Wondering HOW following journalists on Twitter can help you with your personal publicity efforts, let me point you to a USA Today’s journalists “Tweet” just a few minutes ago.

@barbdelollis Homewood&Hampton fans: Send me yr Qs for the brands! I’m meeting with Hilton’s exec in charge at abt 2pmeast. Will brief you this afternoon.

Reporter  USA Today
http://twitter.com/barbdelollis

Responding to this Tweet may not bring you immediate publicity results but if you have something relevant to ask, it could be an introduction and give her the opportunity to learn more about you when she looks at your Twitter profile, website, or blog. The next time she’s pulling together a story and needs a source with your expertise guess who will be top of mind, maybe you!

If you don’t have anything relevant to offer, you could help her by ReTweeting this request to others on Twitter or by emailing your friend that has a relevant question.

Not only should you follow media people on Twitter but also get to know them, their work, and the kinds of things of interest to them. This will help you craft a perfect pitch for your message and creates the win-win relationship for you and the journalist you hope will pick up your story. You craft a perfect on-topic and relevant pitch to their beat, this goes a long way!

Journalists are under a lot of pressure and have their own deadlines, editors to please and a competive audience to serve. They need your input, breaking news or story sources to provide relevant and timely coverage.

So follow, follow, follow! And remember, interact, offer the media another source if you can’t help them and be an asset in any way you can. It’s all about connecting and helping them to do their jobs with ease.

Here is a recent blog post with an excellent resource for finding media people on Twitter to follow: www.laurasolop.com/media-people-on-twitter-for-authors/

There’s a lively debate and groups of infuriated authors and consumers over Amazon’s new policy banning “objectionable” material from its best sellers rank/search engine. The new Amazon policy has caused countless books and products (some intended, some not), to fall in sales rank thus sparking the widespread controversy.

Met with as much fury as the sales rank fall of “innocents”, is the new intended policy that will permanently change the ranking system for what Amazon deems “gay and adult themed books”.  

May I say Amazon PR nightmare, train wreck now?

In response to a request for comment, Amazon went on record with the LA Times and explained the disappearing book/sales ranks a “glitch”.

I hope that’s the truth since I have always seen and experienced Amazon as an ally and asset for book sales and author promotion efforts.  

Authors check your accounts immediately to be sure you were not innocently included in the sales rank fall and be advised, Amazon may take a while to address your concerns, if any. In my dealings with Amazon I’ve learned don’t have the staff to field and resolve real time author requests to say nothing of the overload this current public outcry must be creating. It’s best to contact your publisher if you have concerns with your titles, each  has an Amazon account rep. that can deliver more timely responses to your concerns.

Want to see the trend in action at Twitter? #amazonfail: http://tinyurl.com/cmg4vg

Here the LA Times story: http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c630a53ef01156f202135970c

 Keep your finger on the pulse of your books, let’s hope this isn’t a sign of things to come.

UPDATE: 

4/13/2009 The New York Times updates the #Amazonfail story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/14/technology/internet/14amazon.html?_r=1&ref=business

  

 

 

Use The Web in Your Publicity Plan!

Still not using Twitter? If you are looking for media people to connect with here’s one more reason to join in the social media fun.

Here’s a list of media people who use Twitter.

https://twitteringjournalists.pbwiki.com/Media-People-Using-Twitter

Laura

P.S. I know I say this over and over but please, don’t spam or pitch off topic. Follow people, interact, and get to know their beats and style, just as you would in person. Read or listen to several of their latest works, then decide if your pitch would be mutually beneficial.

The real opportunities here are in contributing your expertise and building relationships! 

Here is an easy & great way to get started using Twitter. 

I’ve come across some very interesting, engaging and intelligent people in my short Twitter travels and look forward to growing these relationships. I want the same for you.

1. Sign up for your own account and follow me, it’s a great way to learn what Twitter is all about…then use Twitter in your online endeavors! I am still learning, creating relationships and I don’t pretend to be a Twitter guru. I can tell you that I was slow

2. Add your website or blog link in your Twitter profile so others can learn about you.

3. Be sure to fully set up your profile so people can easily find you, your locations,and interests.

4. Set up your alert message preferences. You can be alerted to updates via email or device. Very easy to follow directions on the Twitter website. I use my blackberry for Twitter updates. Revision- had to remove updates from my blackberry while in the Middle East so I am a bit slower to respond but try to check in frequently.

5. Put your Twitter information on your blog or website for Twitter savvy visitors.

6. Engage-tell the world what you are doing & offer help, insight and timely information.

7. Listen and learn: Follow me, follow others, and see being part of Twitter can offer you. It should only take a week or two for you to figure out how you can best use Twitter to makegreat connections, find a following and better yet – grow professionally.

8. Most important: Make friends and add value. Please don’t spam people. That is exactly what Twitter isn’t for!

I would love to see you on Twitter, be sure to follow me and tell me how you found me.

Warnings: Limiting communication to 140 characters is tough, I am a talker! You’ll get the hang of it.

There are so many fascinating people, business models and thought leaders you can easily fall behind in your day to day activities just reading Twitter posts, blogs and websites. I must say, it’s been a guilty pleasure and well worth the time.

Here is the link to my Twitter profile : http://twitter.com/publicityscout

Time required: About 10 minutes and you are using Twitter! Hope to see you there.