Author Hack: Interview Yourself via Video

___

BONUS FREEBIE: I have a resource for you that will help you prepare to talk with media and audiences. It’s the 10 Questions Every Author Needs to Answer. You can grab the fiction and nonfiction lists here.

___

Interviewing yourself on camera is a hack for authors and experts that I recommend to clients all the time — because I do it myself! When it comes to sharing your expertise, self-interviewing can be a game changer. It’s one of the most efficient and effective ways to get your message out clearly and on your own terms.

Read more

/0 Comments/by

Top 5 Media Pitch Questions For Authors (With Answers!)

___

BONUS FREEBIE: You’re preparing to promote your book in the media but what questions do you need to have answers to? Click here to grab my free “10 Media Questions Every Author Needs to Answer.” There are questions for fiction and nonfiction authors!

___

As a television producer for over 20 years, I get asked a lot of questions about how to pitch media and what they’re looking for. During my career as a news producer I saw a lot of awesome pitches and even more that I deleted without a second look.

Now as a media trainer who works with authors to get and keep media attention, I’ve helped dozens of non-fiction and fiction writers to prepare for media opportunities. I even have a resource all about pitching — it’s called the Media Pitch Guide and you can get access right here. 

But it all goes back to pitching media and making sure you’re giving them what they want before you ever get interviewed. And for authors it makes a big difference when it comes to who will get booked on a show or podcast and who will not.

So let’s dive in to the Top 5 Media Pitch Questions I get from authors.

Read more

/0 Comments/by

The Communication Skills You Need

_

BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”

_

Everyone can benefit from taking a communication skills course. (Yes, even you!) Think about it — we’re communicating at work and at home every day. All day.

I was a television news producer for almost 20 years and my expertise is working with the media. When I work with authors and leaders one-on-one, we talk about how to look their best on camera, what to say, and I give them tips to make their own videos.

Sure, you can learn communication skills on your own, or you can learn from me in my popular LinkedIn Learning course, External Communication Skills for Leaders.

Read more

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Preparing to Speak on a Panel

___
BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
___

Panels are a great way to promote your book or expertise and connect with professionals in your industry or your audience. But it can be tricky to know how to start preparing for a panel, especially if the topic is not exactly in line with your usual talking points.

I’ve spoken on many panels as a media expert, author, and LinkedIn Learning Instructor.

And they’re always a rewarding experience because I do a set of things to get ready every time.

Here’s my list of things I do to prepare for a panel.

Read more

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Book Launch Highs and Lows

___
BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
___

A book launch is a lot of work. There’s speaking engagements, there’s events, there’s media and so much more. It can be exciting and exhausting to prepare.

I learned so much from writing and launching Listful Thinking and Listful Living. And from keeping the book in the media long afterwards. (My first book came out almost a decade ago and I’m still talking about it in the media!)

And I love sharing my knowledge with authors to get them ready for their big launches. In fact, I just lead a group training called Media-Ready Author to help authors get ready to launch their books in the media.  You can check out the replay here.

On a recent episode of Inside Scoop I brought one of my media-training clients, Chelsea Conaboy, on to share her experience launching her new book, Mother Brain.

Here are three lessons Chelsea learned from the book-launch process.

Read more

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Become a NYT Bestseller

___
BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
___

There’s a difference between being an author and a bestselling author.

But what does that really mean? How many books do you have to sell to qualify? Is getting on the New York Times Bestseller List a realistic goal? Is there a secret to getting on that list?

Book marketing expert, Rob Eagar, joined me on Inside Scoop to answer those questions.

Rob has helped both fiction and non-fiction authors hit the New York Times Bestseller List, along with USA Today and The Wall Street Journal. He just had a client about 120 days ago, who was on all of those. And helped a book that was 23 years old finally become a New York Times Bestseller, after already being in print for over two decades.

Here are four of Rob’s pointers to sell more books.

Read more

/0 Comments/by
, ,

Behind-the-Scenes of a Bestselling Book

___
BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
___

Where the Crawdads Sing is one of my favorite books and it’s becoming a movie! It takes a team of people to create a bestselling book.

And one of the most important people on that team is your book editor! The editor of Delia Owen’s bestselling book is Tara Singh Carlson, who joined me on Inside Scoop.

Tara is an Executive Editor at G.P. Putnam’s Sons and has worked on The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo (which was also a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick), on The Family by Naomi Krupitsky (which was a Read with Jenna pick in November), We Must Be Brave also by France Liardet and many celebrated and bestselling authors.

Here are a few points from Tara about what editors do and how they can help your book become a bestseller.

Read more

/0 Comments/by
, ,

The Business of Being an Author

___
BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”
___

If you want to be an author (or already are one) I’m going to let you in on a secret: You are also a business owner.

Yep! Having a book means you have a business (like it or not)!

Writing for fun is great but being a professional author means you need some business know-how to be a success.

I learned a lot about this after my first two books Listful Living and Listful Thinking were published and since I media-train authors I get a first-hand look at what happens in the book world.

And as I start the publishing process on my first fiction book, I’m already learning that the business opportunities are different.

Book publishing and business expert, Jane Friedman, joined me for my live-streaming show Inside Scoop to teach us all about The Business of Being an Author.

Here are four insights she shared to help you make the transition from amateur to professional.

Read more

/0 Comments/by
,

Website Tips to Amplify Your Brand

___

BONUS FREEBIE: Your message deserves the media’s attention. So how do you get out there in a bigger way? I’ve got you covered. CLICK HERE to grab my free “Checklist to Become a Go-To Media Expert.”

___

We all know that if you have a business, you need to have a digital presence. But, you need a digital experience to make an impact. And that’s a little more complicated.

Digital strategist, website developer, and founder of Alchemy+Aim and North Star, Brandi Bernoskie, joined me on my live-streaming show, Inside Scoop, to talk about building a digital experience and amplifying your platform.

Here’s four ways to bring your website to the next level.

Read more

/0 Comments/by
, ,

2022 Media and Productivity Predictions

___

BONUS FREEBIE: Want even more ways to stay organized, productive and less stressed? CLICK HERE to get access to my List-Making Starter Kit. It will boost your efficiency and get you back to doing more of the things you love.

___

2021 has flown by and it’s almost 2022! I thought it would be fun to look back at my productivity predictions from last year!

Here’s a look back at my thoughts for 2021 and my predictions for 2022!

Read more

/0 Comments/by