Isabelle Knight - The PR Secrets That Made JK Rowling Famous (And How You Can Use Them)

Isabelle Knight is a celebrity publicist turned author branding expert who has worked with literary icons including JK Rowling and major organizations like the BBC. As founder of Build Your Author Brand, she brings insider knowledge from the world of high-profile publicity to help everyday authors develop powerful personal brands, connect with their ideal readers, and dramatically increase book sales. Her unique background bridges traditional PR with modern digital marketing strategies.

In this episode:

• The celebrity publicist's approach to author branding that actually works
• How to identify and magnetize your ideal readers (not just any readers)
• Traditional PR vs. digital marketing: when to use each strategy
• The newsletter and social media tactics that build genuine fan bases
• How to pitch yourself like the pros (without feeling salesy)
• Strategic partnerships that amplify your book launches
• Real case studies from successful author branding campaigns
• The consistency secrets that separate amateur from professional authors
•  Why most author marketing fails and how to avoid common pitfalls

Resources mentioned:

• Build Your Author Brand course
• Facebook groups for author networking
• Newsletter platforms for reader engagement
• Bookshop partnerships for book launches

Book recommendations:

• "Enough" by Dr. Catherine McAleese
• Books by Pauline Tate
• "The Big Leap" by Gay Hendrix

Connect with Isabelle Knight:

• Website: https://buildyourauthorbrand.co.uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isabelle.knight.pr/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-knight-pr/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@isabelle_knight_pr

Connect with Teddy Smith:

• @teddyagsmith
• Website: https://publishingperformance.com/?ref=ywm3mtc
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/publishingperformance/
• Pinterest - https://nz.pinterest.com/publishingperformance/
• Instagram - https://instagram.com/publishingperformanceinsta
• Youtube -https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHV6ltaUB4SULkU6JEMhFSw
• Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/publishing-performance/

Chapters

• 0:06 Introduction to The Publishing Performance Show
• 1:23 Discussion on building an author brand
• 4:18 Defining what an author brand means
• 6:33 Discussing online reputation and publicity tactics
• 10:01 Importance of identifying your target reader
• 16:28 Tips on getting to know your readers
• 17:19 Advice on using newsletters effectively
• 19:20 Strategies for growing an email list
• 21:57 Handling multiple pen names and author brands
• 25:11 The power of author interviews for building reputation
• 26:43 Collaboration tactics for book promotion
• 29:22 Explaining the difference between PR and paid advertising
• 31:05 Case studies of successful author branding
• 34:56 Example of an effective online book launch
• 37:09 Key tactics for authors starting to build their brand
• 38:45 Overview of the Build Your Author Brand course
• 41:00 How to contact Isabelle Knight
• 41:35 Book recommendations