An Interview with Publicist and Content Strategist, Melanie Rembrandt

You create a fantastic audiobook and podcast. Now what? How do you boost your audience, social media engagement (sharing, liking, commenting, and subscribing) and let people know you exist? The answer is public relations! 

For many years, we have been collaborating with publicist,  Melanie Rembrandt of Rembrandt Communications, and she is always available to assist our clients at Audivita Studios. 

One of the country’s top small business publicists, Melanie has helped thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide through her articles in popular publications (Harvard Business Review, Medium, Thrive Global, Success, Under Armour, Office Depot, Baseline, Fast Company, ACHR News, etc.), presentations at Dan Kennedy’s No B.S., Rich Dad, American Writers and Artists Inc., PINK, and many other events, and the “Simplify Your Business” podcast.

An experienced, content strategist, SEO copywriter, publicist, and speaker, she is the author of “Simple Publicity,” “Secrets of Becoming a Publicist” and “Dance Class Etiquette” and has been featured on CBS, ABC, NBC, NPR, PBS, and more.

We recently sat down with Melanie for a brief interview, and here are some insights from that conversation…

First of all, can you explain what public relations is?

Many people think that public relations, or “PR,” is all about distributing press releases. But it really pertains to all of your communications and sending the right message to the right people at the right time. 

For example, you can distribute a press release to the masses at once. But, if you expect your phone to ring with media inquiries, it’s not necessarily going to happen unless you are a celebrity or big business. 

Instead, you need to create targeted messages for specific reporters, producers, writers, etc. and provide valuable information they can use in a timely manner. 

Why do authors and podcasters need public relations?

If you don’t promote your audiobooks and podcasts, you miss a fantastic opportunity to share your insights with more people and grow your audience. 

Public relations offers a very cost-effective way to build awareness and create word-of-mouth for you and your business. You can appear in top newspapers, magazines, online news, television and radio shows, and other media venues without paying for advertising. 

Plus, you receive third-party credibility you can’t get any other way. Specifically, if you appear in a feature story online with a great interview and photos, thousands of potential customers will see this and learn more about your products and services. Then, they may contact you directly and share it with friends. This publicity can give you an edge over the competition, attract talented new hires, improve marketing results, and much more!

How do you save time and money with content and public relations?

Many entrepreneurs approach me after they have spent thousands of dollars on SEO, content creation, PR, and other services with little results. 

When working with a publicist or content strategist, it’s essential to discuss expectations and have an official contract in place to protect both parties legally and avoid unnecessary surprises.

Many companies offer services where they simply “cut and paste” your business information into a standard template. You may feel like you are getting a great deal, but media members and your targeted audience members know when they receive one-of-a-kind information versus general content. 

If you don’t take the time to provide unique insights specific to your audience, you can hurt sales and your reputation with the media.

Where can people start their PR efforts?

To learn more about the public relations process, I offer a lot of free information on my site at www.rembrandtwrites.com and my book, “Simple Publicity – How to do your own public relations to boost sales, awareness and credibility fast… without wasting time, money or other resources!” provides a step-by-step guide.

When done correctly, public relations can catapult popularity and sales and provide a competitive advantage for new authors and podcasters.

Thanks so much Melanie! To learn more on how public relations can help you, visit www.rembrandtwrites.com, or to schedule an initial consultation with Melanie, you can reach her at melanie@audivita.com.