Authors and Publicists Are Like Gamblers and Casino Houses
Posted on December 19, 2008 | Tags: Book Promotion
A client and very successful author (he was successful before he became a client) contacted me about a teleseminar he’d just participated in given by a pr coach who was a former national tv producer. He was quite impressed with her.
I don’t take anything away from the valuable experience of working on a national tv show. It allows you to see the back end process of what goes into selecting authors as guests for that particular show.
However, this is limited experience from which to establish a business that coaches authors on how to get book promotion. Every national show is different. Every author’s subject is different and is being released in a different news climate.
Like Vegas, the odds of landing on the bestseller list or even breaking even on a book are not that great. How many people teeming through Vegas go home with bulging pockets?
In the first PR firm I owned from 1990-2004, we booked clients on every major show on every national network. That was quite an accomplishment. However, those accomplishments were built on many rejections. More clients than not were rejected.
I’m sure Vegas gamblers know their odds of winning when they book their trip. I suppose its the hope and the sport that keeps ‘em coming.
The way to eliminate the risk of publishing and promoting a non fiction book is by using it to become a thought leader and attract more clients coming to you. It’s not to make a fortune on the book. If yours does wind up doing both, like David Meerman Scott’s New Rules of Marketing and PR, then kudos to you!
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One Response to “Authors and Publicists Are Like Gamblers and Casino Houses”
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Yes, but like Vegas, there are smart ways to take a chance and ways that will bankrupt you.
When someone writes a book that solves problems for readers, then they will succeed. Then the sales and speaking gigs will come in because the information is valuable.
Take care,