Creating a Press Release

While marketing books, authors and publishers often skip one of the key steps: creating a Press release. They think, given the fact that we live in a Digital Age, press releases are obsolete. They do everything else they can think of to promote their book. But, for them, press releases seem to have fallen by the wayside.

Won’t they be surprised to find that journalists still need press releases? In fact, it would be highly unusual to make real progress in a book promotion campaign without the use of a press release — both as part of a media kit and as a standalone piece. Every time I promote a book, and I snail-mail  a review copy, a press release goes along with it. If I email an eBook to a journalist or book review, then I either send the press release as an attachment of, at least, I include a link to download the press release.

Book Promotion Begins With a Press Release

Media coverage still begins with a press release. If you want journalists to interview you, review your book, or write a story, you have send them a press release — just the same as always. Book promotion has not changed in that regard.

Also, authors and publishers can increase the chances that readers will find their book online if they create a press release and disseminate it through a wire service. Surely, they have seen the SEO successes that some authors and publishers have achieved by using online press releases. So why are some authors and publishers in denial about the fact that they still need press releases?

Why Not Create a Press Release?

I suspect that the truth is simple. They don’t want to be bothered to write a  press release. They’re unsure of whom they can hire to create a press release for them. So, instead of putting in the effort to create a press release, they convince themselves that they can conduct a book promotion campaign without using a press release.

Sometimes, the truth is difficult for authors and publishers to hear. The truth, in the opinion of this book publicist (and author/self-publisher) is that — we still need press releases. And I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

For more information about press releases, contact me at [email protected].

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