How
to Get Celebrity Endorsements and Testimonials for Your Books
by Jordan McAuley
Getting a celebrity, notable VIP, or leader in your field to give your
book a short testimonial or endorsement (sometimes called a "blurb") is
a great way to boost sales and garner extra publicity. Remember that
this is a trade-off. You get a testimonial for your book, and the
endorser gets additional exposure and/or credibility. Below is the
five-step process I teach authors and writers:
1) Choose potential endorsers based on your book's subject.
If your book is about animals, for example, target celebrities and/or
notable VIPs who have a vested personal interest in animals. If it's
about a disease, target people who have suffered personally from it or
who contribute to the disease's cause. If it's about kayaking, target
people who like to kayak.
2) Ask potential endorsers to write your book's introduction or
foreword.
This technique can work really well as long as you remember the
following: flattery is key. Don't ask for an endorsement at this stage.
Instead, flatter the person by saying that because of his or her
expertise on your book's subject, you'd like to ask him or her to write
the introduction or foreword. You may want to point out that this is a
great opportunity for the endorser to get some additional exposure.
When the book is published, you can mention "Introduction by (Expert's
Name)" or "Foreword by (Expert's Name)" on the cover.
3) Gather a list of names and contact information.
The reference area of your local public library is a good start, but
you can find more accurate information online. Search Google for
"celebrity contacts" or "celebrity addresses" for a list of resources.
If the celebrity has an official Web site, you can usually find his or
her contact information there as well. Don't forget personal and
professional connections. Take some time to sit down and brainstorm all
the people you know who could put in a good word for you or at least
pass along your book and request.
4) Make it as easy as possible to get a response.
Your request should include the draft of your book, a self-addressed,
pre-paid FedEx or Priority Mail envelope, an easy-to-fill out
testimonial form, and a personalized letter from you. If you're nervous
about sending a draft of the book, you can also include a
Confidentiality Letter. You may even want to mention that the better
the testimonial, the more likely it will appear in your book (and
possibly on the cover), resulting in additional exposure for the
endorser.
5) Point out the benefits of giving an endorsement.
Potential endorsers usually won't mind (and will probably appreciate)
the extra free publicity, additional exposure, and added credibility
their blurb will provide when it's featured in (and maybe on the cover
of) your book. Let the endorser know you'll mention his or her name,
company name, and city under the testimonial as an added benefit of
giving you an endorsement.
BONUS STEP: Follow Up!
If you still haven't heard anything, send a follow-up letter or email
to the celebrities you asked for an endorsement from after a few weeks
have gone. Know that getting a good endorsement or testimonial can take
time. Celebrities and VIPs are busy, and their mail is often screened
by an assistant or representative which can delay your request getting
to them.
Always remember the "Three Ps" for getting celebrity testimonial and
endorsements for your books: Be Polite, Be Persistent, and Be Patient!
------------------------
Jordan McAuley is the Founder of www.ContactAnyCelebrity.com located in
West Hollywood, California. His online database contains the best
mailing address, agent, manager, publicist, production company, and
charitable cause for over 54,000 celebrities and public figures
worldwide. http://nabeonline.com/recommends/CelebrityAddresses
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