A Press Room is a page on your website that journalists will use to research you and your book and get what they need to write a story or decide to have you on their show. But, Press Rooms aren’t just for journalists. Librarians, bookstore managers, meeting planners who might hire you to speak, as well as your readers, will go here to learn more about you. AND this is where you control your message. So if you don’t have one, add a navigation button on your website to make it easy to find; ‘For the Media’, ‘Press Room’, ‘Press’, or anything that makes sense for your audience. Then begin to build your press room, which will contain press releases, photos and everything anyone would need to write a feature story on you and your book, or have you on their show. Here are my top five tips:
- Your job is to make the journalist’s job easy
○ Journalists are always on deadline. So the easier you make their job – a well-written press release, great graphics, quotes from sources and ALL the details – the more likely they will be to use your story. - Give them EVERYTHING they could want in one place
○ Don’t make them search for information all over your website or, heaven forbid, have to email you for a book cover, headshot or quote. - Use professional photos and hi-res graphics
○ If the graphics aren’t high quality, they won’t be used. - Give plenty of options in size, orientation, subjects
- Include as many of the items below as possible. Your press kit will grow with you, so don’t think you have to create these all at once.
○ Author Bios – 20/50/100 words
○ Press Releases – at least a book announcement, but try to tie it into news
○ Sample Interview Q&A
○ Reviews/Endorsements
○ Book sell sheet (from your Publisher)
○ Hi-Res Graphics/Logos
○ Copies of media coverage, links to articles
○ Video Clips of TV interviews from a clipping service (not just YouTube)
○ Sample Radio/TV Interviews ( If you don’t have one, make one! No one wants to be your first!) - *You should also have a print version of your press kit to be used for a variety of purposes.
- If you’d like more information on Book Publicity or details about our PR Starter Kit, please email Leann@buildbuzzlaunch.com.
