MARKETING AND PUBLICITY
Without marketing and publicity within the publishing industry it would be pretty hard to find those books you love! To get people buying books we need the right people to be aware of the right books! That's the job of a book marketer! From finding what works for different books and authors, to making sure promotional materials are ready for publication day, they have an exciting and crucial role!
SATURDAY 21st AUGUST
Marketing for the Independent Publisher (A Presentation)
4:30pm-5:30pm - (Members Room)
Presented by Nicky Smalley, Publicity and Marketing Manager, at And Other Stories
Have you ever wondered what is going on behind the door of independent publishing houses? What does their approach to marketing look like and how do they handle publicity? Nicky Smalley is going to cover all the duties she has as a publicity and marketing director of the Sheffield-based publisher And Other Stories for the UK market. Regarding publicity, she will cover how they make the public aware of books they publish. How do they decide which events they will host to create a buzz about books and authors? What precedes the launch of a successful event? During the second half of the talk, there will be an opportunity to ask Nicky Smalley all questions you might have about marketing and publicity, the scene of independent publishers, or anything else you have on mind.
Nicky Smalley is publicity, marketing and sales manager for the Sheffield-based independent publishing house And Other Stories. Due to her publicity role and to keep And Other Stories at the heart of the publishing industry, she lives in London.
How to get into Book Marketing (A Lecture)
12pm-1pm - (Meeting Room 1)
Presented by Sam Missingham, Founder and CEO of The Empowered Author
Leaving school or university, beginning a new career and finding the right place for you. It all sounds daunting, right? Luckily, Sam Missingham will talk you through top skills you need to become a rising star of marketing within the publishing industry. As founder and CEO of The Empowered Author, and ex-Head of Events and Marketing at The Bookseller, Sam is just the person to offer advice! You will find out how to improve your marketing CV and what will make it stand out from other candidates. There will also be a summary of the skills you need to succeed in the entry-level position and what you will learn throughout the first steps of your career. During the talk, there will be an opportunity to discuss any concerns about beginning a new job or ask any questions.
Samantha Missingham is the founder and CEO of The Empowered Author (formerly Lounge Marketing) and has nearly 10 years experience within the publishing industry. She worked as Head of Audience Development in HarperCollins and before that she was Head of Events and Marketing at The Bookseller. She often mentors students and speaks at universities and events all around the world.
How to Write a Great Press Release (A Workshop)
3pm-4pm - (Members Room)
Presented by Caitlin Allen, Associate Director at Riot Communications
Writing press releases one of the key tasks and skills needed in a PR entry-level position. Who could teach it better than a true industry professional? Caitlin Allen will explain the importance of press releases, the timing of publishing them and how they are structured. You will have an opportunity to get feedback on press releases you write in the session and ask questions about any aspect of PR you are interested in. During the event, you will also see real-life examples of PR campaigns Caitlin Allen worked within the publishing sector. She will also explain how press releases can influence the reputation of the client and what skills you need to be successful in your PR career.
Caitlin Allen is the Associate Director at Riot Communications, a successful PR agency specialising in culture and entertainment.
SUNDAY 22nd AUGUST
Marketing and Publicity: Panel Discussion
11am-1pm - (Auditorium)
Presented by Kate Neilan, Fi Evans, Rosie Wilson, Sarah Lansbury, Catherine Ward, Orlando Mowbray, Joe Pickering
Are you drawn to both marketing and publicity and would like to find out more? Then this panel discussion is the right place for you. We gathered seven experienced industry professionals who will discuss their careers and favourite and exciting campaigns they worked on. They will also talk about how the marketing and publicity departments co-work together. Our guests will describe in detail their roles in bringing a book to the market, right from the editorial stage. You will also get plenty of advice on how to get into the industry and what could make you stand out from other candidates for a position. This discussion panel is an excellent opportunity to ask questions and get answers from successful and inspiring professionals.
The Panelists;
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Kate Neilan is a marketing executive in VINTAGE at Penguin Random House UK.
Fi Evans is a head of marketing at Hachette Children’s Group. During her career in the publishing industry, she worked on brand management and marketing campaigns for franchises such as Disney, LEGO and J. K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. Her portfolio also includes marketing campaigns for Doctor Who, Philip Pullman and The Hunger Games.
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Rosie Wilson is a publicity manager at Pan Macmillan.
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Sarah Lansbury is a freelance marketer/consultant working with companies such as Pan Macmillan, Egmont and other small businesses. She also contributes to websites and blogs advising students about marketing, publishing and media careers.
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Catherine Ward is a freelance publicist. Amongst her clients, you can find companies such as Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, Penguin Random House and Nosy Crow.
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Orlando Mowbray is an award-winning marketing professional, currently working as a head of marketing at non-fiction division at HarperCollins.
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Joe Pickering is a publicity director at Vintage Books for the Jonathan Cape and Bodley Head imprints.
Entry Level Jobs in Marketing (A Workshop)
4pm-5pm - (The Great Hall)
Presented by Sian Gardiner, Marketing Executive, Bluebird
Sian Gardiner, senior marketing executive at Bluebird, will walk down memory lane and will explain the path to her current job. She will also compare what her day in the life looks like now and what it looked like when she landed her first job in the publishing industry. What were the skills her employer expected her to have for each stage of her career? What skills did she pick up while doing her job? Gardiner will also talk about her favourite marketing campaigns she worked on and will tell you what made these campaigns successful.
Sian Gardiner is a senior marketing executive at Bluebird, an imprint of PanMacmillan. Besides planning and delivering creative campaigns, her responsibility is to run Bluebird’s social media channels as well.
CV's for Marketing Positions (A Workshop)
2:30pm-3:30pm - (Meeting Room 3)
Presented by Cassie Leung, Resourcing, at PRH
Do you want your CV and cover letter to stand out from the crowd but don’t know how to approach it? Cassie Leung will offer you a unique perspective of a resourcing advisor at one of the biggest publishing houses in the UK. She will share tips on the content and design of your CV. Leung will also cover the most common mistakes and weaknesses she sees in applications for entry-level jobs. The session will also focus on cover letters, which is one of the most critical parts of the application process and could decide about your success. You will also get tips on what to do to become more employable and interesting for your potential workplace. If you need to boost your CV and cover letter and get the right motivation to keep trying, this is the right session for you!
Cassie Leung is a resourcing advisor at Penguin Random House UK.