First ‘Ask Me Anything’: Tips on Book Launches, Publicity for Public Speaking, How to Do Media Interviews

If you missed my first “Ask Me Anything” live session on Saturday, not to worry.

I recorded it, and you can listen to it here:

Here are the questions I answered:

My co-author and I have just published a book about boomerang kids. We are having a hard time reaching our target audience – the families, particularly the moms of these young adults who have returned home to live on the proverbial couch.

Are interviews worth the time to setup? Is it proper form to piggyback on other events to promote your book? Like a tournament where you know your audience will be? How do you ask for that? How do you ask for endorsements?

I have yet to promote the picture book I put together because of other urgent responsibilities – life happens. How can I, with limited time and money, get this book generating money so that I can juggle other responsibilities to have more time to write?

Looking for best practices in pitching an idea to TV show to get a client on as a guest?

What is the best type of business to consider for a 55-year-old reinventing herself and seeking income that can be made without re-entering the traditional work world, as she hasn’t worked outside the home and farm in a decade?

How important is having a big Book Launch event for my newly published books?

Are press releases a thing of the past? There’s so much noise about what a waste of time they are. What are your thoughts on that?

I am in the process of writing my novel, which is a contemporary inspirational romance. It will be a part of a series. How do I go about promoting my novel before I publish it on Amazon?

I’m new to publicity. What’s the difference between doing an interview for print media vs. one for broadcast like TV or radio?

In your newsletter, you mentioned a free graphics tool that lets us put our photo on Times Square or in a museum. What’s the name of the tool, where do I find it, and can you give some examples of how you use it for publicity?

Can you ask a journalist for an idea of what they will be asking you during an interview?

What are some favorite tools for researching journalists? I want to find out as much as I can about them before I pitch.

What’s the difference between a book publicist and an agent?

What’s the best way to get publicity in a town I’m going to speaking in? I’ve tried this repeatedly and it’s never worked. What are some tips for building a buzz where the event will be held so I get a good crowd?

I’m thinking of joining an industry association for CPAs. Is there any way joining these industry groups can help me get better known?

Are people having success with YouTube videos, like authors promoting a book?

Should I reference YouTube videos in my blog?

How do I get onto the local speaking circuit in my hometown and how do I know about which groups are out there that would want to hear me speak?

Do you ever publish posts from your blog directly onto your LinkedIn profile?

Finally, I explained two ways to stay in touch with me. You can Rent My Brain for an hour, or take advantage of The Publicity Hound Mentor Program.