What guidelines should I follow when contacting the media?

When dealing with the media, remember to be professional, polite and direct. Be considerate of their time, and get your point across in a succinct and pleasant manner.

Always follow up with the contacts you've made. If you distribute a press release, follow up within a week or two at the most. It is your responsibility to contact the media, not their responsibility to contact you. To get results you must be consistent in following up. When conducting your follow-up phone call with the person to whom you sent your press release, remember to state your name and remind the person that you sent him or her a press release. Do not ask for an interview, a story or a review. Explain that you are calling to provide further information about yourself and your book and that you would like to send him or her a free review copy of your book. Make sure to mention any events related to your book that have occurred since you sent the press release. The media professional you speak with has the right to turn you down; you must respect that and move on to the next person if things don't go your way.

If you are granted an interview, consider these questions to help you prepare and deliver important points:

• How did you come up with the idea for the book?
• What is your background, education, and/or other interests?
• Is there anything interesting about research you conducted for your book, such as interesting facts, or the mode of research collection?
• How does your book connect with local interests in the area your interview will be broadcast?
• What other works or authors have inspired you?

Work on answering these and other questions with confidence. Practice speaking in front of a mirror so you can watch your gestures and body language if the interview is in person.

It is crucial to always have promotional material on hand wherever you go. You never know who you may meet. Trafford Publishing can help you with promotional material such as business cards, bookmarks, postcards and book-signing kits.