Whether you plan on marketing your book on your own or hiring help from a professional, you’ve likely heard of the importance of “the pitch.”
What on earth is a “pitch” and why does it matter for your marketing and publicity efforts?
A pitch is how you describe your book to influential people, to pique their interest and acquire their support. Consider the famous “elevator pitch” scenario. The idea is: that you’re stuck in an elevator with someone who doesn’t know anything about you or your work. What do you say to them? Moreover, how do you make a lasting impression when you only have access to a few fleeting minutes of their time?
In the age of technology, the task of “the pitch” is even more difficult. We are no longer having conversations in elevators. Instead, imagine: each phone call you make or email you send is like shouting up at your poor listener from a train station platform while they, aboard the train, prepare to whizz off at any moment. You still have limited time, but the amount of distractions has substantially increased. The background noise of chatty travelers, the cacophony of mechanical sounds – they’re all working to draw attention away from you.
It may sound dramatic, but it’s true. Media professionals receive hundreds, sometimes thousands, of emails per day. That’s a lot of background noise!
So, what does it take to stand out from the crowd?
Know what you want.
The number of people who have sent out information about their book without any context will surprise you. Raising awareness about your book is great, however a specific goal can be even more helpful. Do you want someone to read and review your book? Would you like to be interviewed? Do you want to land an event at a local bookstore?
Do your research.
Figure out who would be the best person to help you accomplish the goals mentioned above. Ideally, this person will have not only the power to help you but consequently, they will also have a personal interest in the themes of your book.
Be succinct.
Another key point, when drafting your pitch, it’s your job to make your point clear and to arrive at that point quickly. Booksellers and media professionals certainly don’t have time to decipher your message. They need to know three things: what your book is about, what you’re asking them to do, and why this is relevant to them.
Personalize your message.
If you send the same message to 500 people through a mass email campaign, maybe a handful of people will get back to you. Accordingly, if you send a personalized message to 50 people, you’re a lot more likely to see support coming through. People like to be recognized as human, and they prefer to talk to a real person over a robot; it’s as simple as that!
At Books Forward, our team includes former journalists; so we know the value of a good pitch! We are known for our personalized approach to media outreach. If you’re looking to take the next step with professional publicity support, drop us a line:
https://booksforward.com/contact/
Jackie Karneth is a publicist with Books Forward is an author publicity and book marketing firm committed to promoting voices from a diverse variety of communities. From book reviews and author events, to social media and digital marketing, we help authors find success and connect with readers.
Interested in what’s possible for your book sales and building readership? Check out our services, tell us your goals, and get a customized publicity campaign tailored just for you.
