Write A Press Release For A Book Launch

A book launch is a golden opportunity for an author to help their book sell well right out of the starting gate. It can even boost them to bestseller status if they write an effective press release that gets a lot of media pickups.

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Why send out press releases?

These can actually be one of the most effective methods of promoting a book and a writing career if they are written according to a few simple rules.

1-It must be newsworthy

Some press releases are really just ads in disguise. But a book launch is real news people will want to hear about. Think of the fanfare every time Stephen King publishes a new book.

2-It needs to be written for media representatives

Most promotion online is targeted at consumers, in the hope that they will buy the book once it is launched.

By contrast, a press release should be written for journalists and other media representatives who are interested in specific topics, such as books.

They might work for prestigious newspapers, magazines, blogs, or local papers.

Media reps are always looking for fresh, interesting content to write about. Issue your press release via a distribution service and media reps will be able to search by topic and keyword. Your well-written press release could be just what they and their target audience want to learn more about.

Publish it at a press release distribution service to gain the highest visibility and see who picks up your story.

3-It needs to have an angle

Find the angle or hook to reel in your audience. It can appeal to human interest, such as a problem many people in your niche have which your non-fiction book can help them solve. Fiction might not be as compelling, but there are a lot of fans of romance and mystery who are always on the lookout for a great new book to read.

4-It helps convey your expertise

Most people give credit to authors of books as being skilled and knowledgeable enough in a particular niche to be worth paying attention to. A book conveys authority status almost instantly. This means your target audience will pay attention to you, and the media might even wish to follow up with you. They might request an interview, or your feedback on a story in the news, and quote you. This will further extend your authority.

5-It contains a call to action

Every press release should have a call to action (CTA). What do you want readers to do after they have seen your press release or the media pickups you have received? Create a special URL with more information about the book. It can be a sales landing page to help you try to sell the book directly from your site. You could also include details about which bookstores it will be in, and any book signings you will be doing as part of the launch.

You can also write a separate press release for each signing, with a call to action to encourage people to attend.

6-It contains media

Include an image of the book cover, one of the author, and any other images or video clips that will support your release. Press releases that include media tend to get picked up 4 to 7 times more than ones that don’t.

Call us today to speak to one of our PR specialists: 1-800-713-7278

Anthony Santiago is Director of Marketing at Newswire. With over a decade of experience in PR, he helps ensure that clients understand the value of brand messaging and reach.

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