Smith Publicity
Smith Publicity is a privately held book marketing and publicity firm, founded in 1997 and based in Cherry Hill, NJ, that runs retainer-based media campaigns and consulting for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, traditional publishers, and self-published authors across US and international media.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersCherry Hill, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Smith Publicity does
Smith Publicity, Inc. is a privately held book marketing and publicity services firm founded in 1997 and headquartered in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, with staff distributed across the United States. The firm's core offering is retainer-based book publicity campaigns—typically three months in duration—targeting traditional media (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines) and digital media (news websites, blogs, podcasts). Campaigns are priced from $12,000 to $30,000+ for standard programs, with comprehensive engagements ranging from $25,000 to $50,000+; the firm works selectively based on author quality, timing, and alignment. Smith Publicity has executed more than 3,500 campaigns and maintains a portfolio of specialized sub-brands spanning business books, children's/YA, self-help, cookbook, lifestyle, eBook, and self-published categories, supported by add-on services such as single-focus book marketing pushes, author media training, consultation, and book awards guidance.
The firm generates revenue through professional-services fees rather than any proprietary technology product. Its competitive positioning rests on three human-capital pillars: a 27-year track record, an "unmatched" media contact network spanning outlets such as NBC's Today Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, NPR, and People Magazine, and a team of veteran publicists. The firm operates without any proprietary software platform, AI tooling, or API integrations; its technology footprint is limited to standard marketing infrastructure including a content blog, podcast, webinar series, email newsletter, and active social media presence. It has earned PRNEWS Agency Elite Top 100 recognition in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and has formed channel partnerships with BookBaby and IngramSpark to access self-published author segments. The company remains closely held by founders Sandra Poirier Smith (CEO) and Sandy Smith (President), with no external institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity disclosed.
The go-to-market motion is selective and relationship-driven: prospective authors and publishers engage via the firm's website or direct outreach, with engagements scoped based on the author's point of view, media readiness, and budget. Marketing to prospective clients is conducted primarily through content marketing (blog, podcast, webinars, ROI research) and earned media (the firm's own PRNEWS recognition), positioning Smith Publicity as a category authority. Customer segments include nonfiction authors, thought leaders, traditional publishers, and self-published authors, with the book positioned as a "business card" reinforcing the author's expert brand. The firm has not disclosed revenue, headcount beyond the 11-50 range, or financial performance metrics, and operates entirely from founder-led ownership.
Smith Publicity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Smith Publicity
- Legal name
- Smith Publicity, Inc.
- Website
- https://smithpublicity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Smith Publicity is a privately held book marketing and publicity firm, founded in 1997 and based in Cherry Hill, NJ, that runs retainer-based media campaigns and consulting for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, traditional publishers, and self-published authors across US and international media.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Smith Publicity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Book Publicity Services
- NAICS
- Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Author Marketing, PR & Launch Services (Ads, Book Tours, Influencers) (MPAJAJAL)
Keywords
Where Smith Publicity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cherry Hill
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Smith Publicity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Book Publicity Campaigns: Retainer-based book PR programs typically lasting three months, with time frames modified for specific projects. Campaign fees range from $12,000 to $30,000 or more depending on project scope and elements.
- Consulting Services: Marketing consultation for authors and publishers at various points in the publishing process, including website reviews, non-publicity marketing plans, social media guidance, branding, and graphic design services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Comprehensive Campaign - Full-service retainer-based PR program |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Single-Focus Book Marketing Push |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Consulting Services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Smith Publicity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Smith Publicity provides retainer-based book publicity campaigns and author promotion services for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and publishers. Their core engagement is a comprehensive publicity program spanning approximately three months, targeting traditional and digital media (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, news websites, blogs, and podcasts). They also offer single-focus marketing pushes, author consultation, media training, and specialized campaigns by book genre (business, self-help, children's/YA, cookbook, lifestyle, eBook, self-published).
Product overview
Smith Publicity is a book marketing and publicity services firm (founded 1997) offering a comprehensive suite of campaign types and specialized services for authors, publishers, and thought leaders. The core offering is Comprehensive Book Publicity Campaigns—typically three-month retainer-based programs targeting traditional and digital media. These are complemented by specialized sub-brands for different book categories (Business Book Marketing, Children's and YA Book Marketing, Self-Help Book Marketing, Self-Published Book Marketing, Book Marketing for Publishers, Cookbook Marketing, Lifestyle Book Marketing, and eBook Marketing). Add-on modules include Single-Focus Book Marketing Pushes for events, Author Media Training, Author Consultation Services, and Book Awards Services. Content and education resources include the All Things Book Marketing Podcast, Smith Publicity Book Marketing Webinar Series, the 110 Book Marketing Ideas resource, and Business Book ROI Research. The company also operates as a Full-Service Public Relations Agency. Campaign fees range from $12,000 to $30,000+ for standard programs, with typical engagements ranging from $25,000 to $50,000+. Services are delivered from Cherry Hill, New Jersey with international reach.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Comprehensive Book Publicity Campaigns Retainer-based book PR programs typically spanning three months, targeting traditional and online media including TV, radio, newspaper, magazines, news websites, blogs, and podcasts. Publicists handle all media relations, book requests, scheduling, and report activities weekly.
- Non-Fiction Book Promotion
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1,000 testimonials and tens of thousands of media placements achieved for clients
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Smith Publicity
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Smith Publicity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Smith Publicity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.
- BookBabyminorSmith Publicity provides book marketing services in partnership with BookBaby for its independently published authors. Writers can select from three options including book marketing planning, social media consulting, and Amazon retail listing optimization.
- IngramSparkminorSmith Publicity welcomes IngramSpark authors and provides specialized book marketing services for self-published authors using the IngramSpark publishing platform.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Smith Publicity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Cygnet Publicity: Book publicity agency offering media relations and promotional services for authors. Directly comparable in scope, with focus on author-driven campaigns for trade and non-fiction titles.
- Meryl Moss Media Relations: Long-established book publicity firm specializing in media relations for authors and publishers. Directly comparable service offering (media pitching, book launch PR, author branding) targeting the same author and publisher customer base.
- JKS Communications: Publicity and marketing agency with a strong book PR practice serving authors and publishers. Comparable campaign-based service model targeting similar nonfiction and business author segments.
- Ascot Media Group: Full-service book publicity firm providing media relations, book tours, and author promotion. Direct competitor with overlapping service lines and author-publisher customer segments.
- Proactive Media: Book publicity and marketing agency serving authors and publishers with media-relations-driven campaigns. Directly comparable in delivery model and target customers.
- BookBuzz (Brian Feinblum): Book marketing and publicity firm led by media-relations veteran Brian Feinblum. Operates in the same book PR category with retainer-based campaigns for authors and publishers of comparable scope and pricing.
Broad incumbents
- 5W Public Relations: Large full-service PR agency with a consumer books practice. Operates broadly across PR categories, offering book publicity as part of a wider portfolio rather than as a specialty—competing for the same author and publisher budgets at the upper end.
- Berrett-Koehler Publishers: Independent business book publisher with an in-house marketing team. While primarily a publisher, its marketing function competes for the same business-author mindshare that Smith Publicity's Business Book Marketing sub-brand targets.
Emerging players
- IngramSpark: Self-publishing distribution platform offering marketing services to independently published authors. A channel partner for Smith Publicity, IngramSpark increasingly bundles promo tools that overlap with traditional book PR services.
- BookBaby: Self-publishing platform that also offers book marketing services. Smith Publicity's partnership with BookBaby makes it both a partner and an emerging competitor as BookBaby expands bundled promotional offerings to its author base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Smith Publicity social profiles
Digital presenceSmith Publicity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Smith Publicity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Smith Publicity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Smith Publicity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Smith Publicity
What does Smith Publicity do?
Smith Publicity provides retainer-based book publicity campaigns and author promotion services for nonfiction authors, thought leaders, and publishers. Their core engagement is a comprehensive publicity program spanning approximately three months, targeting traditional and digital media (TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, news websites, blogs, and podcasts). They also offer single-focus marketing pushes, author consultation, media training, and specialized campaigns by book genre (business, self-help, children's/YA, cookbook, lifestyle, eBook, self-published).
Is Smith Publicity a public or private company?
Smith Publicity is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Smith Publicity founded?
Smith Publicity was founded in 1997. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Smith Publicity based?
Smith Publicity is headquartered in Cherry Hill, United States, in the North America region.
How does Smith Publicity make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Book Publicity Campaigns are the primary driver. The others are consulting Services.
Who are Smith Publicity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Cygnet Publicity, Meryl Moss Media Relations, JKS Communications, Ascot Media Group, Proactive Media and BookBuzz (Brian Feinblum). Broad incumbents are 5W Public Relations and Berrett-Koehler Publishers. Emerging players are IngramSpark and BookBaby.
Does Smith Publicity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Smith Publicity.
What industry is Smith Publicity in?
Smith Publicity's product category is Book Publicity Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAJAL, Author Marketing, PR & Launch Services (Ads, Book Tours, Influencers). Its NAICS code is 5418 and its SIC code is 7311.