So you’ve got your book ready to introduce to the world. All you have to do is upload it, and you’ll start raking in the Amazon money, right?
Whoa, there. You’re just getting started, my friend.
Now it’s time to put on your marketing hat and start making a plan to get your book out into the hands of readers that are looking for your type of content.
You may not have a marketing background.
BUT, if you know how to write, you’re already halfway there.
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to write a press release for a book that not only grabs the attention of journalists but also captivates the reader, making them want to go out and grab your book and/or engage you on their social platform.
The main objective for a book press release is to put yourself in a position to become the ‘hunted’ and not the ‘hunter.’
Do Authors Need Press Releases for Their Books?
As an author, you know the importance of earning attention and interest for your book. Writing a press release is a powerful way to do that – even if it might seem daunting.
Not only do they provide a platform to announce your book’s launch, but they also give you the chance to explain what makes it unique.
Additionally, press releases make it easy for journalists, influencers, and reviewers to quickly access all the details about your book so they can feature it in their publications or on their social media accounts.
Press releases can be used as a form of marketing for books prior to their release date. It can lead to more pre-order sales and buzz before launch day.
When crafting a press release for your book, your goal is to keep it brief, yet informative.
To get more eyes on it, focus on getting your release out to specific niche audiences more than the general large media outlets.
What niches should you target? Well, you’ll need to know your audience.
What type of person is most likely to purchase and read your book? Are they listening to a specific podcast? Where do they get their news and current events from? What type of current events are they reading – pop culture, political? Or are they more into information relevant to their lifestyle – working out, practicing a healthy lifestyle, entrepreneurship, and any other number of niche focus points?
Understanding the type of reader that will be intrigued by your book will help you understand where to put your focus, attention, and energy when sending out press releases.
What Makes a Press Release “Good”?
A “good” book press release is interesting, engaging, and well-written. It grabs attention and directs it to your newly-released book. It positions your book as newsworthy.
Your goal is to capitalize on the curiosity of something new and exciting.
Aside from that, a good author press release needs to contain all of the essential information in an easily digestible format—including the title of the book, its author, its publisher, etc.
Press releases for books should begin with an attention-grabbing headline that immediately informs the reader what the article is about. It should also include a simple lead paragraph that describes the key points.
Include details such as pricing information, and any awards or reviews the book has received. This gives you “social proof,” which is an easy way to convince a reader that you have authority.
And make sure to include relevant quotes from the author (or other people) that provide additional insight into the story behind the book. If you’re lucky enough to have a notable author write you a testimonial, put that in there too. (These can be easier to get than you might think – send 25 emails and watch what happens.)
You can also add compelling visuals, such as photos or videos, to effectively illustrate your story. Graphics like charts or illustrations can be effective for conveying complex data or concepts quickly and clearly. Finally, make sure you use keywords throughout the content. This will make it easier for people searching online to find your article.
Attributes of a Good Press Release
The #1 most important attribute of any successful press release is clarity! Make sure you’re talking directly and clearly to your audience about the outcome your book will provide. Also, make sure all of your facts are accurate and up-to-date.
Use clear, and easy-to-understand language. When a journalist can easily absorb and print your release or add it to their online posts, you’re helping yourself get featured. Why? Because you have done the work for them and made it extremely easy to plug into the corresponding news media outlet that makes the most sense.
Finally, triple-check to make sure your content is interesting; include engaging quotes from reviewers or authors who can provide more detail on why this particular book stands out from others in its genre or field. The journalist, and ultimately the reader, need to feel a desire to actually read your press release.
How to Write a Great Book Press Release in 8 Easy Steps
Step 1: Research the Target Audience
You have to know who your potential readers are. Learn their interests and what they want.
When you know these things, it’s much easier to write a press release that will make a reader intrigued.
Step 2: Create an Attention-Grabbing Headline
The headline should be powerful enough to grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more.
As a writer, you may already be aware that a catchy, attention-grabbing headline is going to have by far the biggest impact on readers of everything you write.
But it can also be more challenging than the rest of the piece combined. That’s why a lot of writers say they spend up to 50% of their time just writing the headline.
Once you have a headline that hooks a reader in, half the battle is complete.
Step 3: Write a Simple, Easy-to-Read Body
Make sure the body of the book press release flows well and is easy to read by using short sentences and paragraphs.
Brief, short sentences are best for a book press release – for readers and scanners alike.
Step 4: Make Sure to Add Your Pertinent Information
You’ll need your logo, release date, and contact information in the header section of your press release.
Your logo should be placed at the top and center of the document above your release date and contact information.
The date should either be “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” in all capital letters or “Embargoed for release until [date].”
Make sure to also include the full name and title, email address, and phone number of the person journalists should contact with any questions regarding the release.
Step 5: Write Your Lead
Your lead sentence should create curiosity about your book. Use active language and keep it short – usually no more than 25 words – so that readers can quickly get an idea of what they are reading about without getting bogged down in too many details right away.
The lead is your summary. Keep it engaging and captivating, but brief.
Step 6: Add Quotes
Once you have a solid lead paragraph written out, add quotes from either yourself or other reviewers/experts who can provide further insight into why this particular book stands out from others in its genre/field.
This is also where you should include any awards or positive reviews the book has received if it has already been published!
Step 7: Include Your Author Bio (AKA Your “Boilerplate”)
This is the part where you provide basic information about who you are, such as your name, where you’re from, and any relevant credentials or qualifications that make you an industry expert on your topic.
Add pertinent information about your writing career: Talk about when you began writing, what kind of books you’ve written, any awards or recognition you’ve received, etc.
Oh – and show your personality. Don’t be afraid to inject some of your own unique style and flavor into the bio. This is your chance to let readers know more about who you are as a person.
Keep it brief but informative: A good author bio should concisely capture all of the information above without going on too long or rambling aimlessly!
Step 8: The Call To Action
The call to action – the entire point of your book press release!
Once you have the reader’s attention, where are you going to take them? Where can they purchase the book you are releasing? Can they contact you for speaking engagements or book signings?
Don’t forget to add any contact information, links to purchase your book, or sign up for your email list. The point of a press release is to gain recognition in the press in your area or with a targeted audience that will find value in your writing.
If done correctly, they will want to follow you, engage with you, and read more of what you have to say.
Don’t leave them hanging or guessing on where to get your book!
Let’s Start This Process
A book press release is part of the marketing process when launching a new book and is quite important when honing in on potential readers and making yourself the “hunted” over the “hunter.”
In my book, Publish. Promote. Profit, I give you the step-by-step details to start marketing your book so that you can sell your book, earn an income, and schedule speaking engagements that only help to build your audience.
If you already know exactly how to market your book, more power to you!
But, if you’re worried about how to launch your book and make money – OR maybe you already did two years ago and it did nothing – we can help.
We have had countless stories of authors who originally published their books only to go nowhere because they didn’t have a marketing plan. Even though the book had already been published, they still found success by regrouping and creating a killer promotion plan to move the needle and sell tons of books.
Part of that strategy should be a book press release.
Writing a successful press release for your new book doesn’t have to be difficult if you take some time upfront to gather all of the necessary information, create a compelling headline, and write to reach your target niche audience.
With these seven tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way towards creating an effective press release for your next big project!
Click here for more information and to grab a game plan that can provide more sales for your book launch.
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