Book Publicists: Overrated or Obsolete?

[Marcia Mayne]

With social media and other new ways of connecting with media people, reviewers and readers, are book publicists overrated or obsolete? Would you work with a publicist or do you prefer the DIY route? Please share your thoughts. Thanks!

[Marcia Mayne]

Hello Gareth,

 

Thanks for your very insightful comments. Glad to hear you think book publicists aren't obsolete. With technology opening up so many avenues, it certainly feels like they could be.

You sound like you've worked with a publicist before. If you have, would love to hear of your experience.

Thanks again,

Marcia

 

Thanks again,

Marcia

 

[Gareth Wilson]

Hey Marcia,

No, I have only worked with a publicist when it comes to reviewing titles.  Thats about the extent of my involvement, what I've said is more just educated guesses on my part.  It's the same sort of technique that I'd suggest when looking for an agent to help market you to the publishing houses, although what I'd also do on that front would be to go through a lot of authors work that is similar to yours.  See who they're with (usually mentioned in the Acknowledgements) and if they stick with that agent over subsequent books.

 

If they do, the agent is usually pretty good.  It also helps you narrow down who you should be looking at representing your work as well as getting it sold.  A tad sneaky I suppose but as usual research counts for a hell of a lot.

 

Whilst a lot of the network availablity online helps, having someone within the industry who knows people counts for a hell of a lot.  The online stuff you can do yourself to help increase your profile but you really need someone to tell you what works and doesn't work and which techniques are the best way to spend your limited resources.

 

After all, you have to think of your book as a product, there's no point in selling it to people who buy romance if its fantasy.  Its like trying to sell ice-cream to someone who lives in the artic.  You want to be selling it to nomads in the desert.  (Or dessert if you prefer.  LOL)  This is what a good publicist will do, make sure that whichever way you want to market you're targeting the right people.

 

 

[Derek Lantin]

I would prefer to use a publicist if I could find a good one that I could afford.

 I write 'Pulp' genre books, which rely on a cheap mass market. Hence my current book ("Come Here and I'll Show You") has been published as a Kindle book and is available on Amazon. The book has received good reviews and sales are going well. 

Sadly, however, the royalyties on eBooks are thin, and I doubt whether a good publicist would be interested.

Derek Lantin

[Marcia Mayne]

Hello Derek,

That's the conundrum many authors find themselves in, especially with ebooks, how to pay for the publicity services they need. I've created DIY packages for authors who either can't afford to hire a publicist or don't know where to start. If you're interested in this, talk to me offline. 

 

Marcia

[Amy Henry]

Publicists are not obsolete at all.  I'd gladly use one.  Because it isn't about just generating reviews via bloggers, but creating buzz.  This means they schedule parties, set up readings, have a network of contacts with booksellers, stores, and other outlets and can get an author's face out there.  A publicist also lends a bit of credibility to an author...they aren't always able to have such access on their own, especially if they haven't established a reputation.

The publicists I work with (I only review and read) work hard to find readers that will actually help a book, not just accept a free one (some bloggers just want the books and sadly, don't follow through with the reviews).  Additionally, bloggers who accept books have to have readers to influence in the first place. This means that just handing out copies randomly isn't going to generate buzz. And a publicist who handles multiple clients can often get their clients to help generate buzz for each other. 

 

It's all just my opinion, but if I ever get this MS complete and published, I'd hire a publicist in a heartbeat. 

[Marcia Mayne]

Good points, Amy. Thanks for your comments - you're right on target. 

 

Thanks again,

Marcia

[Laina Molaski]

I enjoyed reading this line of discussion and there are so many good points out there. I think publicists are necessary. Along with editors, graphic designers, web designers, and social media promoters just to name a few. What isn't on this list, nor any list like this, is a magician, or a fortune teller with w 100% accurate crystal ball, or even a palm reader. Success is not a guarantee. Anyone who promotes that kind of guarantee is suspect and the person who is all starry eyed and believes this guarantee is asking for trouble. In fact one of my favorite Chris Farley comedies was Tommy Boy. There was a scene where Tommy was trying to sell some product and he said, I paraphrase here, “I can crap in a box and slap a guarantee on it and all it means is it’s a guaranteed piece of crap.” It’s true.

Now I’m not trying to be cynical here but realistic. Setting the proper expectations will go along way as will being able to spot the BS.

[Bobbie Crawford-McCoy (NURTURE)]

Amen, Laina! :-) I couldn't have said it better myself...

[Marcia Mayne]

Very well put, Laina. Thanks for your comments.

I actually wrote something about managing expectations sometime ago because I realized really early that one of the things we publicists do is make sure we don't over promise as that will lead to disappointments. 

I love the Tommy Boy story. Very appropriate!

 

Thanks again, 

Marcia

[Marcia Mayne]

Thanks, RYCJ, a few authors have mentioned this but I'm not sure they're really looked at the numbers. While we can track interviews that are secured, there's no reliable way - that I'm aware of - to track sales that result from interviews/publicity. So not sure how that would work. 

 

Would to hear from any authors who've used this method and can explain it.

 

Marcia

[parchmentgirl]

I'm not an author, but as a reviewer I think that publicists are definitely not obsolete or overrated! I much prefer working with publicists over the authors themselves. It puts less pressure on the reviewer to fluff up the review if they've never had any contact with the author. 

 

Kate {The Parchment Girl}

http://parchmentgirl.com

twitter.com/parchmentgirl37

[Gareth Wilson]

I don't have a problem chatting to authors or publicists.  The whole point is that you only want reviews that are honest.  Finding people who won't bend with thier review is perhaps the hardest part but a good publicist knows who will review a title and thus help you cut back on losses for no return.