Here's the advice: attend this free teleseminar Thursday. Here's the link:
http://www/.tvpublicityteleseminar.com/?10535
Why should you take my advice?
After my first self-published book came out in January, 2005, sales didn't exactly soar. So later that year when I got an email telling me about a free teleseminar on getting PR, I wasn't really sure, but thought "it's free, it's less than an hour, so what the heck."
Steve Harrison interviewed a couple people on that teleseminar, then at the end, he pitched the National Publicity Summit.
I listened to a replay of the teleseminar, then I went to the web site for the Summit. I checked out who was coming (from the press), talked to my wife, then signed up.
A week later Steve Harrison called me to tell me I wasn't a good fit for the Summit. He felt it was mostly B2C, not a B2B (or for me, business-to-government) type of event. I said has this particular magazine confirmed they'll be there. He said yes. I said, then it is well worth my time to attend. He said OK.
This points out 2 things. First, that Steve doesn't let just anyone attend because they have the money. He wants this to be a win for the press that attends and for the people paying to meet the media. He tried to talk me out of attending.
The publication I wanted to pitch was Entrepreneur magazine, and it turned out the (then) editor in chief was the attendee, Rieva Lesonsky. And here's how the pitch went (Keep in mind the first 2 days of the Summit is training the attendees how to pitch a story and it is well worth your time):
I am in line to pitch Ms Lesonsky, and my turn finally comes up. I have 2.5 minutes for my pitch and I start, full of enthusiasm. I am on a roll. Except at the 30 second market she holds up her hands in a "time out" gesture, and I think "Oh crap- I blew it..."
Ms Lesonsky says- and I quote because I remember this VERY clearly: "The soonest we can have you in is July. Is that OK?"
In July 2006 there is a 2/3 length picture of me down one side of page 25 and a short interview on the left side. Over the next 2 years I was back in the magazine 2 times and on the web site 3 more. A full-time PR pro can't get you any better coverage.
Fast forward to January 2011. Rieva Lesonky, now editor in chief at GrowSmartBusiness.com, reviews my third book-and even adds a review at Amazon. Obviosuly we are still in touch!
Did the National Publicity Summit work for me? Yes- and it still does. I went a total of 4 times.
Am I a paid affiliate? Yes- and proud of it! I don't do much affiliate stuff, but when Steve offered me the chance, I took it.
IF- and that's a big if, if you are ready for publicity, if you know why you want it, and you have something of value to share with a well-defined audience, then you should consider attending the National Publicity Summit. Check out the media that will be attending and match it to what you want publicity for. If it's a match....consider going!
And it all starts with a free teleseminar. If it is not a match, or if you are not quite ready, don't go! There will be TV, radio, print and more.
And the teleseminar all by itself will give you a couple of great tips.
http://www.tvpublicityteleseminar.com/?10535
If you have any questions, send me an email I will respond to any inquiries with "Publicity Summit" in the subject line.
email markamtower
And best of luck on your publicity adventure!
