Press Releases

[Zero Angel]

Hey Guys,

What do you think makes a good press release?

Do you tailor your press releases for the internet, black and white copying, to double as a flyer, to include in promotional packets, to ship with your IRL books, or what?

Have you had success with your press releases?

 

[Steerpike]

A few things:

Your first sentence or two has to hook the reader.

The press release should provide newsworthy information. "Hey, I just published a book" isn't newsworthy for the average person. They're not going to read the press release. You can make it newsworthy by playing up features of the story that are of general interest, and if you're putting out a press release locally, emphasize the local nature of the information. That makes it more newsworthy to those views.

Write simple, engaging sentences. Don't ramble on or use a lot of industry jargon.

Get right to the point. Who, what, and when.

Don't forget the contact information, whether it is a link, phone number, email, or whatever. Give people a way to reach you or the product.

 

[Zero Angel]

Localizing your content (whether for local audiences or not) is a great suggestion, Steerpike!

Kind of like when we send in submissions/query letters they always tell us to personalize it if we can (but don't come off sounding disrespectful).

I highly recommend making multiple versions of each press release to send to different venues.

If someone has already purchased your book, include your author appearances schedule, but not the press release saying that the book has been released. As Steerpike mentioned, if it is your hometown or nearby, play up the local author aspect--especially if it is somewhere you are trying to schedule an appearance/book signing. If you ship a book to Antarctica, chances are you probably shouldn't include your author appearances schedule. Lots of personalizing you can do with your press releases.

And remember to send them with a query letter to all your local newspapers/publications/TV stations. You never know when it will be a slow news day and your fluff will be made available to hundreds/thousands of people.

 

[Alex Stuart]

Well press release has been a great source of earning money and it improves earning and information and the main purpose of press release is to provide accurate information.