write a book in people's ey...

Every year, the number of books published increases, and with it comes fierce competition. It makes a creative and well-planned book marketing campaign essential to break through the clutter and get out the word. A lot of book publicity depends on getting the media's attention, and a campaign needs to be newsworthy. When searching for ways to do it, tying into current events is something to consider. It's easier for some books than others, but with enough creative thinking, almost every title will in some way connect to a current event. It will make pitches more exciting and help bring success. When you include current event tie-ins to a book marketing program, it's wise to look at sponsorships if appropriate ones exist. There's no right or wrong way to do it as long as the audience for the charity or event could have an interest in the book. It's excellent to be creative and open-minded, but a cookbook sponsoring an auto race might not be the best partnership – s...

Writing a book is a significant undertaking, and it's one many people do with outstanding commitment and determination. But unfortunately, only a few people follow through with other needed elements like book marketing and author branding. Because the bookselling marketplace is overcrowded today, a book needs publicity and visibility to succeed. Marketing and branding are two of the things that can be most helpful in bringing success. Author branding is a type of personal PR that helps you become more respected (and trusted) by the media and public. Both of those can help sell copies of your book. Nearly everything works better when you have a plan, and author branding is no exception. It's wise to begin by setting goals, then following through with consistent action to achieve them. Publicity experts advise you'll need to be doing things daily, weekly, and monthly to support your goals. They include steps like writing posts on your blog, being interviewed by the media, w...