If you are a book author who would like to get press coverage to sell more books, then you need to learn how to write media releases that will get the attention of editors.
Media releases are usually a page long and contain information about your newest book, product, or something about you. Your main focus should be getting editors and publishers to pick up your media release and be interested enough to take it seriously.
Editors and publishers receive hundreds of these kinds of things from all over but they only look at a few of them. And these are the media releases that catch their attention.
Here are a few pointers to help you write a successful media release.
-Create a headline that will command the attention of someone glancing at it. They will only look for a few seconds so it must be perfect.
-Make sure you have a book that is being marketed to the targeted audience. Don’t attempt to send a media release to a publication that is not related to the type of material you write.
-The formats of a media release through email and fax are a bit different. Make sure your subject line is well thought out; it won’t be opened if it isn’t.
-When you are putting together a media release for a book, you should have certain information on it. Include the date of publication, page count, ISBN number, and even a picture of the cover.
-You will have a greater chance of appearing on a radio show if you will give away a few copies on the air.
-If you are creating a media release that is targeted at book reviewers, you should provide information for what they can do to get a copy.
-Don’t check to see if your intended recipient of the release has gotten it. If you want to contact them again, you should have new information to tell them that will make them interested in you.
-Always have a pen and pad to write down information of contacts you may want to send releases to. You could over hear something on the radio and you will need to write down the information.
-Don’t send releases to those publications that are not in your area. Even if some are related, please do not send the ones that aren’t.
-Make a folder with clippings or ideas of headlines or other words of inspiration.
