by Sandra Beckwith
on BuildBookBuzz site:
B.D., an author, asked me for help writing a press release. Her book had been nominated for a statewide book award.
Not long before that, when author N.T.’s book was nominated for a citywide award, she asked if she should send out a press release.
In both cases, I discouraged them from sending announcements to the press. “Save it for when you win,” I advised.
My advice might have confused them. After all, I often recommend writing and sending a press release when you have news to announce. Many others with experience in this area provide the same advice.
What are the “rules?”
If an award nomination isn’t cause for a press release, then what is?
I’ll answer the question with two more.
First, ask yourself: “Is this really news?”
Then answer this question: “What media outlets use news like this?”
I applied these two questions to the nomination inquiries I received from authors B.D. and N.T.
For both, the answer to “Is this really news?” is “It’s news to share with your networks but not news for a general audience, particularly people who don’t know you.”
So in both instances, instead of encouraging them to send a press release, I recommended that they:
- Add something about their announcement in their next e-mail newsletter
- Write a blog post about it
- Share the news on the social networks they use most often
All three tactics are reasonable and appropriate alternatives to sending a press release in this situation.
Continue reading at:
7 situations that deserve a press release
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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