ITR Jan 10

2010 is already flying by isn't it? Are we really nearing the end of January already? Why does it seem that the older we get, the faster the time goes?

I'm hoping you made some ground-breaking, life-altering resolutions that will see you make big changes and big successes this year. Me? I always forget to make resolutions, to be honest, but I do stop to think about the upcoming year and what I'd like to accomplish. This year I'm working on finding more patience with my darling daughters and getting back into working more after creating and caring for said daughters. Now that I have a bit more time, I really want to work on making our Ink Tree website better. For you.

So, here's your chance. Let me know what you want and need. If you think there are changes we can make to better serve you and meet your needs in your goals of successfully publishing a book, let me know. Now, we tend to get inundated with emails on a regular basis, so you may not receive a reply, but please send in your suggestions. Use the subject line SUGGESTIONS and send them to info@inktreemarketing.com

Here's your newsletter, featuring an article on segment sheets and how to use them to get booked on the BIG shows. Hey, there's a resolution for you... 2010: get booked on some BIG shows!!

"When you are fearful or frantic, you literally immobilize yourself from your greatest potential, not to mention enjoyment. Any success you do have is despite your fear, not because of it."
-- Richard Carlson

Segment sheets are an often over-looked part of a publicity campaign. Before launching into a discussion on segment sheets, though, it might be wise to define publicity. Publicity is the process of gaining media attention – it is NOT advertising. Advertising involves the payment for a promotion that you post in media outlets, whether in print, radio or television. Anyone can advertise a product, as long as the content is not offensive to the particular media outlet. However, people do not place the same credibility on advertising as they do on publicity because after all, in an ad you are disclosing only the information that is most flattering to your own product.

Publicity, on the other hand, is perceived by the audience as a third party endorsement. If the media is talking about something or writing about something, people assume credibility in the source. You cannot buy that type of advertising. Publicity holds a much greater value than you could ever achieve from any advertising campaign, no matter how creative you try to be.

So, now that you understand a bit about publicity and its value, you need to figure out how to attract the attention of the media. Think long and hard about this before you launch a publicity campaign. Media personnel are very busy. You are not alone in wanting them to talk about your product, which in your case is most likely a book. Producers and editors receive volumes of news releases every day, so your goal is to make yours stand out. Not only does it need to stand out, it must inspire. No one wants to write a lackluster article, or have a boring guest on a television or radio show.

A professionally written news release is the first door opener, followed by a stellar media kit. These are the basic, essential components of a good media campaign. The news release must cause the reader to stop and actually read it. The media kit needs to provide all of the information required to tell a story about your book. In fact, it should give the editor or the producer enough information to write a review or plan a television segment without even interviewing the author.

The segment sheet should follow the media kit. This piece of marketing must be very creative and is most effective for television and radio shows. A segment sheet does the work for the producer of any shows that you are targeting, so research each show thoroughly:

-- what demographic does the show aim at
-- what time of day does the show air
-- who is the host
-- what is the host’s personality?

The segment sheet outlines what you will do to entertain and inform the audience during your two to five minute “segment” of the show. The sheet should be divided into two or three sections, with each section outlining a theme for your time on air. Be creative. Demonstrate, illustrate, show examples, include humor if appropriate, etc. The objective is to show that you can do more than sit and talk, talk, talk… Be memorable but maintain a tasteful attitude.

A well designed segment must be attractive and colorful, so do not make the mistake of sending out an amateurish document. Enlist the talents of your graphic designer:

-- add some graphics
-- use reader-friendly fonts
-- balance the text and white spaces
-- use a good quality paper

Send the segment sheets out directly to the shows’ producers and then follow up in a professional manner. Having demonstrated that you have a good knowledge of the show in mind and that you can hold the interest of the audience gives you a good advantage over other potential guests.

We have samples of segment sheets that we can send to our clients and we are happy to critique our clients’ segment sheets as part of the free email coaching that we provide with our Ultimate Book Marketing Kit.

Copyright© Ink Tree Ltd. 2009 All rights reserved.

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Questions from Self Publishers

A: Think you can just send her a copy of your book and her team will call you up and book you? Go buy a lottery ticket because you're much more likely to win that.

Seriously, it is a minute percentage of Oprah guests that are booked because they contacted the show and tried to pitch themselves. They seek out and find their guests in other ways. The best strategy for you? Make a name for yourself. Build yourself a monster publicity campaign and get yourself out there. Become THE expert in your field. If you can make yourself a celebrity on your own, they'll be calling you.

Do you have a publishing question you'd like to see featured in our newsletter? Send it to us at info@inktreemarketing.com with the subject line: "Newsletter Question".

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Links and Resources for Self Publishers

We now have a self publishing blog that we update regularly with insider tips, tricks and info on how to self publish your book successfully. Check it out!

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Self Publishing Articles on Our Website

Check out our FREE Articles page on our site for articles on all areas of Self Publishing. Featured this month (click to go straight to the article): Self Publishing Success Stories

Don’t forget to submit YOUR book! You'll find instructions at the end of this section.

Available at: http://www.annbeepress.com/

The first in a series of books encouraging imaginative play in children. Gogglz, a cute little character, plays with simple items such as cardboard boxes. He fashions the box into ships, look outs, and rockets, and when he puts his special goggles on, the scene comes to life in his imagination.

We are hoping to encourage children to turn off the TV and computer and ask Mom and Dad for a box to have an adventure like Gogglz. We are swimming upstream a little in trying to get children to turn off the TV and computer and to play with reusable things such as cups and cardboard boxes and things from nature such as sticks and stones. But we are passionate about what we are doing, and we just know that we are affecting change.

A semi-finalist in the 2008 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest. This book fits right into the current interest, led by TV’s "Mad Men" on AMC, in the advertising business in the 1960's.

***The intention of our Mention My Book section is to give free exposure to self published books. Every bit of publicity counts! If you want to submit your book for mention, please send an email with the subject line “Mention My Book!” to us at: info@inktreemarketing.com***