FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

+ Who is Wildbound PR?

Wildbound PR is a California based literary publicity & marketing company started by Julia and Jared Drake that uses the latest trends in traditional media, social media, events, and video production to build awareness for authors, publishers, and storytellers. We strive to create new and innovative ways to connect with target audiences across the globe to bring them stories that explore the wilds of our minds, that entertain, edify, and transform.

+ Why do I need Wildbound PR?

You can write the most amazing book or do the most amazing things in world history––but if nobody knows about you––nobody will pay attention. It’s like the proverbial tree falling in the forest. In today’s fast-paced world, where consumer experiences have become increasingly fragmented and the term “mainstream” is slowly giving way to a world of hyper-individualized experiences and worlds, trying to connect with your audience can be a formidable and overwhelming task. Wildbound maintains strong relationships with target media and social influencers and combines traditional and digital publicity and marketing techniques to cover all bases and give your book, work or cause the best chance of getting noticed by your target audience.

+ What do the steps of an average campaign look like?

1. Build Your Online Platform/Brand:

Wildbound will help you develop your brand and message and how to position yourself with media and consumers which starts with a professional website. Both consumers and media professionals will visit your website before engaging further with your work. So it’s important that your online platform is established before you seek media coverage, engage on social media, or hold events. Your website should reflect you and your work accurately and look professional, so unless you have a knack for visual design and are tech savvy, our website designers will work with you to build a website that reflects your personality, work and vision.

2. Social Media Platform:

As with your website, a successful PR & marketing campaign relies on the strength of your social media network and should be in place 3-4 months before the publication of your book. Whether you choose to blog or use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Goodreads, etc., our social media team will help you build and expand your platform with a completely customized social media campaign to work in tandem with our media outreach, events, and other promotional initiatives. We can either train you to take over the reins after the conclusion of the campaign or we can manage your social media needs for a monthly retainer.

3. Media Campaign:

We will build a targeted list of print, online and broadcast media in local, regional and national markets. We realize that many authors have one or two dream media outlets they want to try for, so in composing our media list, we strive for a balance between “shooting for the moon” and setting attainable goals.

Unlike many other PR & marketing companies, we don’t believe in general press releases. In fact, most media contacts consider them spam. Instead, we analyze our clients’ books, work, or cause to identify all possible interest angles as well as any personal background, expertise, or assets that set you apart and develop customized pitches based on an all encompassing perspective, not just superficial sound bytes. We then reach out to each media contact on our targeted media list and individually to solicit review coverage, features, mentions, guest articles, interviews, exclusive excerpts––as appropriate.

In addition, we will help you orchestrate your release with an e-announcement to your mailing list, social media buzz, contests, and other incentives to build anticipation and awareness for your book release or launch of product or cause.

4. Events

Events are an integral part of Wildbound's marketing and PR efforts. We brainstorm and produce both physical and virtual events (including hybrid events) that bring our clients' books to life through a unique experience. Our virtual events platform, Wildbound Live, brings together thousands of viewers from around the globe, raises awareness through our event partners and sponsors, and has sold more books for our author clients than a physical event ever will.

4. Tracking Success

We believe in absolute transparency. Our clients receive weekly and monthly media updates to track the effectiveness of all elements of the marketing and publicity campaign. It’s important to stay flexible because every campaign takes on a life of its own. We go where the energy is and will work with our clients to adjust the parameters of the campaign accordingly to continue to attain results.

+ What is Wildbound Live?

Wildbound Live is the event platform of Wildbound PR, specializing in virtual and hybrid physical to virtual events that create a fully produced, immersive TV quality experience for our global audience, featuring our clients and connecting them with our partners and sponsors for maximum exposure.

+ When should I hire Wildbound PR?

Timing is everything when it comes to launching a successful publicity & marketing campaign. The ideal time to come to us for a book campaign would be 4-6 months in advance of publication date. That allows for ample time to 1) Help authors develop a solid online platform, a strategy for the PR campaign, the creation of media lists, pitches and an editorial calendar for social media 2) Outreach to long lead media (book industry trades, magazines, journals, and other monthlies, in addition to shorter lead media, and 3) Develop a solid launch event(s) strategy to leverage both social media and media coverage and really get you out there with a bang.

For campaigns that don't involve books, but other products, works, or causes, 3 months would be ideal, 2 months minimum.

+ Do you work with self-published authors?

Our client base consists mostly of traditionally published authors, represented by major publishing houses or reputable independent publishers. As we believe in great stories and “the diamond in the rough”, we sometimes consider self-published authors on a project-per-project basis.

+ Can you guarantee results?

We've been in this business for over a decade, and have built relationships with media, social influencers, event coordinators, major publishers, organizations, and brands, so if we take you on, we can absolutely guarantee media coverage and awareness for your book, work or cause.

+ How long does an average campaign run?

Our average campaigns run between 6-8 months. The bulk of the first month is spent building and prepping our client’s online and social media platform for the launch, creating a master media list and pitches for each interest area, and building a list of potential events (both physical and virtual). Month 2-3 is spent pitching and building engagement and followers on social media, month 4-5 is usually launch time for whatever we're working toward, so we aim for the majority of media coverage to hit 1-2 weeks before and 1-2 weeks after the big launch. The remaining months are usually spent for tying up loose ends, pursuing additional media coverage, continuing to build and retain social media following, maximizing sales/awareness of the book, product, cause. Many of our clients work with us year-round.

+ What sets Wildbound PR apart from other publicity & marketing firms?

Heart, wildness of spirit, and a sense of adventure. We genuinely care about our clients and enter this collaborative journey with passion, a deep understanding and appreciation of their hard work and goals, and absolute honesty and transparency.