Writing a book for the first time? You must be expecting your readers to flock to you to buy the freshly written book. But sadly, that kind of response doesn’t come so smoothly. The meaning of Book publicity can be summarized in one sentence and it can be described as - it is a simple promotional way where one can use the media platforms to spread the word delivered by an author and a book in general to reach the target audiences.
Wondering if there is any secret formula to secure the attention of the media professionals? Well, book publicity is indeed a craft, a process that employs strategies, tactics, and a professional approach. Hiring a professional PR writer is, absolutely, your choice but the benefits you reap when collaborating with a large agency are surely remarkable.
The burden of a new author is essentially more as they must do everything to get the word out. Therefore, if you want to draft a special press release to lure the attention of the editors and other publishing houses, hire a reputed agency.
Remember, the old guards are gone! Here’s how they take matters into their hands to reap the best results:
1. Find your angle!
Ever heard about ‘The So What Syndrome’? Well, this is what the journalists are taught in their schools. Pushing out a dull title in a PR is not going to take you anywhere rather creates an ineffective impression. Finding out the right angle of your story can help you construct a perfect press release as well. The book can be fantastic but without a targeted approach, you won’t see results.
2. Keep it Short
Remember you aren’t trying to sell or publish a contract. Don’t go on giving out a lot of details; rather keep the details short and precise. In case the reporter needs more information, let them contact you. Mention the ‘talking points' which means what a reader can expect out of your book. Keeping things half-said intrigue the readers to find out more, so be it!
3. Credit your ally
Sounds odd, isn’t it? But did you expect your editors to not come across a similar topic or genre before? The web is flooding with news and information, and hence, there’s no shame in acknowledging your competitors. Do not hesitate to mention their name in your PR but also state how your book is different from others. After all, it’s your creativity that’s going to do all the magic.
4. Persistent Advertising
Authors are creative personalities, and as we know they cannot fix their minds into one thing for a very long time. This can prove hazardous while advertising a book. They have this tendency to jump into their next novel without advocating for the current one. Hiring a professional will keep this part covered. They follow up with the calls or punch e-mails to remind the editors of your book release. The more persistent you are, the more chance your books get to be picked up by the media.
5. Build a Website
For any media personality, it is imperative to have a digital face. Your website is where you establish your persona and allow your readers, and fans to interact with you. If unsure to do it all by yourself, allow the experts to take care of it. Here are a few things that an author’s website must contain:
- Bio
- Image
- Excerpts from the book
- A link to purchase the book
- Contact Information
- Social Media links
- Downloadable kit (including a short bio, photo, few good words about your book, and a few reviews)
Your website doesn’t have to be elongated. A simple yet informative website can get the job done.
6. No Cliche!
At the end of the day, all you want is your reader to enjoy reading your book and your editors, and the media people to pick it up. Hence, avoid sounding cliche. It only shows your lack of creativity. Saying things like, - ‘the book will transform your life' or ‘enjoy a world-class reading’ is certainly cringe-worthy. Be honest, punchy, and original!
7. Find your niche
Even the best framed PRs could be rejected if not sent out to a relevant publication. Therefore, take time to select publications that publish content related to your niche and figure out which journalists can best feed your purpose. Your PR must directly call out the designated journalist and not something that is being addressed to the whole editorial team! You are always better off with a private approach.
