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Welcome to Season 5 of The Book Marketing Action Podcast with Becky Robinson, where we give you information you can immediately implement to increase your influence and market your books more successfully.
In this episode, Becky talks to Mary O’Donohue—Media Coach for Women Nonfiction Authors, a #1 Bestselling Parenting Author, and a former Post Producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show. Listen as Mary shares valuable insights from her extensive career in television and her expertise in media coaching for authors. She emphasizes how important it is for authors to understand the media landscape and showcase the value they have to offer the audiences of major media outlets. Through real-life stories and practical advice, Mary provides guidance on how to overcome fear and anxiety when trying to get your message in front of the media.
Key Points From This Episode:
[01:36] Mary shares about herself, the work she has done throughout her career, and her book, When You Say ‘Thank You,’ Mean It.
[09:02] Mary reveals how her career in television contributed to the work she is doing now as a media coach for authors.
[12:30] Learn how Mary helps set authors’ expectations about the reality of what it takes to get on a major broadcast media show.
[17:35] Mary talks about what makes a guest “bookable.”
[25:30] (AD) Learn about our Book Marketing Strategy Live Course.
[27:11] If you’re a woman nonfiction author and you want to get your message or book in front of the media, Mary shares some of her best advice for growing your impact.
[30:00] Mary explains why podcasts are such a crucial part of marketing and book promotion today.
[35:43] Mary outlines some tips for authors on how to tackle the fear and anxiety they may experience as they approach the world of media.
[39:41] Mary shares some final encouragement for authors who dream of being on a major media show.
Action Steps:
- Consume the media. If there’s a show you’ve always wanted to be on but it’s not a show you regularly watch, or an outlet that you’d like to be featured on but it’s not one you regularly read, start to consume that media so that you can have a better idea of the content they’re looking for.
- Think about the expertise that you can share in the media. Major media shows aren’t interested in your book itself, they’re interested in the value you, the expert, will share with their audience.
- Pay attention to other experts in your field. For example, if you’re in the parenting space, what other parenting authors have had successful media placements? Follow that person on social media and don’t look at them as competition—look at them as a guide.
Resources:
- Explore Mary’s website and join her mailing list to stay connected.
- Follow Mary on LinkedIn.
- Sign up for Mary’s courses/programs: Media Success Blueprint™ and Published to Prime Time™ (this is exclusively for women nonfiction authors and requires a prior meeting with Mary).
Key Quotes:
It’s so important that an author is really prepared to tell their story in a clear and concise way that’s going to make sense to the viewer or listener. —Mary O’Donohue
If you, as an author, are pitching a great idea to a major national show and you don’t have actual video that shows you can do this, the associate producer is not going to take a risk on you. —Mary O’Donohue
If you want to be on the Today Show, then your content needs to tie into current events in some way. —Mary O’Donohue
It’s not news that you have a book anymore. The newsworthy aspect is that you’re an expert who wrote a book. —Mary O’Donohue
Understand that your book deserves to be in the world, that you have a point of view and a perspective that is important and needs to be shared. —Mary O’Donohue
Embrace your expertise. Don’t hide from it. —Mary O’Donohue
Consume the media that you want to be on. —Mary O’Donohue
Your attention, if it’s placed on the right things, can be very helpful to you as an author. —Mary O’Donohue
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Read our latest article based on key takeaways from this episode.
Explore our archives! Listen to Becky’s five favorite episodes:
- Episode 125 with Michael Bungay Stanier
- Episode 121 with Juliet Starrett
- Episode 112 with Clint Pulver
- Episode 108 with AJ Harper
- Episode 106 with Jane Friedman
I am the founder/CEO of the Weaving Influence team, the author of Reach: Creating the Biggest Possible Audience for Your Message, Book, or Cause, and the host of the Book Marketing Action Podcast. I’m a wife and mom of three kids, and I enjoy running, reading, writing, coffee, and dark chocolate.