BY AMANDA ELLIOTT
Let’s make this brief . . .
That is the goal of today’s marketing blog and should be the goal of your pitch.
The term “elevator speech,” which is regularly utilized in corporate America, is also used when discussing a pitch. Many authors believe this quick, catchy pitch is solely used when promoting a book to a buyer, literary agent, library or publisher. But the fact is, having a prepared, refined pitch is imperative in your day-to-day interactions.
In past blog entries, we have shared multiple tools for marketing, but the one we all forget about is ourselves. The face-to-face interactions are our opportunity to attract interest in our book.
Since starting with The X in April, I have had countless people say to me “my friend/husband/family member has written a book”. When I ask them what the book is about they begin to fidget, sweat and struggle. From this moment, it is apparent to me that they did not receive a good pitch from the author that is easy to recite.
Below are suggestions on creating a pitch that you can share, not only on the publishing level but with friends, family and coworkers (i.e. your readers).
Begin by asking yourself:
- What is my hook?
- Who is the book for?
- What are three similar books within the genre I am writing?
- What is the book about? State it outright.
Once you have these concepts in place, begin sculpting your elevator speech.
- Keep your pitch to 30 seconds.
- Create an opening line that piques interest but is not overly complex.
- Introduce the main character and state what obstacle they face.
Remember, your overall goal is to get potential readers interested while also giving them a rapid summary they can share with others. “Hey Amanda, my friend just wrote a book and it is about . . .”
I want to leave you with this thought: long ago, I had attended a book publishing conference where they discussed the pitch and I will never forget the example they gave. They had said, when the creators of the movie Alien were pitching their film, their pitch to the producers was “envision Jaws in outer space.” It’s a great visual, and more importantly it’s simple and memorable.
So, what’s your pitch going to be? Remember, your marketing team at Xchyler is on hand to help you refine your next elevator speech.
From her home in Arizona, Amanda infuses the marketing team with her expertise and excitement. Her love for her profession and for literature make her a vital member of The X Team. Warming up in the bull pen: A Dash of Madness: a Thriller Anthology.