Bookstore owners are all too familiar with the struggle to bring authors to their event programs. The stores that are most successful with this have built relationships with publishers and publicists, and have learned how to present their stores as attractive destinations for authors on tour.

For newly opened bookstores, or stores gearing up their events program after the pandemic's hiatus, NVNR's Publicity Speed Dating event is an important first step in making/revitalizing those relationships with publishers. Every store has about fifteen minutes to talk to a group of publicists about your store, your strengths, your audience, and how your creative approach will make events with their authors a success. The Speed Dating event can put your store on publishers' radar.

REGISTER HERE And start now to prepare for your fifteen minutes of fame:

1. Create or Update your Store Press Kit
This simple one sheet of facts about your store tells a publicist everything they need to know about your store and your location. You can see some examples posted by stores to NVNR's "Bookstore Row." Click on a store's detail listing link to see if they have a press kit uploaded. (Here is an example from Eagle Eye Book Shop).

You can't participate in Publicity Speed Dating without a Store Press Kit, so it is worth getting started early to create one for your store. Watch Maribeth Pelly's press kit webinar to guide you while you create or update your marketing materials.

2. Practice your Pitch
Go into your "speed date" prepared with what you want to say. There isn't time for much back and forth questions with publicists, so you will need to make an impression right out of the gate. Decide what are the most important points you want to get across, and practice your pitch ahead of time. Watch "Making the Most of Your Pitch" with Bren McClain for useful tips on giving great, engaging presentations.

A little prep can go a long way in making the most of your "Speed Date!"