A press release is a time-honored way to market your new fiction or nonfiction book. You’ll need a strong hook to arouse interest because thousands of press releases for new books flood the inboxes of journalists and editors.
Media outlets want to find something in the press release that resonates with the audiences of their publications. Highlight some aspect of the book’s content or author’s life that can be presented as a news story.
Media professionals require a press release that adheres to the journalistic style. You’ll write it in the third person and provide links to an excerpt from the book, pictures of the book, author headshot, and perhaps multimedia like an audio excerpt or a video relevant to the book’s setting or content.
Keep the press release within the accepted range of 300 to 600 words. If it’s sufficiently intriguing, then readers will seek out more information about the book.
The benefits that you’re hoping to gain from the press release include author name recognition and book sales. Additionally, each time a media outlet publishes your book information, you can mention that coverage at your website and social media accounts to continue your marketing efforts. Any media coverage that you get adds to the appeal of your book among readers compared to books without media coverage.
You will send out your press release a few days or weeks before its official publication date, especially if the book can be preordered. This may create excitement in advance of the official release day.
You may also issue the press release on the day of its official publication or in the days and weeks thereafter as long as it is still a new book. At later dates, a book press release can announce large sales numbers, prestigious reviews, or author promotional events, like a book signing.
What Should A Press Release For A Book Say?
A book press release communicates the title, author, publisher, and where to obtain copies of the book. The content will include a brief summary of the book while emphasizing a news angle that makes the announcement attractive to the media.
The content of your book drives which strategy you could use to spark interest. Most authors can use the local angle for their local news outlets, but other approaches are needed to capture attention more broadly.
Connecting the book to current events is an effective technique. For example, during a big election year, a political thriller press release could discuss the book in terms of the current political scene.
Nonfiction books often have some way to tie into current news. Consider how a gardening book could be promoted as a way for people to adapt to higher food prices.
Similarly, social trends or developments offer human-interest topics that may result in media coverage. A book with characters dealing with issues like online bullying, shifting family structures, or alternative lifestyles can use a press release that delivers facts about the social trend.
Press releases for books set in historical periods use interesting historical facts to tell a story about the time period. The angle becomes informing people about the past, especially a fascinating, little-known event.
The author’s life may offer the best way to promote the book. A writer with an interesting background, like surviving a natural disaster or traveling the world, will be the focus of the announcement because news readers want to learn about people who did amazing things.
The top thing to avoid when writing this type of press release is to make it read like a book report. Do not attempt to explain everything about the book. You must employ a strategy that makes people curious to know more about the topic.
Creating A Press Release For A Book
The headline for the press release should include a tantalizing detail to motivate people to read more. The title of the book does not need to be in the headline.
It’s best to use the space to identify your interesting news angle. For example, “New Book Inspired By 40-Day Survival Ordeal At Sea” would be an effective headline because it promises to tell an extraordinary story.
A short summary follows the headline before you write the body of the press release. Use this space to increase curiosity with an overview of what people will learn if they continue reading.
As you write the body of the press release, make sure to answer the important questions about what, where, when, who, and why. The who of the book includes more than the author. Make it clear who is the audience for the book and what those people can expect to gain.
Give extra attention to the why of your story. Explain the author’s motivations for writing the book and why people should value its content.
Quotes from the author work well to impart the reasons why the book was written. Author quotes can also be used to communicate how the book was researched or major themes of the book.
The first paragraph must present the big picture about the press release. Journalistic style requires that a press release or news article start with the most critical detail. The remaining paragraphs add more details to create a satisfying experience.
At the end of the press release, insert a short biography about the author. Include web links for the author and publisher and explain where the book is sold.
Include contact information for the person in charge of marketing book so that the media has a way to acquire more information. A media contact is essential because it could lead to scheduling an author interview.
Why Write A Press Release For A Book?
- Increase author name recognition
- Promote book sales
- Raise awareness about an important topic
Tips For Writing A Press Release For A Book
- Find an angle that ties the book to current news headlines
- Focus on your news angle more than describing everything about the book
- Explain why the book will be meaningful or useful to readers
