What is the best way to approach the press?

9 replies
Hi warriors,

I recently launched a book on amazon.com and wanted to get some useful advice about contacting the press.

What is the best approach?

Cold calling, email, go local or national?

I am not a U.S citizen btw so I'm not able to go and meet these people in person.

Thanks in advance,
Ari
#amazon #approach #press
  • Profile picture of the author webapex
    Press releases are how reporters often learn about events, I don't know about the case of a new book, the big publishers no doubt have their channels.

    If you can make it a more interesting human interest story: giving copies to the homeless, a book signing in an unusual setting.

    There are plenty of free press release distribution sites, to reach important news channels you probably have to pay a big player.

    Press Release Distribution Services - WebWire $19 per release
    Press Release Distribution - Submit Press Releases Online - PRWeb $80 or more per release
    Signature

    “An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field” Niels Bohr

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  • Profile picture of the author J. Barry Mandel
    Answer: Press Releases

    You will need to decide what kind of attention you want - local or national. Once you make your decision you will need to take action and generate the names of editors in the correct departments that you want to contact. Then write a catchy press release (yep you can use my software in my sig to do so) and email them or fax them the press release.

    Based on personal offline press experience I would make it a one-pager since editors don't want to be burdened with reading too much content. Your most powerful approach will be to make it as interesting as possible - if you can make it "timely" so it coordinates with news from today's events then that is even more reason for them to print your story and get it published

    Best of Luck,

    Justin





    Originally Posted by Afreidman View Post

    Hi warriors,

    I recently launched a book on amazon.com and wanted to get some useful advice about contacting the press.

    What is the best approach?

    Cold calling, email, go local or national?

    I am not a U.S citizen btw so I'm not able to go and meet these people in person.

    Thanks in advance,
    Ari
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    • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
      Others have hinted at it, but I'm going to say it plain and simple...

      The fact that you have a book on Amazon may be a big deal to you, but it doesn't mean a fart in a hurricane to news publishers. You may get a one paragraph mention in your local paper, but that's about it.

      You have to have a hook that catches the attention of the editor or reporter who reads your release, and that usually means some kind of story. A dramatic case study is good. So are poll results and startling statistics.

      Write about that, not your book. If you quote yourself, you can often get away with one mention that you are a published author with a book for sale. Above all else, you do not want your release to sound like a promotion.

      As an editor friend of mine used to growl over lunch, "what do these ---holes think we pay the advertising guys for?"
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      • Profile picture of the author Afreidman
        Originally Posted by JohnMcCabe View Post

        Others have hinted at it, but I'm going to say it plain and simple...

        The fact that you have a book on Amazon may be a big deal to you, but it doesn't mean a fart in a hurricane to news publishers. You may get a one paragraph mention in your local paper, but that's about it.

        You have to have a hook that catches the attention of the editor or reporter who reads your release, and that usually means some kind of story. A dramatic case study is good. So are poll results and startling statistics.

        Write about that, not your book. If you quote yourself, you can often get away with one mention that you are a published author with a book for sale. Above all else, you do not want your release to sound like a promotion.

        As an editor friend of mine used to growl over lunch, "what do these ---holes think we pay the advertising guys for?"
        I agree with you 100%, before I launched my book I was sure that because its Amazon.com, I will be flooded with sales.

        Creation is the first thing and Promotion is the second.

        The only thing missing from my equation is knowing how exactly to approach the press.

        I actually just sent like 6-7 people a personal email with some information about my book and a bit about me.

        I agree that it has to be a creative idea.

        You guys could check my product out in my signature and if you have any creative ideas that would be awesome.

        For some weird reason I seem to be quite brain dead when it comes to promotion!


        Thanks for the info!
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        • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
          There's a lot more of us 'over 50' types than you might think...

          Ari, here's a couple of idea starters for you.

          > Facebook is becoming tied to the issue of cyber-bullying. You could position your book in the press release as a way for parents and grandparents to learn how FB works so they can help their kids/grandkids. Talk about the issue, and use the fact that you wrote a book on using FB as credentials.

          > More and more families are using FB as a way to stay connected, even though they may be geographically scattered. Write about ways people are using FB to stay connected. Again, use your book as a credential.

          Sammy is on to something. Unless you already have a national profile, many 'hot' stories start with local and regional coverage. If they get traction there, national media may pick up on it. And don't forget to include TV and especially radio. Talk radio has, cumulatively, thousands of hours to fill. Present them with a story they can generate callers with, and air time can propel sales.
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    I think you have to be creative.

    Back in 2005 while everyone else said stuff them, we sponsor meal on wheels to deliver food to the elderly whos house burnt down.

    Yes, ok it costs us a few hundred, but we got exposure in local newpapers, journals, newsletter, online, broadcasts and also nursing home.

    We worked out, that all of this would have cost thousands of dollars, and yet we did it with a few hundred dollars.

    You dont have to work hard, or have good copy, just be creative and let them come to you. Pretty simple really.
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  • Profile picture of the author HarrisonJ
    Your niche is really small.

    Reposition your product to target
    "How To Get Traffic With Facebook"
    or
    "How To Meet Women With Facebook"
    or
    "How To Make Money With Facebook"

    Those are the kinds of topics that people really want to read about.

    Repositioning your product would widen your potential customer pool to different types of customers, instead of just people over 50 years old (which has a very low population of computer users compared to younger age groups that are more computer savvy).

    People want to buy products that will make their lives better.
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  • Profile picture of the author sammy123
    I think you must target local audience.. It will help you a lot and will increase the visibility of the book in local market..
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  • Profile picture of the author hardraysnight
    Naked - always works for me
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