10 Tips for Tantalizing News Releases

Want to get radio interviews and coverage in print
publications to sell more books?

Master the art of writing magnetic media releases
that attract attention of editors and publishers.

A media release (which also goes by its former
name, the press release) is a one page, double spaced, single-sided document designed to transmit news about books, products, and people.

Because of its official sounding name, authors often
make the mistake of sounding like Sgt. Friday of the TV show "Dragnet" when they write the release, and make it Too fact oriented.

Don't forget that real live people, editors and
producers, must pull the release from the fax machine and be motivated to read it.

Motivating Editors and Producers to Read Your Release
In today's world, getting editors and producers to
actually read your release is a challenge. Every day,
people tap into the possibilities of free publicity and are becoming proactive in getting their voice heard.

As the producer of a lifestyle TV show, I receive
upward of two hundred releases a week. However,
only a small percentage are both appropriate for the
show and grab my attention.

Below are 10 tips to help you write releases that get your message heard.
1. Write an attention grabbing headline.
Realize that your headline must immediately
"hook" a busy producer or editor at first glance.
If your headline doesn't hook them, they won't read
further.

2. Be certain that your book is appropriate for the target audience.

Do not send a media release about your romance novel to a radio show that interviews only nonfiction authors. Wishful thinking is well and good, but realize that shows KNOW their target market.


3. Realize that there is a difference in format when sending a release by email and by fax.
A faxed release and release sent by mail can be
identical. However, an email release requires careful
crafting to get right and is an art onto itself. The key
concept to remember is twofold. First, the subject line spells the difference between the release being opened or deleted. Second, you must target delivery of the email release carefully, or you risk being banned forever to the recipient's "bozo" file.

4. Be certain to include key information in a book
release such as your ISBN number, publication
date, page count and binding, and if you like
a small .jpeg of the cover.

5. You can increase your chances of
being booked on a radio station if you offer
to give away books on the show in your
release.

6. For media releases aimed at reviewers,
include information on how they can
get a book to review by email or fax.

7. Do not follow up to see if the recipient
received the release. If this is a show or
publication you are keenly interested in,
call them with "new information"
designed to create more excitement
in featuring you.

8. Keep a notebook with you and
jot down names of appropriate media
contacts as you read publications and
hear radio interviews.

9. Journalists and producers need you
and your news, but will lose respect if
you hammer them with releases that
don't apply to their market or beat.
Discriminate.

10. Keep a "swipe file" of
clever advertisements or headlines
you can refer to when you need
a creative boost.

copyright 2004 Marisa D'Vari All rights reserved

Byline
Download a free 79 page Special Report on how to Build Buzz for your business with free publicity at http://www.BuildingBuzz.com. Regularly $19.95, FREE in honor of Shameless Promotion month.

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Its CNN! They Want To Talk To You!

Being invited to appear on radio and television used to... Read More

The Power of Radio - Tips for Great Radio Interviews

Many people are intimidated by radio interviews, whether live or... Read More

How To Write A Press Release: The Seven Deadly Sins And How To Avoid Them

How to write a press release that generates free publicity... Read More

Levines Laws For Pitching With Panache

Excerpted from "Selling Goodness- The Guerrilla PR Guide To Promoting... Read More

Media Training - Essentials for ALL Office Professionals

Often the first point of contact the media has with... Read More

A Winning Public Relations Game Plan

You want to sell your products or services, and that... Read More

Submitting A Press Release Can Benefit Your Business

A Press Release is a captive story that can be... Read More

Make Your PR Budget Work Harder

Do it by restructuring your business, non-profit or association public... Read More

Cross Cultural Communication & PR

The Public Relations (PR) industry is responsible for creating and... Read More

Generating Publicity: Will The Media Be Interested In My Product/Business?

When it comes to launching a new business or product,... Read More

Publicity: Nailing a Media Interview, Part II (Crisis Management)

We'd all like reporters to ask us about our career... Read More

Public Relations: Converting the Non-Believers

What's the real reason some managers shy away from public... Read More

What Kind of PR Makes Sense?

For business, non-profit and association managers, is it publicity that... Read More

PRs Big Bang Theory

Lots of theories out there about public relations.Everything from "publicity's... Read More

Underestimating the Power of In-House PR

Do small-business owners always have to rely on large PR... Read More

Dont Waste Money on Public Relations

Demand that it pull its own weight in your boat... Read More

How Real PR Works

For some, public relations works well when their news release... Read More

Hey, Mr/Ms Manager!

Does it really make sense to bet your PR budget... Read More

PR: Lets Talk Fundamentals

How much more fundamental can you get than this? As... Read More

P.R. Strategies for Professional Service Providers

Promotion for Professional Services Providers requires a different approach than... Read More

PR Buyers Beware!

It can bite you and waste your public relations budget... Read More

Youve Done PR the Hard Way Long Enough

As a business, non-profit or association manager, let the tacticians... Read More

A PR Surprise for Managers

For those business, non-profit and association managers committed to PR... Read More

The Truth About Public Relations

The truth is, you CAN attract the support of those... Read More

Creating Your Online News Room: How To Build a Site The Media Will Love

From time to time, people ask me how public relations... Read More

33 Reasons To Do A News Release

News releases are not the best way to get major... Read More

Managers: Are You PR-Fit?

Can you honestly say that your business, non-profit or association's... Read More

How to Work with Newspaper Photographers

The next time a newspaper photographer takes your photo, remember... Read More

What Some Pros Know About PR

They know they had better do something positive about those... Read More

Mission-Critical Public Relations?

As a business, non-profit or association manager, any tool that... Read More

How to Write Press Releases That Work And Get Free Publicity

One study found that as many as 90% of the... Read More

Andrew Bogut - His Big Media Blunder And What You Can Learn From It

Andrew Bogut, the Australian basketballer is now officially in the... Read More

Publicity: Nailing a Media Interview, Part III (Staying on Topic)

In a media interview, always stick to your main points... Read More