Youve tried every means of publicity for your work. Youve paid for ads, youve written articles for on-line directories, youve done everything. Or so you think. Because I can just about guarantee that theres one publicity route that youve never used. Why? Because almost no one uses it. And thats crazy. Because this publicity is free. Completely. It takes a little of your time, but theres no cost. In fact, you couldnt buy it, even if you wanted to. In addition to being free, its good publicity, the kind of indirect news that people read, think about, but usually dont think about being a plug for your work, your writing, your website, or your practice. And unlike a press release -- which sometimes get printed, and sometimes doesnt -- this is one that almost always gets used. And it has the advantage of usually being printed quickly. Im talking about a letter to the editor. Free, easy, indirect, and usually printed -- depending on the publication (newspaper or magazine) -- within a few days or weeks. And if you write a letter to an online publication or a radio or TV program, the letter may be printed -- or read on the air, in the case of radio or TV -- almost immediately. Now Im not suggesting a ranting letter to the editor about politics or whatever. Save those for your own time. The letters Im talking about are ones in which you give advice, suggestions, or insight into a matter of current interest (the more current the better) and casually, subtly mention your work. The mention has to be low-key. No one wants to read a letter which is hard-core, hard-sell in mentioning your work. Instead, you bring the mentions in on the side, suggesting rather than shouting that your insights are not just those of any writer, but you: a full-fledged, bona-fide expert on the topic you write about. Most people read letters to the editor. Most people enjoy them. They are seen as the voice of the people, the voice of those who have no ax to grind, the voice of those who bring fresh insight to a topic. That voice, that fresh insight, can be yours. Start using letters now. Its a new way of using an old means of bringing fresh publicity to your work. Start now. |
