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Brand Secrets from Publicist Dana Kaye | MWW Ongoing | Starts Dec. 7

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MWW Ongoing is pleased to offer a new, exclusive 4-week course:

YOUR AUTHOR BRAND

with Dana Kaye of Kaye Publicity, Inc.

Author of Your Book, Your Brand

Registration Available Wednesday, December 7th

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“I wholeheartedly recommend Dana Kaye’s Your Book, Your Brand. In the years I’ve known and worked with Dana, her ideas and strategies have been pragmatic, effective and cost efficient. I count her as an amazing and essential resource for my clients and the agency. I plan to buy this book by the carton and distribute it not just to clients but to my writer friends as well.”

— Janet Reid, of queryshark.blogspot.com, Agent at Fine Print Literary

Brighten your winter with must-see tips on author branding from Dana Kaye, the highly-respected publicist and founder of Kaye Publicity.

This 4-week online study with content exclusively created for the MWW community is for all authors, regardless of where they are in the publishing process. Authors will receive guidance on understanding, the importance of branding and how it applies to them. Aspiring authors will learn how to establish their brand prior to publishing their first book and veteran authors will learn how to create an author brand that embodies the scope of their work in a compelling, memorable way.

Register now and receive the first lesson December 7th and each subsequent class on the following three Wednesdays. Or feel free to join any time through January, and catch up with the classes on your own schedule.

Why is this course important?

Readers (and publishers) are risk averse. They want to know what they’re going to get before they buy. According to Nielsen’s PubTrack Consumer Survey, the #1 reason consumers purchase a book is because they like the author. The #2 reason is that they enjoyed other books in that series. These readers account for 60% of all readers surveyed. So how does a debut or midlist author build a readership? By establishing a favorable, memorable author brand.

What will this course cover?

This course will take you through each step of the branding process, from creation to establishing that brand online. You’ll form a brand summary and tagline, identify which online platforms are ideal for launching your brand, develop a content strategy, and learn how to cultivate relationships online. Lectures include:

  • Branding Workshop
  • Online Platforms
  • Content Strategy
  • Community Building

Students registering for this course will have access to a private Facebook group: MWW + Your Author Brand. The group provides a private place for you to ask questions and have conversations with each other. You’ll receive an invite to join this private Facebook group within a few days of registering. Stay connected and form a writing community with others in the course.

Hint: Our students say that receiving the course weekly is motivating and makes participating in our Facebook group a bit more focused. So sign up now, and we think you’ll be glad you did. That said, we know it’s a busy time and when you sign up is not as important as just making sure that you don’t miss this class.

Cost: $150

You won’t want to miss this instruction. Spend your winter time wisely and develop your brand in time for spring or sooner.

REGISTER HERE TODAY!

Who is Dana Kaye?

dana-kaye-for-publicityDana Kaye is a veteran publicist, social media pro, and brand manager. In 2009, she founded  Kaye Publicity, Inc., a boutique PR company specializing in publishing and entertainment. Known for her innovative ideas and knowledge of current trends, she coaches her clients on how to identify and establish their unique personal brands. Kaye is also the author of  Your Book, Your Brand: The Step-by-Step Guide to Launching Your Book and Boosting Your Sales, published by Diversion Books, and founder of Branding Outside the Box, an online platform that coaches users on how to establish their personal brands.

Q&A with publicist Dana Kaye

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Meet Dana Kaye of Kaye Publicity

 

We’re pleased to have a publicist join our 2011 MWW faculty!

Dana KayeAfter graduating from Columbia College with a BA in Fiction Writing, Dana worked for a few years as a freelance writer and book critic before deciding to move to the other side of the press kit. She signed her first client in February of 2009, and by the end of the year, she represented 30 authors.

 

Q:  What exactly are the services your business offers?

I work with authors to expand their name recognition, build their brand, and increase sales. I do this through booking radio/TV interviews, obtaining print media coverage, executing social media campaigns, scheduling book tours, and occasionally, guerilla marketing. There are 3-month, 6-month, and year-round campaigns depending on the project. I prefer working with authors year round because I can continually shape their brand and find new opportunities for them. I currently represent mostly crime fiction authors, but am also looking to expand my client list with literary fiction and creative nonfiction.
Q: What are some reasons an author would hire a publicist instead of relying on their publisher and their own efforts?

Most in-house publicists have dozens of books on their list each month. There simply isn’t enough time/budget to give each book attention. I work to fill in the gaps left by the in-house publicist. Additionally, an in-house publicist works for the publisher. I work for the client. I have more freedom to take risks and experiment with new marketing techniques.

Q: What are some of the topics you will cover at MWW?

In my first session, I will teach authors how to position themselves in the market. Agents and editors are concerned with platform and how the book will be marketed. I’ll show aspiring authors how to build their platform so they’re more marketable to agents and editors.
Q:  Who are a few of your clients and how have you promoted them?

I worked with Mike Lawson, one of the featured authors at the MWW, to increase his online presence. I booked dozens of blog reviews, increased his web presence, and set up his Twitter account. I also work with Marcus Sakey Two deaths(2010 MWW faculty member), Jamie Freveletti, and Bryan Gruley. Running coverWith each of them, I played up their unique platforms to obtain coverage in “off market” publications. For example, Hanging tree cvrBryan’s Starvation Lake series is set in Northern Michigan where hockey is a way of life. We obtained coverage on a handful of hockey blogs as well as Blue Line radio.

 

Q: What are some tips for authors attending the conference?

Treat the conference as a learning experience. Don’t be so concerned with meeting the agents and delivering the perfect pitch. Strike up conversations at meals or in the hallway, you never know who you’ll meet and what you’ll learn.

 

 

Follow Dana: Follow us on Twitter

Meet publicist Dana Kaye

/in , , /by

We’re pleased to have a publicist join our 2011 MWW faculty!

Dana KayeAfter graduating from Columbia College with a BA in Fiction Writing, Dana worked for a few years as a freelance writer and book critic before deciding to move to the other side of the press kit. She signed her first client in February of 2009, and by the end of the year, she represented 30 authors.

Q:  What exactly are the services your business offers?

I work with authors to expand their name recognition, build their brand, and increase sales. I do this through booking radio/TV interviews, obtaining print media coverage, executing social media campaigns, scheduling book tours, and occasionally, guerilla marketing. There are 3-month, 6-month, and year-round campaigns depending on the project. I prefer working with authors year round because I can continually shape their brand and find new opportunities for them. I currently represent mostly crime fiction authors, but am also looking to expand my client list with literary fiction and creative nonfiction.

Q: What are some reasons an author would hire a publicist instead of relying on their publisher and their own efforts?

Most in-house publicists have dozens of books on their list each month. There simply isn’t enough time/budget to give each book attention. I work to fill in the gaps left by the in-house publicist. Additionally, an in-house publicist works for the publisher. I work for the client. I have more freedom to take risks and experiment with new marketing techniques.

Q: What are some of the topics you will cover at MWW?

In my first session, I will teach authors how to position themselves in the market. Agents and editors are concerned with platform and how the book will be marketed. I’ll show aspiring authors how to build their platform so they’re more marketable to agents and editors.

Q:  Who are a few of your clients and how have you promoted them?

I worked with Mike Lawson, one of the featured authors at the MWW, to increase his online presence. I booked dozens of blog reviews, increased his web presence, and set up his Twitter account. I also work with Marcus Sakey Two deaths(2010 MWW faculty member), Jamie Freveletti, and Bryan Gruley. Running coverWith each of them, I played up their unique platforms to obtain coverage in “off market” publications. For example, Hanging tree cvrBryan’s Starvation Lake series is set in Northern Michigan where hockey is a way of life. We obtained coverage on a handful of hockey blogs as well as Blue Line radio.

 

Q: What are some tips for authors attending the conference?

Treat the conference as a learning experience. Don’t be so concerned with meeting the agents and delivering the perfect pitch. Strike up conversations at meals or in the hallway, you never know who you’ll meet and what you’ll learn.