Your press release can make or break the promotion of your new book. How are you going to come up with effective release without taking a writing class or hiring someone to write it for you? Here you will find a few tips to write your press release.

1. The words “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” should appear in the top left of the first page above the headline. This will be the first thing the editor or producer will see, and it’s important for him to know that your book deserves to be at the top of his list. 
2. Your contact name, phone number and email address should also appear at the upper right hand corner of your release.
3. Type the headline, in all capital boldface letters, centered on the top of the page. This should emulate a news headline, and should summarize why anyone would want to know more about your book. It should also announce some item of news interest. Example: DOCTORS CURE CANCER!
4. A dateline should appear at the start of the first paragraph and should include the location of the news source.
5. Remember that following the headline, the first paragraph of the press release should present the most important information for your book. It’s very important to catch the editor or producer’s attention early because if you don’t, he might not read the rest of it.
6. The release should be no longer than two pages, double or one and a half line spaced.         
7. Do not use typefaces that are hard to read. Use Times New Roman or Garamond and avoid italics.
8. Customize your releases for the media you are targeting. Mention any info of local interest in your lead paragraph.
9. Spell every word correctly and pay extra attention to the spelling of names. Proofread your press release several times!
10. Include any relevant quotes from your book, or from an expert in your field, that substantiates or reinforces the topic of the release
11. Don’t use exclamation marks - these give the release an amateurish air.
12. Do not use hyperboles. Avoid hyped up words like “fantastic,” “best-seller,” and “terrific.”  Be sure to keep your language simple, and keep your sentences short.
13. Edit the release ruthlessly to eliminate redundancies or unnecessary text.
14. Write all your promotional materials from a benefit point of view. In other words, clearly convey what the reader will get out of your book.
15. After first mention of your title in the body of the release, include, in parentheses, the name of the publishing house and the publication date.
16. Names should be written in full (i.e., Joe Smith) the first time they are mentioned and after that, you should simply refer to the last name (Smith or formally, Mr. Smith).
17. At the bottom center of the release, after the body of the text, write -30- or ### to indicate closure.
18. At the end of the release, list the publication date, page count, price, format (hardcover or paperback), publishing house, and ISBN for your book. Also include the book’s website address.

Following these simple tips will get you a press release that will successfully promote your new book. 

 

==>Amanda Free is a Communication Major at University of Louisville.