Marissa Eigenbrood’s Post

Go Team! Qwoted has been such a valuable resource to our team in building out expert commentary and other thought leadership opportunities while we also focus on more "traditional" book-centric coverage. Way to go Chris Baker, Jessica Sager, and Joelle Speranza for making the Q2 top 100 list!

I used to think that literary agents were primarily fixated on securing publishing deals, playing little part in the publicity process. Now, after over 15 years of living and breathing the book world, I've come to understand their role extends FAR BEYOND what I initially thought. Literary agents aren't just deal-makers but dedicated advocates who often stay involved long after the contract ink has dried. They commit deeply to their authors, advocating passionately and continuously for their success. From that first thrilling call where a deal is made to the long-term strategy meetings, literary agents are pivotal in navigating the complexities of book publishing. In my experience, this relationship often goes beyond securing a contract. Agents become career-long partners who deeply engage in all aspects of an author’s growth, including crucial publicity efforts. For instance, agents often participate in initial publicity discussions, asking insightful questions that authors might not think of. It’s not uncommon for them to be directly involved, making recommendations for publicity partners or even joining strategy calls. Agents like John Willig and Rita Rosenkranz frequently refer their authors to us at Smith Publicity, Inc. as their book launch approaches, emphasizing the importance of a robust publicity strategy. Agents continue to play a supportive role by staying updated on publicity progress, ensuring their authors get the attention they deserve. They know the industry well and can advocate for additional support when publishers’ efforts are lacking, suggesting outside help to maximize the book's success. Their involvement doesn’t just stop at being advisors; they are also sharp on ensuring the book’s commercial success, which often benefits both the author and them, thanks to their stakes in the book’s financial returns. Literary agents are more than just gatekeepers to publishing deals; they are indispensable allies in the journey of a book from manuscript to the hands of readers, continually working to ensure the book—and its author—succeeds. #marketing #author #publishing #marketingstrategy 

Here's your summer book marketing checklist to help you stay ahead of the curve: 📝 Continue Publishing Articles: Newspapers and magazines (print or digital) publish every day, so there's plenty of room to pitch content. From a publicity perspective, this is a perfect time to focus on content creation, especially ahead of a fall launch. Also, consider outlining and posting other forms of content – social media posts, starting a newsletter, or getting your street team collateral coordinated. Use the summer as a runway to ensure all the pieces are in place for your book launch. 🎄 Pursue Holiday Gift Guides: While none of us want to be thinking of the chilly wintertime while we are enjoying our fun in the sun, summer is when media contacts begin putting together their holiday gift guides - especially print media. If your book is a candidate for a gift, it’s an excellent opportunity to start planning out your holiday exposure. 🧒 Maximize Back-to-School Season: Another angle to consider is what comes at the end of summer: Back to school! August and September are the “new year” for many families as it's time to start shuttling the kids to and from school, daycare, sports, and activities. Readers are looking for helpful books about organization, planning, and self-care to help them stay on top of their busy schedules. If your book falls into any of these genres, ensure you take advantage of this seasonal angle. ✈️ Leverage Travel Plans: Finally, what are your travel plans for summer? Heading to Chicago for a conference? To Denver for some hiking? New York for a Broadway play? If you’re jet-setting to a city on holiday, take advantage of where you’re traveling to potentially set up media opportunities in local or regional markets. Keep this in mind from a strategic perspective, and look for ways to leverage your trip to gain more exposure. Don’t let the slower pace or “summer slump” fool you - use this time to your advantage and get a head start on your fall book promotion! If you want to maximize your summer book marketing with a tailored campaign, reach out to me to get started. #marketing #author #publishing #marketingstrategy

Next week, we’re demystifying the world of literary agents and setting you on the path to success. In our webinar, 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, we’ll be joined by industry experts Donya Dickerson, Literary Agent at Aevitas, and John Willig, Literary Advisor and Content Coach at Literary Services Inc., along with our host Corinne Moulder, Smith Publicity, Inc.’s VP of Business Development. 📆 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Wednesday, July 10th 🕑 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞: 2 pm ET Some actionable takeaways you’ll leave the meeting with: ➥ Learn the do's and don'ts of crafting a compelling query that catches an agent’s eye. ➥ Understand the next steps in your journey and how an agent guides you through them. ➥ Discover the many ways an agent can amplify your opportunities in the publishing world. ➥ Get practical advice on building a strong, collaborative partnership with your agent. This webinar is your chance to gain valuable insights directly from seasoned professionals. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enhance your understanding of the invaluable author-agent relationship. Register now and secure your spot through the link on the event page below. And don’t worry if you can’t make the webinar! You can still register, and we will send you the recording so you can watch all the insights and strategies when you have time. We hope to see you next week! #Publishing #Marketing #Author #BookLaunch

Summer is in full swing, and so are our June authors’ book launches! Just in time to add to your summer reading list, our Smith Publicity, Inc. authors have been hard at work ahead of their June publications. We are so very proud of their campaigns and the successful launch of these titles! So, if you’re looking for a book to accompany you while you lounge on the beach or head out on that summer road trip, check out the list below! 🏖️ Wildcat by Jeffrey Dunn (Izzard Ink) 🏖️ Oracle of the Celestial Deities: A 20-Card Deck & Guidebook by LETAO W. (Beyond Words Publishing) 🏖️ Proven Climate Solutions: Leading Voices on How to Accelerate Change by the late Bruce (BF) Nagy (Rowman & Littlefield) 🏖️ A Lie for a Lie (An @Revenge Story) by Jane Buckingham (Greenleaf Book Group) 🏖️ Your Forgotten Sons by Anne Montgomery (Next Chapter) 🏖️ Creative Sound Play for Young Learners by Hayes Greenfield #marketing #leadership #author #publishing #booklaunch

Navigating the podcast landscape as an author isn't just about sharing your story; it's about connecting with the right audience through strategic preparation and research. Here's a step-by-step guide to increase your chances of getting booked on podcasts that resonate with your ideal readers. 1. Start by defining the listener you want to reach. Just as in marketing, where demographics shape your target buyer persona, the same principles apply to identifying your ideal podcast listener. Understand their habits and preferences—what do they listen to, and why? This insight will guide you to podcasts where your presence will be both relevant and impactful. 2. Next, identify podcasts that cater to your ideal customers. This isn’t just about aiming for the big names; sometimes, the smaller, niche podcasts can offer more engaged audiences for your message. Use platforms like iTunes to explore categories that align with your book's themes, paying attention to both popular shows and emerging ones. 3. Once you have a sense of where your message fits, pick 10 to 20 podcasts to target. This focused approach allows you to tailor your pitches and refine your message before reaching out to larger platforms. 4. Prepare a concise, one-page pitch sheet to send. This should include a professional headshot, a brief bio, key topics you can discuss, and perhaps a testimonial. Remember, podcast hosts are inundated with pitches, so a well-organized pitch sheet can make the difference between getting ignored and getting an invitation. Remember that getting on podcasts is both an art and a science. It requires persistence and a bit of finesse. Once you secure your first few appearances, the podcast community can open up, making each subsequent booking easier as your reputation grows. By strategically positioning yourself within the podcasting world, you can amplify your voice and bring your book's message to an engaged and relevant audience. Our campaigns at Smith Publicity, Inc. always include a focus on podcasts for both your expert platform and for your book launch. DM me to find out more. #marketing #author #publishing #marketingstrategy #podcast

Navigating the complex world of publishing can feel like an uphill battle, but with the right guide by your side, it becomes a journey of exciting opportunities. Enter the literary agent: your advocate, your pilot, and your gateway to new horizons. Whether you're aiming for a traditional deal or need help with contracts from hybrid and indie publishers, a literary agent is indispensable. They not only help you understand the intricacies of publishing contracts and work toward securing the best possible deal but also foster long-lasting relationships with editors and publishers. But before you can reap these benefits, you need to query an agent. What does that involve? And once you're signed on, how do you ensure a productive and positive working relationship? We're glad you asked! 😉 Join us for our upcoming webinar, 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, on July 10th at 2 pm ET. We're thrilled to have Donya Dickerson, Literary Agent at Aevitas, and John Willig, Literary Advisor and Content Coach at Literary Services Inc., joining our host Corinne Moulder, Smith Publicity’s VP of Business Development. Together, they'll explore: 📚 The essentials of querying literary agents. 📚 Best practices for building a strong, collaborative relationship with your agent. 📚 Insights into how agents can help you navigate both traditional and indie publishing paths. 📚 And more! Don't miss this opportunity to get insider tips and strategies directly from the experts. Save your spot now! Register using the link in the event page below. We can't wait to see you there! #Publishing #Marketing #Author #BookLaunch

Calling current, aspiring, and past business authors! Please consider taking this important survey! And a big thank you to Josh Bernoff and the others who have come together to collect this important information. The question of ROI seems to be constant from the start of the book writing journey to the later stages of publicity and marketing. I'm really eager to hear the findings and hope you'll take a moment to share your experiences and thoughts! #publishing #bookpromotion #businessauthor #businessbook

Could your pathway to becoming a published author be hidden within the episodes of a podcast? Absolutely. Let’s explore how turning your podcast into a powerful content tool can pave the way for your book’s success: ◉ 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Start by using your podcast as a dynamic space to unfold your book ideas. Each episode allows you to explore different angles of your topic, refine your concepts, and develop your narrative organically. Think of your podcast as the place where your book content comes to life, episode by episode. ◉ 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐅𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤: Podcasts offer a unique opportunity to trial your ideas and receive immediate feedback. This real-time interaction with your audience allows you to gauge what resonates and what needs tweaking. Use this feedback to shape your book, ensuring it hits the mark with your target readers. ◉ 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲: Starting a podcast before your book is published helps you connect with potential readers well in advance. Regular episodes keep your audience engaged and invested in your journey, turning casual listeners into committed fans. By the time your book launches, you’ll have a community of supporters eager to get their hands on your work. Podcasting is more than just a promotional tool; it’s a strategic method to develop, refine, and market your upcoming book. By integrating podcasting into your author strategy, you can reduce the overwhelm of writing and enhance your connection with future readers, making your book launch successful and fulfilling. #marketing #author #publishing #marketingstrategy #podcast

It’s time to unlock your full author potential, and we’re here to guide the way. In a recent livecast of The Author Launchpad, Chris Trammell and I explored everything from authority marketing to creating a measurable legacy. We dove into how nonfiction authors can package, market, and monetize their expertise. Plus, we shared real-world tips on navigating the challenges and seizing opportunities in the publishing-to-publicity journey. Whether you’re writing your first book or aiming to amplify your thought leadership presence, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Tune in to learn how to transform your book dreams into impactful, income-generating realities. Catch the full recording here for all the insights: https://bit.ly/3xjssGX. #Marketing #Author #Publishing #MarketingStrategy #ThoughtLeadership