As an author you are considered an expert in the field in which your book is written. The press is always looking for experts to interview, especially during a timely news release. For example, my book on Social Networking for Authors recently drummed up some good press as someone interviewed me about the popularity of Facebook. The press called me because they noticed I was an expert in the field of Social Networking. You can get the same exposure for free, by going to PitchRate.com.

Pitch Rate is a free service that connects journalists with subject experts for free media coverage.

Simply create an account at Pitch Rate and fill in your profile as completely as possible. Your profile is what members of the press read before they decide to contact you. This is your chance to show the world what you are an expert at and why you should be considered an expert.

You can set your account to receive daily emails from Pitch Rate to see who is looking for experts in your area. Requests can be easily sorted by category or keywords by visiting the “Search Requests” tab once you’ve signed in. Once you’ve found a request you’re interested in, simply make a pitch and all of your contact info contained in your profile will automatically be attached. At this point, it’s just a matter of playing the waiting game to see if someone is interested in you and your book.

One of the constant struggles I see with authors is the need to be continually marketing your book to be successful. A website like PitchRate.com is great for authors to be able to quickly set up an account and receive marketing opportunities for an extended period of time. With just a few minutes of work, an author can expose him or herself to potentially hundreds of press opportunities.

For more tips and tricks on how to sell a ton of books, purchase Michael Volkin’s new book Social Networking for Authors-Untapped Possibilities for Wealth.