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The Tip Sheet
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issue of : April 2004
- PTA - Back to the Basics
- Surfin' - A great source for websites -- old computers, cell phones and sci-fi
- Tips From the Top - Our monthly advice column - Fifteen things the media hates
- BEA PUBLISHING SEMINAR
- Look What's Coming Up - A calendar of upcoming events
- What Have You Done For Me Lately? - Our latest media bookings
PTA
Our Morning Drive Radio Tour® is still one of the best ways to capture the attention of a "captive" audience. The average commute seems to be increasing every year, and what better way to reach your audience than to be interviewed 18-20 times during that valuable air-time when people are on their way to work. We can target demographics and/or geographic locations. Your author/spokesperson will reach stations across the nation in four hours of radio in one morning - all from the convenience of his or her own home or office. Where else can you reach 5 million or more listeners without leaving a phone?
Our Satellite Television Tour is the television equivalent of the Morning Drive Radio Tour. Beaming your author/spokesperson to 18-20 television stations, combines great outreach with great convenience. Although your author/spokesperson does have to leave their house and go to our studios, they still don't have to travel to each city!
For more information, contact Deborah Kohan at 212.593.5885 or kohand@plannedtvarts.com.
Surfin'
Wandering through the cell phone jungle of providers? If you're like us, you do not have the time, expertise or desire to do the legwork necessary to ensure that you are getting the best value from your cell phone provider. www.MyRatePlan.com offers a comprehensive, unbiased online information resource to help consumers "cut thru the fine print", and locate the best price for the exact amount of service they need.
Science fiction, fantasy and horror fans and publisher's have a fabulous outlet to scour for news on the latest in this field. www.locusmag.com contains stories about writers, publishers, author signings, interviews, notices of who sold what book to whom, awards, conferences and full length book reviews by notable SF critics including Gary K. Wolfe, Faren Miller and Russell Letson. The New York Times said of the hard copy version of Locus Magazine, "Anyone whose interest in SF extends beyond reading it to wanting to read about it should be aware of LOCUS."
Drooling over the latest bells and whistles on the new computers? Well, you can now pick your tongue off the floor and do a good deed by going out and purchasing your dream machine. How you ask is that a good deed? Because you can now donate your old computer to groups and individuals that really need it through www.sharetechnology.com. As long as it works and is of Pentium/Power Mac capability, you can find it a home. If you give it to an accredited charity you can even take a tax deduction. Tax deduction, a brand new computer and a warm and fuzzy feeling. It doesn't get much better than that.
Tips From the Top
Fifteen Things the Media Hates
| 1. | Not Taking "No" for an Answer - When your media contact says "no," accept it. |
| 2. | Long News Releases - One killer page is all you need. If the media wants more, they'll ask for it. |
| 3. | Lying, Hype and Misrepresentation - Be honest and reasonable. Your media contacts won't forget who got them burned by lies; nor will they give you the chance to do it again. |
| 4. | Lack of Preparation - Know exactly what you want and what the media wants. |
| 5. | Small Talk - Most media people are to busy to gab so get right to the point. Be clear and brief. |
| 6. | Overkill - Media kits that weigh as much as your Cocker Spaniel turn off the media. Less is more. |
| 7. | Cold Calls - E-mail first to alert your media contacts that your press release has been sent. They'll get back to you if they are interested. |
| 8. | Freebies - Avoid offering free tickets and other bribes. The media wants good stories, not t-shirts and mugs. The exception to this rule is food. Food is often welcome. |
| 9. | Name Dropping - Nobody likes name droppers. Unless a celebrity is directly involved, they seldom change a story's value. |
| 10. | Lack of Focus - Stories that focus on the source, instead of the audience, generally do not appeal to the media. |
| 11. | Confirmation Calls - Opinions on making confirmation calls to determine if your faxes or packages were received vary. Some media contacts appreciate it and others do not want to be bothered. |
| 12. | Gimmicks - If you use a gimmick, it better be sensational as most gimmicks fail to gain the intended impact. And, the reason you're using the gimmick must be clear. |
| 13. | Not Following Up Requests - If the media requests something and you don't respond promptly they will consider you unreliable and unprofessional. |
| 14. | Same Ideas - Don't repeatedly send the same idea, no matter how cleverly you repackage it. |
| 15. | Getting Upset - Be professional. If you can't keep your cool find another business and see a shrink. |
An excerpt from the National Best-Seller GUERRILLA PUBLICITY: Hundreds of Sure-fire Tactics to Get Maximum Sales for Minimum Dollars by Rick Frishman, Jill Lublin and Jay Conrad Levinson.
BEA PUBLISHING SEMINAR
June 1,2,3 in Chicago,IL
Attention: Want to make serious money in the publishing business? The vast majority (99%) of authors make less than $50,000 a year. This is the seminar to show you how to be in the other 1%!
A lot of events in this industry are being presented by the "old guard" with tired ideas and concepts that haven't kept up with the times. Frequently, presenters aren't given enough time to get their information across to the group. Not so here. You'll get so much immediately useable, profit-making information at this event it will make your head spin! This 3-day extravaganza is strictly for those who consider the publishing business, a BUSINESS. And, the goal of a business is the maximization of revenue and profits. For more information or to register, go to www.publishingseminar.com.
| Details: | |
| Who: | Jerry Jenkins, Rick Frishman, Paul Hartunian, Alex Carroll, Fred Gleek, Phil Huff, Perry Marshall, Shawn Casey and Armand Morin |
| When: | June 1,2,3 2004 in Chicago, IL |
| Where: | The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center 520 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605 800/635-1666 or 312/427-3800 or reservations@congressplazahotel.com Put in PUBLISHING SEMINAR and get special rate 5/31 through 6/3 ( for our seminar) $119 a night. After that if you stay for BEA $129 a night for up to 2 people in room. |
| Information: www.publishingseminar.com | |
Look What's Coming Up
Some annual dates that just might relate to a Morning Drive or Satellite TV Tour topic:
November 2004
| National Adoption Month | |
| 1st | National Authors Day |
| 2nd | First Scheduled Radio Broadcast Anniversary: 1920 |
| 2nd | Election Day |
| 6th | "Good Morning America" TV Premiere: 1975 |
| 9th | Berlin Wall Opened: 1989 |
| 11th | Veterans Day |
| 18th | Mickey Mouse's Birthday: 1928 |
| 20th | Name Your PC Day |
| 28th | Thanksgiving |
| 29th | Electronic Greeting Day |
December 2004
| National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month | |
| 1st | Rosa Parks Day: Anniversary of Arrest: 1955 |
| 1st | United Nations: World Aids Day |
| 7th | Hanukkah Begins |
| 9th | Americas First Formal Cremation: Anniversary 1792 |
| 10th | Human Rights Day |
| 14th | South Pole Discovery: Anniversary 1911 |
| 20th | Clinton Impeachment Proceedings: Anniversary 1998 |
| 22nd | Community Carol Singing |
| 25th | Christmas Day |
| 26th | National Whiners Day |
| 29th | Mary Tyler More's Birthday- 1936 |
| 31st | News Year's Eve |
January 2005
| Book Blitz Month | |
| 1st | New Years Day |
| 1st - 7th | Diet Resolution Week |
| 3rd | Tolkien, J.R.R. Birthday: 1892 |
| 8th | Show and Tell Day at Work |
| 12th | National Handwriting Day/John Hancock's Birthday |
| 13th | Radio Broadcasting Day Anniversary: 1910 |
| 15th | First Super Bowl: 1967 |
| 17th | Martin Luther King Day |
| 20th - 26th | Healthy Weight Week |
| 21st | National Hugging Day |
| 22nd | Celebration of Life Day |
| 25th | Fun at Work Day |
| 27th | Vietnam Peace Agreement Signed: 1973 |
| 28th | Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day |
What Have You Done For Me Lately?
Here's a sampling of our latest bookings:
Career Warfare by David D'Alessandro (McGraw-Hill)
The New York Times
Wall Street Journal
San Francisco Chronicle
Florida Times Union
American Way
Independent Nation by John Avlon (Harmony Books)
CNN Today/CNN International
FOX NEWS CHANNEL, "Fox and Friends"
Killing The Sale by Todd Duncan (Nelson Business/Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Investor's Business Daily
On Wall Street
Selling Magazine