Bob Bly Direct Response Copywriter Official Banner

The Power of PR, Oprah Style

October 3rd, 2005 by Bob Bly

On September 22, 2005, Oprah Winfrey announced that her TV book club?s next pick would be ?A Million Little Pieces? by James Frey.

According to an article in BusinessWeek (10/10/05, p. 46), the book sold 85,000 copies within 4 days of Oprah?s announcement ? making it an instant best-seller. Bookstores ordered an additional 650,000 copies with the ?Oprah?s Book Club? seal on the cover.

Share

This entry was posted on Monday, October 3rd, 2005 at 3:41 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

69 responses about “The Power of PR, Oprah Style”

  1. Ardath Albee said:

    Bob,

    I never have figured this out. Just because Oprah likes something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a book I’m going to like. Or anyone else, for that matter. But, it is an illustration of the power of WOM. So, my challenge to you is what are some of the business equivalents to that? Who can pull that power with technology or with a consulting methodology or with a toaster? And, leaving Oprah alone, because, well, she’s a tipping point all her own, what would they have to have to have that much influence?

  2. Bob McCarthy said:

    Yes, indeed, the power of PR.

    And three reasons why:
    1. The numbers are enormous. Oprah’s show reaches how many millions?
    2. Third party endorsements work. It’s always better to have someone else say something nice about you.
    3. People love Oprah and will follow her lead. She is the ultimate endorser.

    But before we get too excited, let’s think about all those books that didn’t get endorsed by Oprah. I’m sure there was no shortage of effort on the part of publishers to push their books. But PR is kind of a crap shoot. You do what you can and hope for the best.

    Bob McCarthy
    The Direct Response Coach
    McCarthy & King Marketing, Inc.

  3. Pam Gitta said:

    On the “what would they have to have” question…I’d say the main thing they have to have, is the public’s trust. Oprah has been around for a number of years, and she’s had a lot of truth told on her show. She’s told a few truths herself–some of them hard stories to speak. She has worked hard to gain the public’s trust (something that does take time), and near as I can tell, she’s succeeded.

    The books she chooses aren’t lightweight, so that adds to people’s willingness to trust her opinions (she isn’t some airhead recommending airhead books). When she recommends a book, people don’t stop to read the blurb or what the critics said about it. Oprah’s seal of approval is all they need, because they trust her.

    Now that I think about it, it’s tough to come up with a company that has done that. Until recently, I might have said the NYT… but right now, I’m coming up with bupkus.

  4. Scott Thorne said:

    Non-profits come to mind such as the Red Cross, American Heart Association, March of Dimes. Another reason that Oprah’s recommendations are so strong is that she has no percieved financial interest in the book. If it ever came out that she was getting paid a fee for selecting the book, you’d see a definite drop in sales.

  5. See Porn said:

    5220
    See porn here!

  6. essiac said:

    Scharner stalls Everton
    Two essiac by Austrian midfielder Paul Scharner denied Everton the chance to go joint top of the Premiership as Wigan twice came essiac behind to record a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park yesterday.

  7. biovea said:

    Letters to the Editor
    This year’s many political TV ad campaigns have had a significant and lasting impact on me. The mute button on my TV remote has biovea out. I’ll have to biovea a new one before 2008.

  8. yfponwhcrq said:

    Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! lzikqmmgwwb

  9. aurjlacrjs said:

    Thanks for this site!
    s.dsbcxb.biz
    uf.dzbdxb.biz
    f.dzbdxb.biz

  10. ProCopywritingTactics said:

    Oprah certainly has clout! This woman has the power to make or break an industry.

    But you know, just because Oprah liked something doesn’t mean that you will. I tried one of her book club suggestions a long time ago and I hated the book…..Just goes to show, each person has their own opinion.

  11. cartoon network games scooby doo said:

    i just thought that queen latifah is one of the best comedians out there, she is really funny’

  12. Full Article said:

    Your posts is rather fascinating.

  13. sbinetbanking said:

    nice read

  14. asdasd said:

    I have bookmarked your website because this site contains valuable information in it. I am really happy with articles quality and presentation. Thanks a lot for keeping great stuff. I am very much thankful for this site.!!!!
    http://www.fiverr.com/sereen

  15. Jency said:

    Check Kroger Survey Guide. Give a genuine feedback and take a Kroger customer satisfaction survey to earn 50 fuel points and more Kroger Rewards.

  16. techallabout said:

    Nice
    https://www.techallabout.com

  17. islamic ways said:

    They know that when they will become old, they will have their child as support. While raising your child, you will face many challenges. One such challenge is when your child is disobedient. He or she can bring disgrace to your family.

    Dua For Nafarman Child

  18. Rohaan said:

    This is a great motivating content.I am fairly much happy with your great work.You put really cost of brake disk rotors

  19. gta 5 indir website said:

    gta 5 indir bedava

  20. Fasjhigukhbnvg said:

    TD Bank Card Activation It is an easy and quick process of TD Card Activation but the cardholders are expected to fulfill

  21. under208 said:

    And the businessmen can solve it’s so such as ARAMARK Healthcare organized a good plan for its customer as a customer satisfaction survey to hear your voice.

    So please go on the official site of the ARAMARK Healthcare survey and share your rating to help them in growth.

  22. aircon servicing singapore said:

    One of the leading and most trusted aircon servicing, Repair, Installation & Maintenance companies in Singapore, for years, we have been providing reliable and effective air conditioning services in the region using the latest equipment and technologies.

  23. Justprotech said:

    JustProTech is a company that updates its users with the technology and reviews. https://justprotech.com/
    providing all the informations related to Tech.

  24. surecool said:

    thanks for posting
    Nice
    aircon service

  25. Corwin said:

    puppies for sale,pug puppies for sale in oregon,pug puppies for sale ment making our Pug puppies completely at ease with other pets.pugs for sale,pugs for sale near me,cheap pugs for sale,pug puppies for sale,pug puppies for sale near me.
    https://pugslandbreeder.company.com

  26. mifiysds said:

    The Steinlager Series kicks off on Saturday 3 July with the All Blacks playing at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, for the New Zealand vs Tonga Rugby first time in what will be an historic Test against Tonga.

  27. lifegesds said:

    British and Irish Lions head coach Warren Gatland is set to name his 36-man squad Lions tour 2021 sa rugby stream free for the tour to South Africa this summer to take on the World Champion Springboks.

  28. Learn filmmaking said:

    very nice blog post.

  29. gclub said:

    I think this will be the date of this release. We can see it from our actions. King99 today for us, no regrets, tomorrow will come out better.

  30. Joe Clark said:

    Best Qualified Leads For MCA method has several leading elements needed to modify the MCA Leads Guide to the approaching jobs in the Qualified MCA Leads Data.

  31. lifersds said:

    Tszyu’s stuck in a holding pattern until the Castano-Charlo situation Tim Tszyu next fight Newcastle resolves itself, and depending on which sanctioning.

  32. cool said:

    Oprah certainly has clout! This woman has the power to make or break an industry.

    But you know, just because Oprah liked something doesn’t mean that you will. I tried one of her book club suggestions a long time ago and I hated the book…..Just goes to show, each person has their own opinion.

  33. suuman said:

    King99
    King99
    Best Qualified Leads For MCA method has several leading elements needed to modify the MCA Leads Guide to the approaching jobs in the Qualified MCA Leads Data

  34. Ndure Shoes said:

    Shop from a wide range of women shoes online in Pakistan from Ndure Shop from a wide variety of Women s chappals, sandals, sneakers, sports wear, loafers, slipons and heels from Ndure Our shoes are made from best quality material that is durable Shop from a wide range shoes color and style At Ndure, we have a fashion for each one of You.
    From Ndure buy latest fashion basic women graphic tees at affordable price. Fast Shipping.

  35. Craft game said:

    I don’t have any faith is social media platforms, people there are usually fake. If you want a real relationship, you should meet them in person.

  36. himanshu sharma said:

    check this hottest babe https://www.updatedcelebrities.com/patrycia-kayy-patikay/

  37. vivek sharma said:

    check out the babe and share your biew https://www.updatedcelebrities.com/shamayne-williams-shay/

  38. MCA Data said:

    MCA Live Transfer Leads professional guarantees to deliver Qualified MCA Aged Leads with precise and updated knowledge prepared for conversion. MCA Leads.

  39. vibsdiref said:

    The governing body for the mini games is the Pacific Games Council. Much like the main games, the Games council flag is 2022 Pacific Mini Games live stream presented to the host nation of the next mini games at the end of every games. As of 2017, the council has 22 member nations.

  40. john alexlee alexlee said:

    Daily updates, thanks to this site http://bestavporn.com.

  41. pocilosds said:

    Rugby World Cup Sevens is the quadrennial big showdown of rugby sevens, rwc 7s live a variation of rugby association. Coordinated by World Rugby.

  42. ciceraasassds said:

    They will be the main the M?ori All Blacks have played since facilitating NZ Maori rugby on tv today the British and Irish Lions in Rotorua.

  43. Cobalt Dreir said:

    cobalt octoate are importers of cobalt octoate products devoted exclusively to advance materials in industrial bulk and laboratory/research quantities.

  44. Real Estate Agent In Long Island said:

    Long Island real estate agents work to increase the value of your home. List your homes for sale in long island on our website. We also provide rental services, so you may rent out your lovely homes.

  45. see-xnxx.com said:

    Everything is clear to me now after reading this article. Everything was explained and differentiated well, the topic is very useful. Worth to read the article.

  46. see-xnxx.com said:

    For the latest outgoing videos, please visit https://see-xnxx.com

  47. TheCareer-Coach said:

    If you’ve already managed to polish off your CV to stand out – congratulations! If you haven’t, check out our Interview Tips here to check out our all-inclusive plan for those looking for their first job or their next job!

  48. afb1188 said:

    My opportunity did not happen by itself. This is because your website has created so many great opportunities for me that every opportunity superlot I take is inspired by it.

  49. Alexpeter said:

    Our career coaches have decades of experience and have taken thousands of interviews across different industries – so you’ll be in AMAZINGGG hands for your Interview Tips

  50. Shanewotson said:

    Thermoplastic Striping Houston helps manage the space properly and directs the inflow and outflow of the traffic.

  51. Lucia Gonzalez said:

    This was a great post, thank you for writing it!Guest Posting

  52. tobycarvery said:

    NikNik Travel provides the best accommodation to their visitors throughout the World and also provides the services of pick and drop from Airport to your desired destination

  53. gil12 said:

    best Shisha in Dublin offers you a wide range of shisha with flavourful drinks to go with it. Bring in your friends and family and enjoy the secluded atmosphere we offer you. We are offering amazing deals on drinks and shisha combos throughout the week.

  54. Emiley said:

    Hi, Nice Article. Well we are a marketing agency . We offer social media marketing services to help you build and engage with your audience on social media.

  55. Highway Fashions said:

    Highway Fashion brings an amazing collection of sale on brands online in all over Pakistan. The Highway Fashion store constantly offers their customers amazing sales on different brands. So, Grab your favorite dress today at discounted prices.

  56. Royal Leafs said:

    If you are looking for the most appropriate hamilton marijuana dispensary, then you are at a suitable place. Royalleafs is a premier cannabis store in Hamilton. You can find online plenty of Cannabis products such as Cannabis pre-rolls, raw and milled flowers, drinks, and accessories such as bongs and vapes of the highest quality at Royalleafs.

  57. Jazmin Clothing said:

    Experience the beauty of traditional embroidery with Jazmin Clothing’s Embroidered Lawn collection. Our collection features embroidered designs on high-quality lawn fabric, perfect for any occasion. So, grab your favorite lawn dress online today.

  58. Mushtaq said:

    Explore the wide range of new dress design collections at Mushtaq. We offer stitched and unstitched dresses at affordable prices. Grab your favorite dresses at Mushtaq Clothing online.

  59. Catering Pernikahan Jakarta said:

    Worry not, as we recommend the best and famous catering service in Jakarta for your reference

  60. Entrümpelung Liezen in Steiermark said:

    Eine Entrümpelung in Graz – sei es im Zuge eines Umzugs, einer Haushaltsauflösung oder einfach, weil man Platz schaffen möchte – kann befreiend sein. Doch damit der Prozess reibungslos und effektiv verläuft, gibt es einige Dinge, die man beachten sollte. Hier sind Tipps und Ratschläge, die Ihnen dabei helfen können.

    1. Planung ist das A und O

    Setzen Sie sich ein realistisches Ziel und erstellen Sie einen Zeitplan. Überlegen Sie, wie viel Zeit Sie benötigen und ob Sie alleine arbeiten oder Hilfe benötigen. Dies gibt Ihnen einen klaren Rahmen und erleichtert die Organisation.

    2. Die richtigen Hilfsmittel

    Besorgen Sie sich ausreichend Verpackungsmaterial wie Kartons, Müllsäcke und eventuell auch Beschriftungsmaterial. Handschuhe können nützlich sein, ebenso wie ein Erste-Hilfe-Set für kleine Unfälle.

    3. Kategorisieren Sie

    Teilen Sie Ihre Sachen in verschiedene Kategorien ein: Behalten, Verkaufen, Spenden, Recyceln, Wegwerfen. Dies erleichtert die spätere Entsorgung und das Auffinden von Gegenständen.

    4. Emotionalen Abstand gewinnen

    Es ist natürlich, dass man an manchen Dingen hängt. Allerdings können solche Gefühle den Entrümpelungsprozess verlangsamen. Fragen Sie sich bei jedem Gegenstand, ob Sie ihn wirklich noch benötigen oder ob er nur Platz wegnimmt.

    5. Regel der 12 Monate

    Wenn Sie ein Objekt seit über einem Jahr nicht benutzt haben, ist es wahrscheinlich, dass Sie es auch in Zukunft nicht benötigen werden. Dies kann als Richtlinie dienen, obwohl natürlich Ausnahmen existieren.

    6. Professionelle Hilfe in Betracht ziehen

    Manchmal kann es sinnvoll sein, professionelle Entrümpler zu beauftragen, insbesondere wenn es sich um größere Mengen oder schwer zu handhabende Gegenstände handelt.

    7. Umweltfreundliche Entsorgung

    Denken Sie an die Umwelt. Viele Gegenstände können recycelt oder anderweitig umweltfreundlich entsorgt werden. Oft bieten Gemeinden spezielle Entsorgungsdienste an.

    8. Dokumentation

    Insbesondere bei Haushaltsauflösungen kann es sinnvoll sein, Wertgegenstände zu dokumentieren. Dies kann für steuerliche oder erbrechtliche Fragen relevant sein.

  61. Lagerrräumung in Wien said:

    Günstige Lagerräumung und Lagerentrümpelung und Wien.

  62. Gyanendra Singh said:

    nyc post

  63. BabyBoxShop said:

    Discover a wonderful selection of unisex baby gifts that are perfect for celebrating any new arrival. From gender-neutral clothing to adorable accessories, our collection offers an array of options that are both stylish and versatile. These gifts are ideal for those who prefer a gender-neutral approach or for parents who are keeping their baby’s gender a surprise.

  64. BSNS Consulting said:

    As a leading provider of Business Consultancy Services in Pakistan, BSNS Consulting is your trusted partner for achieving sustainable growth and success. We understand the local business landscape and offer tailored solutions to address your specific challenges. From market analysis to strategic planning, our consultancy services are designed to unlock your business’s full potential.

  65. ELIZA said:

    discover the most valuable knowledge with thinksuccess

  66. gyanesh said:

    hlo

  67. TipTop Enrichtung said:

    A friseurstuhl vintage adds a nostalgic ambiance to the salon. These chairs often have a classic design and can be antique or retro-styled. They are designed to be comfortable and allow the hairdresser easy access to the client’s hair.

  68. Bug Zapper said:

    Bug zappers are useful in a variety of contexts, such as homes, businesses, and factories, as well as outdoor activities like camping. Discover the various uses for bug zappers and their adaptability.

  69. ??????????????? said:

    online slot games It is a form of game that has been developed from slot games. Slot machines or ??????????????? in traditional slot machines is Players will drop coins. Then pull the lever to turn the wheel.

Leave a Reply