When it comes to the promotion of your book it is important to know that: "Publicity is the voice of visibility." This is a terrific message to all of you authors out there. When it comes to getting the word out about your book in order to drive sales, nothing can beat a great public relations campaign.

But how do you find a publicist that best fits you and your book? Here Marsha Friedman, CEO of Event Management Services, a national public relations firm shares her 10 tips to find the best publicist for your book.

1. Find a publicist that works in your genre. So, if your book is religious, find a firm that specializes in religious media as they'll have the strongest contacts and will know which shows and publications represent the best exposure for you. Marsha Friedman says, "The same holds true for fiction publicists, children's books, etc"

2. Find a publicist that will take the time to research your topic enough to understand how to communicate your message to the media. Marsha Friedman says, "Instead, you'll want a publicist who will take the time to familiarize themselves with your topic or book and will craft a campaign to match your special needs."

3. Make sure that the publicist is a specialist in your choice of media. Marsha Friedman says, "Not every publicist is a master at every medium. Many publicists specialize in one medium and will refer business to other specialists when it's best for their client." So, if for example you've written a book on fashion or photography - the best exposure for your book would obviously be print or TV, as they're both visual mediums. In this case, you want a publicist who procures print and TV placements on an ongoing basis.

4. Make sure that you request to see sample campaigns. Sure, it will be the publicist's best foot forward, but a sample will still demonstrate their skill and proficiency at obtaining media.

5. Along with reviewing sample campaigns, speak to past clients, too, if you have the slightest hesitation about engaging their services.

6. Make sure to look at the price tag and shop around. Don't use the most expensive publicity firm simply based on the fact that they have a fancy address in a major metropolitan city.

7. And speaking of fees - in the book industry you'll find many publicists who work on a performance or project basis. Marsha Friedman says, "There are many firms out there that charge on a project basis while there are others that will charge you every month regardless of their results. I strongly suggest that you avoid monthly retainer based firms and focus on finding ones where you pay for THEIR performance."

8. Look past the hype. Marsha Friedman adds, "Sales people can really build confidence, but in the end they are not the ones that will be handling the campaign So, don't be shy about asking who will be writing your press releases and who will be pitching you to the media. You need to see what their experience level is, the amount of time they were at the firm and anything else you want to know about them. After all the time, money and hard work you invested in writing your book, you want to make sure your campaign isn't being delegated to a rookie out of college."

9. In your search for the right publicity firm - don't just talk to local agencies. Especially if you're looking for regional or national reach. You don't have to regularly have face-to-face meetings with your publicity firm. The work involved can be done via phone. So focus your efforts on finding the best publicity..period!" 9. Finally make sure that the publicity firm is enthusiastic about your topic! Their determination alone can often be the driving force behind prime media placements for you.

So there you go! Go out and there and find the best publicist!just make sure to use these 10 vital tips! If you would like to learn more about gaining national and local media exposure for your company, product or service, without the financial burden of monthly retainers, Marsha Friedman is here to help . Feel free to contact her directly at mfriedman@emsincorporated.com or visit her firm online at http://www.emsincorporated.com. As a public relations expert Marsha Friedman has the ability to get the media attention that you desire without costly monthly retainers .