For this important week in
publishing -- during which Book Expo America takes place -- I will playfully go out on a limb to drum up interest in my next book and to pique people's interest in my friend Dr. Diana Kirschner's fabulous book. Here's a press release that went out to the media today.
Authors Develop Zany, Outrageous Marketing Gimmicks to Nab Publishers & Fans in these Challenging Economic Times
NEW
YORK—As thousands of authors vie for publishers’ and readers’ thumbs up
in this uncertain economic climate, some innovative, pro-active authors
are taking matters into their own hands by coming up with over-the-top,
outrageous, humorous marketing gimmicks.
“It’s time to become
an out-of-the-box-thinking author-preneur, who creates gutsy,
captivating messages that nab the attention and tickle the funny bones
of readers and publishers,” claims author Connie Bennett, who is
laughingly walking around Book Expo America on Friday and Saturday sporting a provocative, 24”-by-30” sandwich board that says, “Are You ‘The One’?”
The
amiable author’s “Are You `The One’?” message—which looks like a
single’s ad—pokes fun of the fact that Bennett is both a single woman
and an available author with a Big Platform, who’s seeking “a committed
relationship” with a “compatible publisher” to release her second book.
“I
wanted to playfully show that I have the guts, initiative and ingenuity
to be a successful author no matter what the economic climate,” adds
Bennett, an experienced journalist, certified health counselor,
life coach, self-described “Ex-Sugar Shrew!” and author of SUGAR SHOCK! (Berkley Books) (www.SugarShock.com).
SUGAR SHOCK! (Berkeley Books)—a bestseller on Amazon—has a foreword by Dr. Nicholas Perricone and has been endorsed
by Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Christiane Northrup and film mogul Harvey
Weinstein. The book’s contributing author is cardiologist Dr. Stephen
Sinatra.
Bennett’s second book—for which she’s publisher hunting—is a fun, friendly, compassionate, diet book, The Better Habits Diet: Slim Down, Boost Energy, Rev Up Your Libido & Be Happier in Only 21 Days. Fans are already signing up in advance to buy it at a special website, www.BetterHabitsDiet.com.
[Update: FYI, for those of you who are waiting for my next book, I've changed the title again. (As I discovered with my first book, authors keep using different working titles until they find one that clicks with fans and friends. So.... drum roll... it's now called The Smart Diet Habits of Highly Successful Losers. It was also previously called called The White-Out Diet.]
The
single author facetiously promises on her sandwich board, “Will put out
on first date!!”—meaning that she’ll share information about her new
book with interested publishers.
Admittedly, Bennett is
“embarrassed” by her bold, laughter-generating sign, and she’s even offering passers-by some nuts
to underscore the nuttiness of her marketing campaign.
The
author also promises to meet publishing suitors—not at the Empire State
Building like “Sleepless in Seattle”—but at “Booth 3534 at the Top of
Every Hour.”
Another author using out-of-the-box marketing techniques is psychologist and relationship expert Diana Kirschner, Ph.D.,
who, in March began starring with her 4-pound Pomerian, Madison, in a
series of zany, dating-advice videos posted on YouTube to drum up sales
for her new book, Love in 90 Days: The Essential Guide to Finding Your Own True Love (Center Street).
In Dr. Diana’s humorous “Simply Irresistible Flirting Moves” webisode series—which you can find at www.YouTube.com/lovein90days—she illustrates flirting techniques with her adorable pooch, who
“plays” a hot guy. In one month, the series has had 40,000 views.
Dr.
Diana’s videos—which she launched without publisher support—also have
attracted more than 56,000 friends and nearly 5,000 new subscribers to
her YouTube channel. The author’s zany marketing gimmick has been so
successful that YouTube—which links directly to the Amazon sales page for her book—has granted Dr. Diana partner status, driving even more traffic to her website. (www.lovein90days.com).
With
the publishing industry at a crossroads, Bennett and Dr. Diana are part
of an emerging trend of pro-active author-preneurs, who are building
their platforms and driving book sales through creative PR stunts that
also bring laughter into the equation.
Note from Connie: If you're in New York, please come see me at Book Expo America on Friday, Saturday and Sunday Booth 3534 at the Javitz Center.
