Saying “Thank You!”

By Kate Siegel Bandos, KSB Promotions

With the holiday just past, I assume you all sent Thank You notes (via email or snail mail) to anyone who sent you a gift. Right? While acceptable to verbally say thank you when you are together when the gift is given, a note a few days later is still the height of good manners.

How many of you say “Thank You” when you get a review, article placement, mention in an article, have been interviewed on radio or TV? We all like to get that pat on the back and know something we did is appreciated. The media are no different and may, in fact, feel that nobody gives them the attention they deserve.

Almost every day I get an email often with a hot link from someone who has done something for one of our clients—written a review, posted an article, quoted the author in an article, etc. I IMMEDIATELY send back a Thank You email telling them how much we appreciate the coverage. I try to add some specific comment showing them what I thought was extra special in their coverage, such as mentioning how their child has asked for the story every night since the book arrived, or commenting on how well their garden was growing thanks to the tips they learned from the book, or the art they selected to run with the story. A comment on their show or web site overall is also a nice idea.

I also try to add a personal comment, not related to this piece. If I see they live in California where is it 80° and I’m in Michigan where it is 10°, I may ask them to say hello to the sun for me since I haven’t seen it in weeks. In some cases, this short remark starts a volley of back and forth short emails about the weather or children or pets. Suddenly I am not just another publicist but a PERSON.

Since we post reviews at our http://www.ksblinks.com web site for most of our clients, before I send the thank you, I post a blurb from the review or post a mention that an article by an author appears in the latest issue of their publication. If possible, I add a hot link back to the full coverage. Then in my thank you note I can say a blurb has already been posted at xxx and that this links back to their site. This immediate response and giving back always is a win-win.

Some of our authors who are active with Facebook and Twitter will ALSO send a their own thank you notes and mention that they are tweeting about it, etc.

When appropriate my note gives me a chance to mention that the author is always happy to answer questions about her area of expertise and so please contact me (or the author directly) when they need a last-minute guest for their show or an expert for an article.

Pitching other authors or their particular books may or may not be appropriate. That depends on the situation. I can occasionally add something like, “If you want a different take on disciplining children, Dr. So-and-So, whose book is YYY, might make an interesting counterpoint to today’s piece. Let me know if you would like to receive a copy or talk with the author.”

I know an author who did very nice notecards using the cover of his book as the front, having their website and book information on the back where the Hallmark information is usually found, with the inside being blank. The hand-written note on this stationery is a nice touch.

The saying is true about getting more flies with honey.  When you are nice to the media, they remember and will be nice in return when appropriate.

No need to thank me for this advice, but do add “Regularly send thank you notes” to your To Do list.

Kate Siegel Bandos has been doing book publicity for more than 40 years, the past 22 on a freelance basis from KSB Promotions (http://www.ksbpromotions.com). Over the years she has worked with thousands of books and authors, and can’t imagine how many media contacts she has made during that time. It still amazes her when she realizes she makes a living reading and working with books – the things she loves most (after her family).