6 tips for writing a book announcement release that will get read

A book announcement press release helps us tell the world our new book is available for purchase. It's often sent to the media with a copy of the book or a note asking if the journalist would like to receive a complimentary review copy. It's also included in the book's press kit. It's not the only media relations tool you'll want to use to generate book buzz, but it's an essential resource when your goal is to tell the media outlets read, watched, or listened to by your book's target audience that there's a new book they'll want to know about.

An effective a book announcement press release is written in a journalistic format that mimics how a magazine or newspaper would write about your new book. It uses the traditional news release format that journalists are accustomed to receiving, in part because that format allows them to easily copy and paste chunks of text from your release.

Because this is such an important tool - and because there is a trend among inexperienced publicists to turn the announcement into an advertisement that journalists will reject, not embrace - it's important to understand how to write a release that will get read and used.

Here are tips designed to help you avoid common and costly errors with your important announcement release.

1. Use the traditional news release format. This includes your contact information, a headline, and your announcement written in a journalistic style. Study the press releases at www.prweb.com and www.prnewswire.com for examples. Don't use graphics, multiple columns, or different fonts, sizes, and colors.

2. Start with an honest and attention-getting headline. Unless your name is recognizable, don't put it in the headline. "New book details secret World War II plot" is more compelling than, "John Brown's first book is about World War II."

3. Summarize the book in one or two sentences in the first paragraph. With nonfiction, use the first paragraph to highlight what readers will get from the book without exaggerating or over-using superlatives. For fiction, summarize the story in a way that will make us want to read more.

4. Provide more detail in one to three subsequent paragraphs. Help us understand why we would want to buy your book. Include a quote from you about why you wrote the book or what makes it better or different.

5. Include a paragraph that describes your credentials as the author. Keep it brief and relevant.

6. Conclude with a paragraph that helps us buy the book. Include the title, publisher name, publication date, price, and information about where it can be purchased.

In addition to distributing your release to your targeted media outlets - including online options such as blogs - post the release on your Web site so it can be found by search engine users. Your goal is to get your news in front the people who are most likely to buy your book.

Article Source: http://www.allwebcontent.com/articles

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