Market Your Book Through A Feature Story

Do you send out press releases? Have they brought you
financial rewards?

If not, you may want to rethink how to write a good one--one
that gets noticed, published, and most important, gets a feature
story. If editors notice and love your press release, they will
want to interview you for a feature story. A feature gets a lot
more attention than a news release.

Author's Tip: Editors and radio v talk show producers want and
need human interest stories, and newsworthy stories. You have
what they need is solutions to problems their particular audiences
have. You have 7 seconds or less to impress them. So write an
outrageous headline. Then, be able to prove it.

Examples: The Antidote to Depression is Passion (for book
entitled "Passion at Any Age.") or "Outsell the New York Times
bestsellers Without Breaking a Sweat!" (John Kremer's headline
for his San Diego seminar above, www.bookmarketing.com) or
"Don't Drive in Traffic, Don't Look For a Parking Space, Don't
Dress Up and Don't Worry About the Weather!" Teleclass.
(Judy Cullins' upcoming teleclass "How to Write an eBook or
Other Short Book--Fast!" www.bookcoaching.com)

Advantages of getting a feature story: You get more editorial
space, worth anywhere from $1500 to over $5000 depending
on which paper accepts you. This "free advertising" is worth
seven times as much as an ad because it implies the newspaper
endorses you.

Bonus Tip: Always ask the interviewer is there is any problem
with putting your ordering information into the feature. What
good is a feature if your audience can't get in touch with you?
They usually say yes.

My Success Can Be Your Success

The San Diego Union responded to my press release, "Seven
Sure-Fire Ways to Sell More Books Than You Ever Dreamed
Of." They gave me space worth $2000 of ad space this time.
Funny, they didn't even interview me. The columnist created her
own story. She used this heading: "Workshop Guides Novice
Book Authors." She said that seminar participants could be the
next John Grisham. In bold letters inserted in the column, she
wrote, "This workshop covers topics such as how to launch your
book's first-year sales, how to get free publicity, how to jump
start a marketing plan and how to sell your book before it's even
published."

The Financial Rewards?

My phone rang off the hook for over a week. I took over 100
calls, taking reservations. I had far more people want the seminar
than I had room. The rest I invited to future seminars.

I collected over 60 email addresses. To each of them I sent my
monthly eNewsletter "The Book Coach Says" with a special
offer on one of my How to Write and Market Your Books Fast
Kits. I sold each participant a special report for $5, over $300 in
all. Other sales amounted to over $300. I was also paid for the
seminar by my sponsor. I got four new bookcoaching clients
worth thousands of dollars over the next few months. I got new
attendees to my free seminars on book writing--some of which
became clients.

That year, twenty-four of my clients published their books. They,
in turn, told others of their satisfaction. I became a respected
book coach who attracted through my web site, teleseminars,
eNewsletter and clients--many more clients!

At the same time, I have created several new books to help
writers who may not be able to attend my seminars or hire me as
their coach.

Take advantage of the press. Write an outstanding, outrageous
headline aimed at the editor. When it sparks an interest you will
get your feature story!