Bob is one of my favorite radio show hosts. He asks good questions, he laughs at my little jokes, and he keeps the whole interview light hearted and fun. Here is a link to that interview (my interview begins at the 16:50 minute mark.)
I was also on his show in 2009 to promote, Fix em Up, Rent em Out. That was one of my very first radio interviews. After the show I called Bob to ask him if he had any advice for me on how to promote my book.
In my “radio interview notebook” I still have the written notes of what he told me. Here they are, verbatim.
Bob Schmidt Book Promo Advice
1.) To book guest appearances call the radio show after hosts are off the air, and talk to the producer or the host. They don’t respond to email. They want to hear your voice.
2.) Tell them you are the author of a book and succinctly describe “the hook,” or how his/her listeners will benefit from you being on the show.
3.) Make sure you get the host/producer name correct. They are very egotistical and will be insulted if you get it wrong.
4.) During the interview be entertaining and provide helpful information.
5.) Call local TV producers, say I am a local author, and I am fixing up houses. They can film the process.
6.) Contact newspaper home sections.
7.) Fix your website. Put a chapter from the book on it, or provide a prominent link to Amazon where they can get more information about your book.
Why I Like Radio
Radio has been an important component of my book promotion plan.
I use three different ways to reach people, like a three legged stool. One way is the internet, but believe it or not, not every is on the internet. A second way is by giving speeches to groups and organizations. The third way is by radio. It takes all three legs to hold up the stool.
Radio is great because radio shows have time they need to fill, and they guests are one way to do that. It’s fun to be interviewed and you can reach huge audiences from the comfort of your living room. In addition, when a host likes you they invite you back to their show.
Since I started doing radio shows in 2009, I have appeared on 50 shows (and 2 television shows). So far, I have sold 3,300 copies of my books.
To put things in perspective, my friend Joe Sabah has been on over 700 radio shows, and has sold 23,750 copies of his books.
As I like to say, Joe and I together have sold over 27,000 books.
Rather than making a video where you tell people to buy your book, it’s much better to make a video describing how your business operates, and why the type of business in general is a good business to be in. Subtlety always works better than beating people over the head with a sales promotion. Give your viewers something of value and they may return the favor.
For variety, and to broaden my appeal, sometimes I make a video designed simply to inspire people. I tell stories from my life that have inspiring messages, or describe ways that I find inspiration in my own life. In general, the better people know you, the more likely they are to become a customer.
2.) Keep it Short and Entertaining
Logitech Webcam
Many videos on YouTube are long and boring, when they should be quick and fun. I keep my videos short, and I try to include humor in them. I will tell a story that has recently happened to me, or use something that I have recorded in my “humor” notebook, where I record quips or jokes that I have come across.
3.) No Adlibbing
To make sure that I come across as professionally as possible, I write a script before I start recording. The script doesn’t have to be word for word what you plan to say, but just an outline so that you know the key points that you want to make. I always try to include quotes from famous people, and, of course, humor and stories.
Unless you’re Jay Leno, don’t try to adlib your way through a video. It just won’t look as good as you think it does. Think, “nose piercing.”
4.) Break it up into Pieces
Now I do my videos in segments. I will look at my script and decide what I want to say about one key point. I record myself talking about that one point. Then I stop the camera and study the next key point, and so on.
Try to look right into the camera, and speak in a friendly voice as though you were talking to your best friend.
5.) Don’t Overanalyze
Don’t try to overanalyze making videos. As Douglas Adams said,
If you try and take a cat apart to see how it works, the first thing you have on your hands is a non-working cat.
What’s my motivation?
My First Video
For the first video that I made (where I was actually on screen), I was so nervous that I actually wrote out the entire script and read it into the camera. I had my son, Bryan, holding the script next to the camera so that it wouldn’t look like I was reading it.
My son commented, “Surely, people will know that you are just reading.”
I said, “No way. I’ll read it like I talk. And don’t call me Shirley!”
Bryan was right. It did kind of look like I was reading.
Cut!!!
At the end of the video, I was going to stand up and walk away down a peaceful rural path with my dog Blackie (the Wonder Dog), and I got tangled up in the microphone wire. And, the camera pan was jerky as I walked away. The video was unraveling into a Three Stooges experience, but none of that mattered. All that mattered was I somehow got the first video finished and posted.
I did this video before I started using an editing program so, like live TV, we had to get it all on one take.
Here is that first live video, warts and all, entitled “Walk Away From Your Problems and Find Inspiration.”
Two Alternatives to Using a Movie Camera
1. For the Camera Shy
If you really do not wish to appear in a video, you can still produce videos. You can use Easy Screen Capture Video, or ESCV (or any number of similar companies) and just do a voice over of a power point presentation, or use screen shots. It’s amazingly simple to do. You don’t even need a camera.
Here is the first video that I made using the ESCV technology, entitled “Start a Fixer Upper and Rental House Business” (which, looking back seems to run too long).
2. The Economical Way
If you want to do it the cheap and easy way, you can just record your videos using an video camera attached to your computer. I have a Logtech camera that captures sound and video. It clips onto the top of my screen and plugs into a USB port of my computer.
We’re Not Filming “War and Peace”
It’s tempting to think, “I don’t want to show this video to the world until it’s perfect.” Come on, you’re not Quentin Tarantino. We’re not aiming for a masterpiece here. You have to swallow your pride, and just put the video on YouTube, even if it has a few flaws.
People will overlook mistakes, especially if you have good content. My attitude is: my videos are not great, but I’m getting better each time I make another one. The more videos I make the better I get.
In this later video, “The Secret to Success in Less than 2 Minutes.” I employed several of the techniques that I have mentioned. It’s my most popular video with 3,200 views.
Camera and Editing
The camera that I use to record video is the Kodak Zi8. It’s small, easy to use and makes very clear videos. I also recommend that you have a tripod, a remote control, an external microphone, and an 8 GB flash memory card.
For editing, I use Windows Live Movie Maker, which is free if you have Windows. It allows you to cut and paste your video, and add music and titles.
Show People How to Do It!
Most people don’t want to waste time reading how to fix a leaky sink, or repair a car lock, or start a real estate business. They want to see how to do it!
They go to YouTube for answers.
That’s why your videos should be there.
This week’s recommended articles from the blogosphere:
Packed with specifics on not only writing a book, but also the possibility and practicality of self-publishing and marketing what you’ve written. “Carve Out Your Niche” will prove to be invaluable for anyone seeking to successfully write, publish, and market their own work. — Midwest Book Review
How Abraham Lincoln Used Stories to Touch Hearts, Minds & Funny Bones
“Timeless wisdom! The author shows how we can develop these skills and put them to use in our daily lives and businesses..” — Don Blankenship – Top 50 Amazon Reviewer.
“The book is much more than a collection of stories. It teaches us the importance of storytelling as a means to succeed in life and build relationships with your family, friends and employers.” — Awdhesh Singh
“Highly recommended! Improve “people skills” by becoming a more “people friendly” “approachable person.” — Alma Jones
*2013 NATIONAL AWARD WINNER *
Self-Publish Your Book with “Carve Out Your Niche”
"Carve Out Your Niche: How to Live Your Passion, Write Your Book, & Help Others Change Their World"
"As a direct result of reading this book, I finished writing my book and published it as well. All of this took place within the past 30 days. "
Brian V. Menard, Amazon Reviewer
"Sprouse is one of the most practical authors in this genre I have ever read. 'Carve Out Your Niche' is downright inspiring."
Don Blankenship, "Top 50" Amazon Reviewer
"Invaluable for anyone seeking to successfully write, publish, and market their own work"
The Midwest Book Review
FIX EM UP RENT EM OUT
Purchase FIX EM UP RENT EM OUT (paperback)Award-Winning Finalist in the Real Estate category of the National Best Books Awards, sponsored by USA Book NewsGreat information for anyone starting out in the fixer-upper business. The author has served his apprenticeship in the trenches.
-- Fixer Jay P. DeCima, Investor and AuthorTerry Sprouse has created a profitable rental business in his spare time. What sets him apart is he took action.-- Bob Zachmeier, Investor, Educator, Author With the wit of Will Rogers, this book provides simple guidelines for restoring homes, and sanity to our crazy lives. --M.D. Matlock, Ph.D., P.E., C.S.E.
