HOW TO GENERATE MEDIA ATTENTION FOR YOUR BOOK

Aside from receiving the first copies of your newly published book in the mail, there is nothing more exciting than having your book reviewed or featured in the media. Not only does it validate that your book is interesting and worthwhile reading, but a simple review by a Book Editor in a metropolitan newspaper could also result in tremendous sales and royalties.

Aside from the fact that your book has just been published (and requesting a book review), there are many different angles you can focus on when contacting the media.  Furthermore, achieving a book review is much like winning the lotto, especially with the more popular metropolitan newspapers and magazines. The Book Editors there receive dozens and dozens of books in the mail every week, and they all end up inside a big cupboard in the newsroom. Whether they are selected by a book reviewer comes down to pure luck they could just as easily spend months gathering dust and never being reviewed.  If you come up with another newsworthy angle, you can receive a feature article in a different section of the publication (printed or online), where your odds of being published are being greater. In fact, feature stories can run for multiple pages, whereas a book review is just a few columns. So, you receive more news space, and it's less competitive.

So, that leads to the question what is newsworthy?

As I mentioned, the most obvious answer is that your book has just been published. But what is special about your book? In addition, you can realistically still garner media attention if your book was published last year or earlier. It just depends on what angle you take when approaching the media.  Perhaps some new research validates what you discuss in your book? Or maybe you, as the author, receive an award linked to your industry and what your book is about.

Here are some tips to help you when deciding upon the angle you use when contacting the media:

Firstly, it has to be of interest to the reader. And when I say reader, I am referring to not only your intended prospect (the reader of your book) but also the editor or journalist to whom you have sent the release. They don't want to hear garbage or a sales pitch. They want news.

Ask someone external to your business, eg a friend or business associate, what is interesting about your book. The problem that most business owners, and authors, have, is that their work is so common-place to them, simply because they are there and do it every day, that the interesting things about it escape them. However, somebody not involved in your industry or subject area may well find the same piece of information terribly interesting.

Alternatively, some authors have the opposite problem, where they think the simple fact that their book has launched is interesting. Unless you are already famous, no one cares!  You need tell the reader why someone should spend a few dollars of their money, as well as somewhat more previous hours of their life, on YOUR book.

So, how do you get past this stumbling block, when you cannot tell what is newsworthy about your book or what is not? You need to think like a reader. What part about your book is of particular interest? Does it offer a cure or advice about a common medical condition? Does it share tips for starting a new business? This is what's in it for the reader. This is what you need to share.

If you would like some advice on how to generate your own publicity for your book/s, why not book a coaching session today with Publicious Book Publicist, Kerry McDuling? She will give you step by step advice that is specific to your book and subject area so that you can confidentially approach the media.

For more information, please email her: kerry@publicious.com.au