Gordon Burgett’s
Newsletter
for Writers, Speakers,
Publishers, and Empire Builders
July 7, 2010
That’s the only theme in this newsletter (plus
a quick note at the bottom). An overview in this section, a
“why?” in the next section, then three live marketing items I’m about to launch
(here a bit modified). Your thoughts are, as always, appreciated. Here
we go:
You, on the radio often and everywhere? It’s
doable–but you must find the hosts. And you must have something to
say!
You
can test the booking locally–or in some state far from local listeners. Go to
the library and find the reference book that lists talk and news stations in
the
Radio
station lists are also rentable or buyable. Start by going to Google search and
insert “radio station addresses+talk show.” If your
target is more specific, like “women” or “sports,” add that to your search. (I
rent Joe Sabah’s Excel
list of about 840 current talk shows, at about a dime each.)
You
can speed all of this up by having public relations folk set up the radio
presentations–they will want a pile of your books to send off with their
correspondence, plus a small pile of money.
However
you find them, you must then contact the producer and tell, in essence, why the
host will benefit from speaking with you on air. What do you have to say that
their listeners would want to hear? Be sure to tell them if you’ve been on
the radio recently, and a bit about who you are.
You
can simply call the producer. That’s the quickest way. Or you can send a
postcard, a letter with additives, an e-mail, or a copy of the book that you
will talk about, plus its press kit—which can be linked to at your website. You
might also send a copy of your book or article (if you have one).
If
interested, the producer will likely call you after the contact is
made. He or she will want to hear you speak. Articulation counts. Sound bytes
are a real thing: can you give your message clearly and succinctly? If you tell
stories (readers love quick stories), do they make sense and are they funny,
sad, emotional, or whatever they are supposed to be?
Which gets back to why they might want you as a
guest. If you’re a celebrity, or infamous, that may be
reason enough. But if you’re like the rest of us, the producer will
probably assume you have a recently published book that has a purpose that
the listeners want to hear about. Or maybe you are pushing a cause—you must
have something unique and decent to share.
If
you are good, they may ask you back! If you aren’t, your 30-minute slot will
suddenly fill up with ads and only last 10 minutes.
The
best prep is to create a mock show by making a list of 20 likely questions, then create a 10-second response to each, plus another
10-15 seconds more of a story or example. You might send the interested
producer a list of the “10 most asked questions” about your topic (the best of
your 20, without the answers). If booked, hope that the host includes some
or all of your suggestions! For your own use, write down the three points you
must make (usually a short sentence max each.) Work those into the answers to
the most likely questions—those are the plugs that pay the
bills.
That’s
a quick overview of the key stepping stones to fleeting, on-the-hoof radio
fame. It’s also a fun, new adventure.
Have
I been on the radio? About 75 times, maybe 100.
Why? Listeners buy copies of the book (or product) that I talk about!
--------
Why
would you empire-builders or authors even want to be on the radio?
Unless
you’re loco about having others see, read, and hear you everywhere, it’s a
trade-off. You are betting the cost of getting to the producers (or hosts),
giving them a book copy, setting up the website support text, prepping, and
being phone-side and talking for a magic 15 or 60 minutes (often at dawn,
usually at the most inconvenient hour) in the hope they will buy your
product(s) or services or invite you to speak to their convention.
Even
that’s not free because somebody has to man the call-in order phone or tend the
e-mails. And the bought goods must be sent, the call-back requests tended to,
and the income spent.
I’ve
lost money and time doing radio, usually because the bookers were
insufficiently rabid with enthusiasm to share my message with their listener.
Mostly, it’s about a break-even, before gigs from later speaking referrals
convert it into a real good idea. The old-fashioned, conventional promotional tools
are less risky, but this is one of the most enjoyable. Where else could I
banter “live” with bookies and a widow at 4 a.m. on
Also,
every buyer or respondent is another address for your newsletter or data base.
--------
One
radio show e-mail I’m sending out tomorrow…
[We will send this on July 8 to 338 program producers or hosts, hoping
to have maybe a dozen broadcasts up and scheduled this way by the end of July.
They are testable because they are from the same zip code range.]
Subject: Lots of your readers want to write and publish a book. Let’s
show them how to do it fast and free!
It’s
said that 40% of
So
let’s tell them about the most important change ever in book publishing from
the writer’s perspective: your listeners can literally be in print digitally in
minutes (once the book itself is written and ready to go). They can have a
good-looking bound book out in days. And they can do it free—not a penny
out of their pocket. The best news: both versions of their book, digital or
bound, will (or can) be marketed (again, at no charge) worldwide in days or
weeks.
There
are seven key publishing houses in the
I
know it sounds like a con. I’ve been a niche publisher since 1982, plus I have
39 of my own books and 1,700+ articles in print—and I laughed at the concept
for about a year, until I saw lots of dumber folks doing exactly what I just
said! (It didn’t matter much what kind of book either: novel, cookbook,
nonfiction, poetry, memoir or family tree, travel journal, wedding or
graduation books…)
So
I decided to rev up my newspaper skills and check it out. My new book, How to Get Your Book
Published Free in Minutes and Marketed Worldwide in Days [not
linked in the e-mail], is the result.
Since
I’ve given 2,000 paid speaking programs (most about publishing and empire
building), it seemed particularly sensible (and fun) to share this topic on the
radio, free of course. Hence this email. I’d like to
send you a free copy of the book too. (It can be yours in about a minute.)
If
my sharing this topic on your show interests you, may I link you to www.gordonburgett.com/nlexample.htm
for the details and a free copy of the book? [Newsletter readers: see an
example of that slightly altered link below.]
Even
if book writing, then almost instant publishing, is not right for your
listeners (my heart!), why not look at the book I want to send you anyway? We
need to hear your message in print too, so your fans can read it (for pay!)
almost forever.
We
should probably let them in on the good news too!
Thanks.
I hope to hear from you. Let’s get booked!
Gordon
Burgett
-------
A
postcard I will test in about week…
[This postcard will be standard size, four color on the front and back,
coated stock, cleanly labeled, and in 500 zip-code selected hands about
7/19.]
To
more or less retain the same format, please link to the slightly modified
example at www.gordonburgett.com/APpostcard.pdf.
--------
And the back-up link that
takes the scare off the radio producer or host…
[This is the link copy—here referred to as www.gordonburgett.com/nlexample.htm—where
the producer/host is sent in both the e-mail and the postcard. It should
provide the in-depth support that makes the topic acceptable and me, desirable.
If it doesn’t work, well, I tried. Yes, there are 610 things I could have done
differently, but these are the facts, in my voice, and maybe they will help
improve one or many listeners’ lives. If not, I’ll probably be writing the next
newsletter when I might have been speaking on the air!]
Who is this
GORDON BURGETT?
Will he have your
listeners shouting praise to your management about your
astute
booking acumen?
____________________________________________________
Hello,
I’m him, Gordon Burgett, not some webtext writing
employee who thinks radios disappeared with “The Shadow” or only announce corn
futures and traffic snarls!
Should
we add me to your program schedule so we can share new, life-changing
information with your listeners, like how they can write a book and get it
published free in minutes and marketed worldwide in days?
On
air, I promise to be truthful, articulate, witty, seasoned, charming, and very
modest.
You
need to know more? Will any of this help?
(1)
Publishing books free? In minutes? I know that
sounds like a con—particularly to a guy (me) who previously wrote 38
published books and also published about 100 more books through my own company.
In fact, it took me a year after I heard about the “free publishing” to stop
laughing and seriously look into it. Imagine how dumb I felt when I found out
it was actually true! It’s the real thing, and it hardly matters whether
the listener wants to write a novel, poetry, a memoir, a cookbook, or a kids’
book, it can be out in record time, look first rate, and sell almost anywhere.
I will quickly explain “the printing revolution,” give the listeners the five
easy keys so they can take part right away, and, of course, answer any
questions they or you have.
(2)
Why would they even want to write or have a book in print? Fame, maybe fortune,
to broadcast their expertise, to stand out in the crowd, to share something
special with others, to be remembered in the family for generations, to change
the world, because they fear they will die without having done anything
“unique,” to get promoted, to enhance their career, or a dozen other reasons,
some really bizarre.
(3)
How to Get Your Book Published Free in Minutes and Marketed Worldwide in
Days is just out in paperback and is available almost everywhere except
in brick-and-mortar bookstores (where it’s just arriving). I want you to
have a copy, so if you would link to a special order form at http://www.gordonburgett.com/.....htm (and then type in NOCOPY in the discount
coupon) for your own free digital copy (it is exactly the same as the bound
version). It will download almost immediately. No charge whatsoever—a gift
from me to you, whether or not I’m a fit for your show.
(4)
My landing page at www.mybookpublishedinminutes.com
explains the core of the new publishing revolution. It’s said that 40% of the
adults think they can write a book—and (my guess) probably 90% wouldn’t know
what to do with it if they did! (My book provides the answer!)
(5)
I’m not somehow linked to the process or the publishers that I mention. I will
benefit only if your listeners buy my book, and if I can give the title once
and we do it again at the end, with the #800 number or
web link, that’s it. Nor will I leave anything out so they have to buy the
tome. (It’s just a whole lot easier for them if they use my step-by-step
deciphering guide!)
(6)
Have I ever been on the radio before? At least 75 times, maybe 100,
ranging from KGO thrice in San Francisco to a 6 a.m. Sunday
special—live!—somewhere near Bakersfield, probably heard by six cow milkers (and cows). But I have given 2000+ paid spoken presentations,
most of them four-hour seminars, and most of those about publishing and article
writing. So I is articulate. (See www.gordonburgett.com/seminars.htm for
the programs scheduled in August-October.)
(7)
Here’s a bio (www.gordonburgett.com/gbbio3.htm) that
shows that I’ve been a professional speaker, writer, and publisher just about forever,
or at least since “The Shadow.”
(8)
I found that many radio show hosts appreciate a list of 10 or so “starter”
questions. Since I’ll be up-dating (or up-tuning) my list as I continue to
do the radio shows, please let me e-mail the most recent list when we book.
(9)
Personally, I’d want to look at the guest’s website just to see if
he/she is a player. My two most used websites are www.gordonburgett.com and .www.ancillarypublishing.com
(10)
Surely there is something that I’ve excluded or forgotten. Please ask. If I’m the right guest, great. If not, please use my book
and get in print free and fast. It works. We need to hear what you have to say
too—in print, for the ages.
Best
wishes,
Gordon
Burgett
-----------
In the meantime…
I
hope to be busy twice a day doing radio from later July through September. I’ll
let you know if the items above work.
If
you’re in northern
Best
wishes,
Gordon
Burgett
Communication Unlimited
P.O. Box 845
94948
US