I was searching for a resource of publications that I can use to send out press releases when the time comes to promote my book. The Gale Directory is expensive, $1300+. However, I went on eBay and found a two-year-old 5 volume edition and only paid $48.00 including shipping.
How are all of you handling press releases?
Thanks
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Sometimes you just need to cause one person to buy and like your book, who will then suggest it to others who will then do the same . . . Book promotions are similar to MLM tactics. You want to ultimately motivate as many people as possible to be your advocate. Otherwise known as word-of-mouth marketing.
Thank you, Facebook and Twitter RTs can also serve to accomplish that with a network of friends.
Professional book publicist here. I agree that just mailing or faxing the press release alone would not be very effective. Always send a book with the press release. If you can't afford to send a book to everyone on your list, better to email everyone and send a book and release to those who expressed interest. And never send an email that's just a press release. Much better to send a personalized, concise email that explains why the editor should choose your book.You could stick the press release below the email, but don't send it as an attachment.
Talk to your publisher. They should be willing to give you free promotional copies of your book for mailing to the media (after all, that is supposed to be their job anyway). Do not confuse your fifteen or twenty "personal" copies with review copies. The free books you are given for friends and family are not the ones to be mailed to the media.
I have done a Press Release for my new novel, SAVING JANE AUSTEN, but I really wondered if it does any good
to mass mail it. Maybe if included with review copies? I feel the same way about my past experiences with email
so-called blasts, even to "selected" targets. Daniel Curzon
Daniel, I had some luck with blogtalk radio interviews. I sent a review copy of my humor book to Giovanni "G-Man" Gelati and Barry Isner "Book and a Chat." I don't know how the press release mailing will go, that's why I asked. Of course, social networking on Facebook and Twitter is a must and I'm now looking into other sites like Pinterest? My next book is a non-fiction destined for the traditional route.