All people and all companies who want to see their names in print come to the realization that there’s more to publicity than seeing your face in the newspaper. Getting publicity is great for your ego, but what about the ROI of publicity?

After all, there is no such thing as free publicity. You have to spend time and or money to get publicity – and that expense has to be justified.

Many publicity campaign managers wonder: “How can you measure the impact of your press release and your publicity tactics?”

Here are two sets of metrics you can use to see if you are getting a good response on your publicity campaign. The first set of questions involves what I call “primary response metrics.” These are the initial actions that a reporter or a prospect could make when seeing your press release or the articles that result from the press release. The second set of questions concern the sales made from people who see those media mentions.

Primary Response Metrics

1. How many times was it printed on real media web sites?
2. Where does the press release rank on Google for various search terms?
3. How many reporters contacted you for more information?
4. How many original articles resulted from the press release?
5. How many visitors came to your website?
6. How many phone calls did you get from prospects?
7. How many mentions did it get on social media sites?

Financial Response Metrics

1. How many sales?
2. What is the profit per sale?
3. How long was the sales process?
4. How do these numbers compare to other marketing methods?

If you track any of these numbers, you’ll have a good idea if your publicity campaign is getting results.

Dan Janal helps small businesses get publicity so they can sell more products. My clients get terrific results from my coaching, consulting, done-for-you services and do-it-yourself tools. For info, go to www.prleadsplus.com or call me at 952-380-1554.

When it comes to marketing your book, self marketing can be confusing and a lot of work. But the truth is that you really need to do self marketing because no one else is likely to do it for you. I have done some research into self marketing techniques, and I was surprised at how many of them can be done at no cost to the author except for their time. I compiled them into this list of free self marketing tips for authors.

Use Social Media

Social media is the most obvious marketing avenue for authors. It is one of the most popular marketing tools today, and you can get lots of exposure will relatively little effort. The trick is to know how to use these tools effectively when marketing your book.

Create a Facebook Author page first. This will help to keep your personal Facebook page and your book marketing activities separated. This is also helpful if you have multiple books you are trying to market.

Google+ is another must use social media site. It may not have as many users as Facebook but it is gaining in popularity and is a great marketing tool.

Twitter is great for driving traffic to your web site and social media pages. You can also build buzz by creating a hashtag for your book or characters.

LinkedIn is important as well. Create a professional profile that displays your published works, awards, experience, and education.

Now that you have all your social media sites set up, you need to know how to use them to create interest and encourage participation. Here are a few strategies that I have found effective.

• Ask questions. Asking questions gets your fans involved and lets them talk about themselves, which most people love to do. This creates interaction and discussions which in interesting content for fans to read. Make sure you stay involved in the conversation, you do not have to reply to every comment, but engage with your fans about your book, and you will be rewarded.

• Take polls. Again, interaction is key here. Fans will enjoy getting to weigh in with their opinion. If you give fans a say in how your next book unfolds, even if it is some trivial plot point or character trait, they will feel more connected to the story you are telling.

• Do a giveaway contest. People love the chance to win something. Offer signed advance copies of your book, a signed photo of a location in your book, or some other item specific to your story that fans will enjoy. This will help drive excitement and get people talking.

Make a Web Page

Creating a web page for your book is an important marketing strategy as well. Most web hosting companies will give you a domain for fairly cheap, but if you want to stay in the free arena, you can create a Google site as well. Your site does not have to be a masterpiece, just a picture of yourself, the cover of your book, a short bio, a synopsis, and links to your social media sites.

Send Out Advance Copies

Sending advance copies to popular bloggers is a great way to drum up buzz about your book. The right people can really get the word out before your book is released. Bloggers will be flattered that you chose them to read it first and if they like it they will sing its praises to their built in audience. Target blogs and bloggers wisely and it can do wonders for your marketing efforts.

Write a Press Release

Writing a press release about your upcoming book is also a great way to get the word out about it. You can send it out to news agencies and post a copy on your web site. Press releases are a more traditional form of marketing but they are important all the same, and it only takes a bit of effort to write on. Search online for a press release template and to learn press release conventions.

Author Bio: +Brian Burton is a children’s book enthusiast and online publisher for childrensbookstore.com .

If right this minute someone asked you what type of business you’re in and what you do for your customers, could you tell them in 10 seconds or less? If not, you’re probably in trouble.

So many people think that getting publicity is as simple as sending out a press release. Sorry, Scooter, it’s not that easy.

When you send out your press release, you’re conveying a lot of information to the reporters.

The very first thing you convey to the reporters is NOT your story. Does that surprise you? Well, it surprises the vast majority of people.

When a reporter picks up your press release he does NOT first look to see what your story is about. The first thing he looks for is whether or not you know how to play the publicity game.

In a busy newsroom it’s not unusual for a reporter to get from 100-300 press releases per day. Obviously he does not have time to contact all of these people each day. So he has to screen them as quickly and easily as possible.

One of the fastest and most effective ways of screening press releases is to simply look at them.

Don’t read a word of them.

Just look at them.

Do they look right? Are they in the right format? If not, it’s a pretty good bet that this person doesn’t know how to do a good interview.

Reporters are very willing to help you promote your business if you’ll give them what they want – a good story. But they aren’t willing to teach you the publicity game. That’s what my publicity kit is for.

So, if you write your press release the correct way, the reporter gets the feeling that you may know how the publicity game works. So he gives you a call. He may be giving you a call to get more information about your story. But more importantly, he’s calling you to confirm that you know how to play the publicity game.

The reporter will ask you a few questions to see if you know the right answers. One of the key questions he’ll ask is about your story. He’ll tell you he wants to know more about your story.

Well, he may want to know more about your story, but that’s actually what the interview is for. What he really wants to know is whether or not you can get to the point in 10 seconds or less.

Can you get to the point?

If you can, the reporter now has a more comfortable feeling that the time he spends with you will be well invested.

If you can’t get to the point in 10 seconds or less, lots of other people can. So the reporter is likely to end his conversation with you and move on to someone who knows the rules.

A key rule of winning lots of profit-producing publicity – get to the point in 10 seconds or less.

Copyright Paul Hartunian. All rights reserved. Do you need more help getting free publicity for your business? Paul Hartunian has all the help you need at: Paul Hartunian’s website and Paul Hartunian’s Million Dollar Publicity Strategies where you’ll find free publicity tips, free articles, free coaching call replays that will make getting free publicity for your business a snap! Plus you’ll find information about Paul’s Million Dollar Publicity System, the whole story of how he sold the Brooklyn Bridge and plenty more. And, for just $7 you can get 3 issues of Paul’s publicity newsletter, 3 of his best strategy reports, personal coaching from Paul and your very own, authentic piece of the world famous Brooklyn Bridge. No need to hunt for top quality information on how to get free publicity. Paul Hartunian has it all for you.

The inspiration for this article came from one of our current authors, Susan. She is a highly credentialed, successful businesswomen. In a conversation last week about plans for the next stage of her campaign, I thanked her for all her hard work. Her quick answers to her publicist’s questions, willingness to do all media interviews and bylined articles offered to her, and her proactive input about news stories related to her expertise has made her campaign extremely successful.

As publicists, our job is to entice the media to cover authors and their books in some way… feature stories, print or broadcast interviews, bylined articles, etc. With more than 800 books published each day in the United States alone, there is fierce completion for media attention. In order for an author to help us maximize their exposure, we recommend they take the same approach as Susan.

We make the initial connection with the media, but more often than not, it is up to the author to make the final and most important impression with the producer, host, editor, blogger or reporter. It is this interaction that turns a one line quote into a full feature story, one blog post into a regular blogging contract with a household name outlet, and one radio interview into multiple return invitations.

Here are six tips for authors to help maximize their publicity campaign:

1. Answer your publicist’s questions ASAP. When we need an author to answer a question related to a media inquiry, interview opportunity, expert commentary, etc. we need it ASAP. Reporters, bloggers, editors and producers are often working under tremendous pressure and deadlines. If a day (or even hours) goes by, the media will often reach out to the next person on the list and the author misses the chance for their placement.

2. Say yes to everything. When a publicist recommends a media opportunity to an author, if at all possible, the author should do it. One of past authors, an expert at negotiating with the IRS to determine payments/reduced fees, did a late night radio interview on a small station in the middle of North Dakota. One listener heard the interview, called the author and it turned into a $100,000 client.

3. Write the article, on time. If asked to write a bylined article (an article written by the author based on a topic related to his or her book), the author should again say yes when possible, research the target audience, follow the guidelines for length and style, and meet the deadline set by the editor. The articles are valuable because the author controls the content and message, and they are perfect for populating social media platforms, websites and marketing collateral.

4. Know your audience. Publicists will provide authors information about each interview. Before authors talk to a host, reporter, or editor, we recommend they research the outlet and person to further understand the listeners or readers, past work by the media professional, and the format of the print, broadcast or online outlet. The more authors know about their audience, the better focused the interaction will be.

5. Give your publicist feedback. Authors are the experts on their own topic. While publicists research and follow news trends that tie into an author’s work, the authors who excel are the ones who give their publicist ideas on angles and news stories that excite them and relate to their book or background. In Susan’s case, she has an unique opinion and point of view on a national breaking news story, which she shared with her publicist. Her publicist is in the process of setting up a national television segment about this hot topic.

6. Say thank you. As publicists, we always thank the media after they have featured one of our authors. Authors who stand out are the ones who send their own thank you email or handwritten note to those who have interviewed them. Everyone likes to be appreciated. This small gesture builds good will—and return invitations.

When authors are proactive, responsive, and prepared, it can turn a mediocre publicity campaign into a spectacular experience, with valuable exposure for the author that will last long after a campaign has ended.

Sandy Diaz is the President of Smith Publicity, Inc. Beginning in 1997, Smith Publicity is one of the world’s leading promotional firms, specializing in book publicity. Fueled by a passion for making good things happen for clients, the company has worked with over 900 individuals and companies–from authors and entrepreneurs to publicly-held companies and businesses representing a wide range of industries. The Smith Publicity reach is international with offices in New Jersey, New York City, Los Angeles, and London. For more information about Smith Publicity, Inc., please visit www.smithpublicity.com.

Press or media kits are important to any author’s marketing plan. Whether mailed or available online, press kits should contain some basic materials with a little room for creativity. An effective press kit will make things easy for the media and can get an author valuable media attention.

Most authors think of press or media kits as a set of materials they mail to newspaper reporters, radio and TV hosts, or other media people. While physical media kits are still used, they require authors to track down the media experts to mail the materials or the media person to request the information, so an online media kit is also important since it allows the media to view the materials immediately and make a decision about giving you media attention. As a result, authors should make a media kit an integral part of their websites.

Following are basic guidelines for what belongs in a media kit, whether in physical or online form, and ways to make the media kit’s contents effective.

Required Media Kit Content

1. 1. Book Cover Image. Make sure your book cover image is high resolution so it can be used in print or on the web. It should only be the front cover, not the full cover.
2. Author Photo. Again, make sure it’s high resolution. It should also just be a headshot, not full body. You want a photo that appears like you are looking at the viewer so you are up-close-and-personal. Be professional—make sure your book conveys the image you are trying to promote with your book.
3. Book Synopsis. A one-page summary of your book’s content. Often the copy from your back cover, two or three paragraphs will suffice.
4. News Release. A professional press release that announces your book’s release, giving some information about it as well as basics such as title, publisher, ISBN, your website address, and publicity contact information. Even though media people might be getting this information off your website, make sure your website address is on the news release in case they print it and then need to find your site later.
5. Author Bio. Your bio needs to be concise, not rambling. Provide information relevant to your book and your career as an author. You can mention your spouse and kids or your hobbies in one sentence, but there’s no need to give us a paragraph about your interest in quilting if your book is about divorce law, or tell us about your role as a soccer mom if you’re writing mystery novels. Limit it to just a few short and to the point paragraphs.
6. 6. What Others Are Saying/Endorsements. Endorsements are quotes from other authors, magazines, newspapers, experts in the field, or book reviewers that state how much they enjoyed and would recommend your book. Each endorsement should only be a few lines and give the person’s name, title, and affiliation (such as the name of the TV or radio show he’s on, or his book title.
7. 7. Sell Sheet. Although similar to a press release, your sell sheet is just that—a sheet that sells your book. It contains basic information about your book such as price, title, ISBN as well as stating where the book is available—bookstores, online bookstores, your website, and book distributors so people know how or where to purchase it. Feel free to include graphics such as your author photo and your book cover. An example can be found at www.IreneWatson.com

Additional Physical Kit Materials

1. A Cover Letter. Make sure you address it to the media person (newspaper reporter, radio host etc.), and make all attempts to personalize it with the appropriate person’s name, as well as a reminder of your conversation if you spoke to the person prior to sending the materials.
2. Folder. You want your media materials to be neatly packaged, not all loose in a manila envelope and falling out when the envelope is opened. Put them in a new and neat looking folder, but also a folder that will be quickly recognizable as yours. You can design and print special folders with your book cover on them, or some authors simply have overruns done of their book covers and then paste copies of the cover onto the front of a folder. The point is to make your folder stand out and be highly visible so it won’t get lost on someone else’s desk and buried under piles of paperwork, and if it does, it will be easy to find again. Plus, it will provide branding and a professional image that sets you apart from other authors.
3. Your Book. It doesn’t hurt to send an actual copy of the book if you are mailing the press kit. Most media people won’t have time to read your book but the chance to spend five minutes looking at it might be a deciding factor in your getting a cover story or interview.

Additional Online Materials

Note that all of these materials, including the required materials listed above, should be downloadable on your website.

1. Website Page. Obviously, you need a website if you’re going to have your media kit online. The important thing is to have your media kit be a link that is clearly visible on your website—one of the key pages of the site—so it is quickly accessible and viewable. You can then include all your contents on your Media Kit page so it is easily downloadable. Again, an example can be viewed at www.IreneWatson.com, which also includes all the other items I’ve mentioned in this article.
2. Your Book Video. If you have a book video, it should be available to view, but also available for download. For example, a TV show may want to use a clip from it, so make it easily accessible and avoid the extra work of dealing with sending it via CD or flash drive, which can easily be lost.
3. Banners. Especially if the media person is online, whether it’s a blogger, an online radio show, or some other website that promotes authors, having a website banner the media can upload and display on its home page to feature you and your book gives you that extra boost of professionalism and will make the media’s website look good as well.
4. Your Book. While you might mail a copy, obviously you don’t want to put a downloadable copy of your book on your website, but you could put up sample pages with a statement that a physical or pdf copy of your book is available by request through mail or email to legitimate media people.

Follow the guidelines above, but also be creative (within reason). One author I know had the word “bones” in her title so she sent bone-shaped cookies out with her press kit. You could certainly send bookmarkers or a pen with your company logo on it. Just remember to be tasteful and ask yourself whether you personally would want to receive these items or if they will just be dismissed as junk and tossed away. Remember that media people are very busy and don’t want to wade through a lot of non-essential information.

An effective media kit will get you the press you need to make your book a success. If you haven’t done so already, make it a goal to have a press kit page on your website within the next thirty days.

Irene Watson is the Managing Editor of Reader Views, where avid readers can find reviews of recently published books as well as read interviews with authors. Her team also provides author publicity and a variety of other services specific to writing and publishing books.

Many small businesses aren’t getting publicity for the oddest reason: They talk themselves out of it!

Here are 10 common problems I’ve seen with entrepreneurs who want publicity.

1. You think you don’t have anything newsworthy to say. That’s false because it is up to the reporter to decide what is newsworthy. If you tell yourself there’s nothing newsworthy going on, you could be wrong. It takes a reporter or a PR person to look at your business objectively and find out what is news. Some of my clients think they don’t have anything interesting to talk about. But when I ask them about their business, I can see that they are doing things that no one else is doing. That’s news! And they get coverage by reporters in their business journals who are interested in this information.
2. You don’t think of yourself as an expert. That’s not true because you have developed a level of expertise by running your business and dealing with customers, suppliers, vendors, bankers and government agencies. You know a lot more than you give yourself credit for. I’ve had many clients who suffer from this. They don’t give themselves credit for all their experiences and obstacles they have overcome. Once I point out how much they know, they can’t wait to tell their stories to the media.
3. You think that someone else is better qualified to talk to reporters. That may be true, but that doesn’t matter. Reporters will talk to the person who is available right now. If the hotshot expert you are deferring to is on vacation, too busy to talk to reporters or not interested in talking to reporters, then the reporter won’t ever get a chance to speak to you.
4. You don’t think your news is important. This is also not true. Many publications have columns for small pieces of news from local companies. They want to know what is going on. It might not wind up on the front page, but it very well might wind up in print or on the web.
5. You don’t know what to say or how to say it. That could be true. That’s why you can hire a media coach to teach them how to say things, or you could hire a PR person who can speak or write on your behalf and make you sound great.
6. You don’t know how to contact the media. While that might have been a problem years ago, it has never been easier to contact the media. Nearly every reporter can be found on Google and contacted via Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Google+.
7. You don’t think PR can help you. Very false. Publicity can help build your brands, create instant credibility and provide widespread visibility. For example, we wrote a press release announcing new training programs for the Reiki Institute. The press release was printed in many online media websites and their site was flooded with new visitors who inquired about their programs.
8. You are afraid of being rejected. Okay. That’s true. But if you don’t try, then you’ve already been rejected.
9. You don’t have a big budget to hire a PR firm. That could be true since PR firms can charge $30,000 and up for a 6-month contract. However, there are many low cost tools and free tools on the Internet that can help small businesses that want to do their own publicity. Plus, there are many small PR agencies that can take on small projects to help small businesses – and charge affordable rates. We offer the key tools at http://www.PRLEADSPLUS.com
10. You are afraid of success. You wonder how you can deal with all the traffic to your business or website. Well, that’s a good problem to have!

Why you are talking yourself out of getting publicity? You might be passing up a golden opportunity.

Dan Janal works with coaches, authors and small businesses in all industries that want to increase their effectiveness and improve profits. He offers a complimentary “Thought Leadership Strategy Session” that helps you get clear on the tactics and strategies to help your overall marketing program so you can become the thought leader in your market. Contact Dan at dan@prleads.com or 952-380-9844 or visit http://www.PRLEADSPlus.com

Are you ready to gain attention of the media, your community or perhaps the country at large? Want to market your book yourself instead of paying a high price for someone else to do it for you? One of the greatest things about marketing your own book is the wide range of freedom and diversity you have to keep the attention of the public and size of your marketing budget in your control. Ready to promote your book?

What Not to Do

First things first, here’s what not to do. Remember the balloon boy hoax? In 2009, a Colorado couple claimed that a helium balloon drifted into the sky with their six year old son inside of it. During its hour long flight which finally landed near the Denver Airport, their son was not found to be inside of the balloon but instead hiding in their attic at home. Meanwhile, the Denver airport had shut down, TV and radio coverage and police authorities had gotten involved, in which the couple pleaded guilty for using this opportunity to start their own reality show. This publicity stunt didn’t work in their favor, but for many who are trying to market their book, there are many stunts that do. Here are a few ideas:

Connect With a News Story

Have you been struggling to find the right PR stunt that will generate attention from the public and the media to gain some attention for your latest book? Not all press is good press, as the balloon boy hoax and many other failed publicity stunts can attest to. Get connected to an already out-and-about news story and you can take advantage of free press for your latest book. You may see doctors in your area being interviewed before the local 10K race, giving out advice about how to properly train for a run while wearing a shirt that includes their businesses name. It’s genius really: they advertise their services while talking on the news – a win, win.

Put Yourself Out in Your Community

Working on your own PR stunts takes a creative mind, a bold imagination and thinking outside-the-box. How can you utilize your local Farmer’s Market every Saturday or the monthly book fair downtown? Let people know what your book is about by giving away free copies of it at community events. If your book is centered around living a healthy life for example, show up at the health fair with brochures that list your name, the book’s title, where to find the book and a couple of “free” tips that can be found in the book about healthy living. Print out neon flyers advertising your book with local businesses in the area, particularly book stores and coffee shops.

Pair Up With Local Businesses

Talk with local businesses, asking to pair up with “contests” they have going on for their customers. For example, if a café is giving one customer a month a free breakfast, ask if the restaurant will include a copy of your book while advertising it on their shelf. Attend an open mike night, reading a passage from your book and pass out neon flyers listing quotes from your book. Make your publicity stunts enticing, motivational and compelling, and the public won’t be able to turn away; thus, helping you spread the word on your latest published masterpiece.

Ethan S. writes on behalf of The Regan Group, a marketing firm that specializes in sweepstakes fulfillment, and operating as a promotional products distributor.

My guess is that 97% of the people who try to get free publicity fail miserably. They fail because they violate the #1 rule of publicity and press releases. That rule is:

“Always keep in mind that no one gives a rat’s rear end about you.”

They don’t care about you.

They don’t care about what you did.

They don’t care about what you experienced.

All they care about is what you can do for them.

A huge number of people are darned impressed with themselves, their own accomplishments, their own thoughts and ideas. That comes across very clearly when they write press releases.

No one – and I mean NO ONE – cares.

Oh, they’ll tell you they care. They’re lying to you.

These people take themselves far more seriously than is justified.

When these people send out press releases, they start their release with things like:

“Academy Products is proud to announce…”

“Jim Collins, a compassionate, skilled practitioner…”

“It is with great pride that Bigelow Realty announces a 32% increase in sales this year.”

Any time the first words on your press release are your name or your business name, your ego is out of line.

You think people really care about you.

They don’t.

They only care what Academy Product, Jim Collins or Bigelow Realty can do for them.

I keep harping on this subject. I’ll keep harping on it until my point is driven deep into your brain.

Have you set up a special email address on your website or in your business that allows people to tell you why you suck? If not, why not?

Are you afraid of what people may have to say? It could be very revealing.

It could show you the flaws in your business – or your personality.

When you send out your press releases, do you talk about yourself or do you talk about how you, your product or your service can help the reporter and his audience?

The more you talk about yourself in your press releases, the less publicity you’ll get. It’s a very simple relationship:

More talk about you = less publicity

Instead, you should be talking about how your information can help people. How your information can solve problems. How you are the answer people have been looking for.

When you help people solve their problems, you won’t have to pitch yourself and your business. It’ll be very clear that you are the answer people have been looking for.

The more you can help reporters put together interesting stories for their audiences, the more publicity you’ll get.

Copyright Paul Hartunian. All rights reserved. Do you need more help getting free publicity for your business? Paul Hartunian has all the help you need at: Paul Hartunian’s website and Paul Hartunian’s Million Dollar Publicity Strategies where you’ll find free publicity tips, free articles, free coaching call replays that will make getting free publicity for your business a snap! Plus you’ll find information about Paul’s Million Dollar Publicity System, the whole story of how he sold the Brooklyn Bridge and plenty more. And, for just $7 you can get 3 issues of Paul’s publicity newsletter, 3 of his best strategy reports, personal coaching from Paul and your very own, authentic piece of the world famous Brooklyn Bridge. No need to hunt for top quality information on how to get free publicity. Paul Hartunian has it all for you.

There is a woman who has done the talk show circuit for years. She’s been on just about every TV talk show you can name. She’s gotten millions and millions of dollars worth of publicity.

Now, for the rest of the story.

Even though she’s gotten on all of these major league shows, she has absolutely nothing to sell. No book. No tapes. No home study course. NOTHING!

Apparently she does the talk show circuit for the fun of it and to boost her ego.

Now for the rest of the REST of the story.

Even though this woman did almost everything wrong, she just signed a $1 million book deal with a major publisher!!!

Was this her original strategy? I don’t think so. If it was, I think it was a pretty stupid strategy. Sure, it paid off, but what if it hadn’t? Sure, she would have gotten the ego boost and fun she wanted, but not a dime in the bank.

She probably could have made several fortunes if she had good products or services to sell. Anyway, now she has a million bucks for her troubles.

Do you see how powerful being in the publicity light can be? This woman became so well known in the media that the “halo effect” swept her into a million dollar deal.

The lesson here? Learn how to use publicity…and have something to sell. If you have one without the other, you’re wasting your time.

Copyright Paul Hartunian. All rights reserved. Do you need more help getting free publicity for your business? Paul Hartunian has all the help you need at: Paul Hartunian’s website and Paul Hartunian’s Million Dollar Publicity Strategies where you’ll find free publicity tips, free articles, free coaching call replays that will make getting free publicity for your business a snap! Plus you’ll find information about Paul’s Million Dollar Publicity System, the whole story of how he sold the Brooklyn Bridge and plenty more. And, for just $7 you can get 3 issues of Paul’s publicity newsletter, 3 of his best strategy reports, personal coaching from Paul and your very own, authentic piece of the world famous Brooklyn Bridge. No need to hunt for top quality information on how to get free publicity. Paul Hartunian has it all for you.

While many people only use press releases to get free publicity, learning how to write an effective pitch letter can dramatically increase the amount of publicity you get.

A media pitch letter is a brief proposal addressed to editors containing an idea or article that you would like them to use in order to help you get free publicity. It is important to write a good pitch letter in order to properly get your point across.

It is important to do some simple research before sending out your letter. Research the editor’s name and the publication’s name and be sure to include these in your introduction. This will keep your letter personalized, will show the sincerity in your intentions, and will keep the editor from assuming that this is a letter you sent to other publications as well.

It is also essential that you open your pitch letter with a statement that is attention-grabbing and will make your reader instantly interested in what you have to say. If your reader is instantly hooked on what you have to say, he or she will go on reading.

For example, if I were to write a pitch letter about my adventure selling the Brooklyn Bridge in 1983 (yes, I really did sell the Brooklyn Bridge), I’d start my letter by saying:

“In 1983 I caused an international media sensation by becoming the first person in history to REALLY sell the Brooklyn Bridge — one square inch at a time. Now, 25 years later, I’m doing it again, even bigger and better than before.”

Afterwards, get to the point. Explain to the editor what it is that you want to do-whether suggesting a new product or recommend a person to feature. Make sure that your story or idea is perfect for the publication’s target market, then tell the editor why this is so.

Now that you’ve got the editor’s attention, explain your concept in the most clear and concise way possible. It is important not to put out all your ideas in one media pitch letter for two reasons: first, your letter will not drone on and bore the reader, and second, you will pique your reader’s interest and keep them wondering and wanting more. Make sure that since this is the bulk of your letter, you’ve gotten your main points across-all while keeping your letter within one page. Ideally, the letter should have 200-400 words.

Make it clear to the editor that you are the best person to do the job. You can take this opportunity to cite a few of your past works or significant experiences that may be to your advantage in handling this subject matter. Don’t be too cocky, but confidently explain that you have quality information this person can use and pass on to his or her audience.

Lastly, make sure that you leave your correct contact information. Sounds simple, but you’d be amazed at how many people screw this up.

Include a phone number (cell phones are fine too. Just indicate that the number is your cell number) and an email address that you check frequently. State that you may be reached at those numbers or email addresses anytime should the editor be interested in your idea. You can also include additional press materials with your letter in order to avoid having the editor do some extra research on your topic.

Once you send out your media pitch letters, be sure to check your email and voice mail services often. The media people are happy to leave a message or send an email, but they won’t wait long for you to get back to them. If you don’t get back to them within hours, you risk losing your opportunity for an interview.

If you follow these steps and learn how to write a pitch letter, you’re on your way to getting free publicity that can drive new customers to your business at little to no cost to you.

Copyright Paul Hartunian. All rights reserved. Do you need more help getting free publicity for your business? Paul Hartunian has all the help you need at: Paul Hartunian’s website and Paul Hartunian’s Million Dollar Publicity Strategies where you’ll find free publicity tips, free articles, free coaching call replays that will make getting free publicity for your business a snap! Plus you’ll find information about Paul’s Million Dollar Publicity System, the whole story of how he sold the Brooklyn Bridge and plenty more. And, for just $7 you can get 3 issues of Paul’s publicity newsletter, 3 of his best strategy reports, personal coaching from Paul and your very own, authentic piece of the world famous Brooklyn Bridge. No need to hunt for top quality information on how to get free publicity. Paul Hartunian has it all for you.