Do you want readers to find you and your book? Would you like to boost sales of the other services and products you sell in conjunction with your book, such as coaching, e-books, cds, videos, workbooks, teleseminars, workshops, etc.? Is it your desire to help readers, customers and clients find you so you can build your success as an author and businessperson?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you’ll be interested in what my regular guest blogger, L. Drew Gerber is CEO of www.PublicityResults.com and creator of www.PitchRate.com, has to say in today’s blog post. He claims its time to stop focusing on “traditional” PR and marketing methods and to focus on “new” methods instead. The best way to achieve your goals, according to Drew, is by increasing your exposure online, and he offers three great—and proven—ways to accomplish this.
Sell Books and Find Clients with Increased Exposure Online
By L. Drew Gerber
It’s no secret that the PR and marketing game is ever changing and that positioning yourself to be found online is becoming more and more important. Ninety percent of journalists are finding all their information and sources online, and your potential readers, buyers or clients are doing the same thing. No one flips through the Yellow Pages anymore. If they have a problem they need solved, they’re searching the web for a solution. So building a foundation online should be at the top of your priority list.
Here’s how to start:
Online Press Kits — These are key to positioning yourself as the media’s go-to expert. They can help you reach page one of the search engines. Most importantly, you’ll be easier to find. Most online press kits offer a platform where you can store and organize all your materials — your bios, your headshots, story ideas, media angles, and more — that the media will need when using you as a source. Like having a resume when you’re on the job hunt, an online press kit tells the media you’re serious about being chosen.
Article and Press Release Portals — These are a great way to start positioning yourself as an authority figure while building links back to your website to increase your search rankings. Article and press release portals, most of which are free to use, allow you to distribute your articles and press releases all over the Internet. When potential customers and members of the media search keywords related to your expertise, your article or press release will position you as an authority on the topic. When writing an article, your best bet is to identify a problem and provide solutions using your knowledge on the subject matter. For press releases, share the news and happenings of your business while highlighting your expertise. Always include a professional bio with your contact info and links back to your website so readers will get to know you and be able to get in touch with you.
Media Coverage — Link farms, link sharing sites, video portal sites, article portals, and press release portals are all legitimate and fairly effective strategies for building links to optimize your website and help you increase awareness and boost your exposure. But those sites almost never have the Google Page Rank or website traffic of a popular news or entertainment website. The truth is, one placement on a coveted media website can produce more referred traffic and help move you higher up the search rankings than submitting dozens of videos, articles, or press releases to online portals. An online placement in a major media outlet can drive traffic to your site for years and the referred leads from a media website like CNN are usually already qualified because you’ve gained many of those visitors’ trust through the implied endorsement of being interviewed as an expert source. Being featured in the media is instant credibility because you’ve been chosen for your expertise, and your potential clients can’t help but want to know more. It’s also great for your search rankings. Top media outlets have extremely high rankings; so if they’re linking back to your website, you’re online rankings will increase, making it easier for readers and clients — and other media outlets — to find you.
Like I said before, the PR and marketing game is always changing, but increasing awareness and boosting exposure should always be your goals. With technology and the media rapidly evolving, always keep on the lookout for the next big thing that arises that will help take you, your book and your business to the next level.
About the Author
L. Drew Gerber is CEO of www.PublicityResults.com and creator of www.PitchRate.com, a free media connection service for journalists, experts, and publicists. Sign up now for free publicity advice including a free online marketing course. Gerber’s business practices and staffing innovations have been revered by PR Week, Good Morning America and the Christian Science Monitor. His companies handle international PR campaigns and his staff develops online press kits for authors, speakers and companies with Online PressKit 24/7, a technology he developed (www.PressKit247.com). Contact L. Drew Gerber at: AskDrew@PublicityResults.com or call him at 828-749-3548.
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