Get Quoted

Learn how to use the free book publicity tool that pricey publicists try to keep a secret

Authors can get thousands and thousands of dollars’ worth of free news media exposure by using Help a Reporter Out – HARO – to promote their books. HARO is a free service that helps journalists find sources to interview and quote in articles and broadcast segments.

And yet, few authors are using this service to publicize their books or build their brand or reputation. And those who are using it don’t know how to do it effectively. That means they aren’t getting interviewed and quoted, so they aren’t nearly as successful as they could be.

How do I know? I’m a journalist who uses HARO regularly to find sources for assigned articles, and even when I'm specifically looking for authors to interview, I rarely hear from them.

This is a problem for both of us. You’re missing out on valuable exposure that positions you as an authority – the go-to expert on your topic – and helps you sell more books and boost your income. I’m forced to quote fewer authors in my articles than I’d like. Quoting authors is important to me because I’m not just a freelance writer – I’m also a book marketing coach who wants to see you succeed.

Plus – and this is a big one – I’m also an author who sold out three press runs of one of my books by responding to HARO queries.

I want you to enjoy that kind of sales success!

I’ve got good news, though!

I’ve fixed our problems! I created an online course called "Get Quoted: A Journalist's Strategies for Using HARO to Snag Book Publicity" to teach you everything you need to know about using HARO to get quoted by journalists and bloggers.

Mastering HARO will give you a competitive edge that will not only help you sell more books, it will contribute to the platform you need to get a traditional publishing contract. And, for those who consult, coach, or speak, it will boost your profile in ways that attract more clients and allow you to charge more for your services.

Learning how to use HARO effectively will, simply put, be a smart investment in your author career.

What will you learn in "Get Quoted"?

Here’s only some of what you’ll learn in "Get Quoted" (scroll down to the course curriculum for full details):

• How to stand out by responding to queries in ways that all but guarantee your response will get read by the journalist
• The anatomy of a good response – and the anatomy of a bad one
• How to increase how often and where you’re quoted by making one simple change to the queries you respond to
• Common pitfalls you must avoid at all costs
• How to streamline your response process so you use your time wisely, efficiently, and effectively
• Response secrets that make your input irresistible and quotable
• How to leverage initial success so you get quoted even more (publicity begets publicity)

Why does this matter?

There are so many reasons you need to be using HARO effectively to get the news media attention known as publicity. Here are just a few.

Free marketing. Experts say publicity is 10 times more effective than advertising. And it's free. You can't beat that return on investment.

Book sales. Marketing leads to sales. Book publicity contributes to that.

Repetition. People need to see your message at least seven times before they buy from you. Publicity – especially the kind that helps establish your reputation – contributes to that. (And did I mention that it's free?) Plus, publicity begets publicity. You'll see that the more you're interviewed, the more interview requests you'll receive.

Discoverability. Your book has a lot of competition. A lot. That makes it hard for readers to discover your book. News media exposure helps solve that problem.

Distribution. Want to sell to libraries and bookstores? These institutions want books that are in demand, are mentioned in the press, and have positive reader reviews. Publicity helps with the first two.

Platform. Publicity will bolster your book proposal. Agents and editors like working with authors who are go-getters when it comes to book publicity and promotion. And they like to see that there’s news media interest in your topic, too.

Reputation. Experts get paid more. People quoted in the press are often seen as experts.

What if you’ve tried HARO and bombed?

So here’s the thing: I can’t be certain that you weren’t interviewed or quoted because you didn’t respond to queries the way journalists need you to, but there’s a very good chance that’s the reason. We receive more responses than we can use, so we can be picky and zero in on those sources who “get it.” They make our jobs easier.

"Get Quoted" teaches you how to turn around that less-than-stellar track record.