A book publicist generates media interest in new books, creates advertising campaigns, and develops contacts in various media outlets. They may also set up tours and book signings for authors and work with other departments to create promotional materials. No formal education is required, but communication and writing skills are necessary.
A book publicist is usually employed by a publishing company and it is their responsibility to generate media interest in a new book. he or she wants journalists to write articles about the author and his book in order to increase public interest and sales. The job is a combination of the marketing and publishing fields.
Typically, there are no formal educational requirements to become a book publicist. The job involves a lot of communication and writing; therefore, some advertisers may choose to study English, journalism, marketing or communication. A publicist needs to be assertive, outgoing, knowledgeable in their field and, of course, someone who likes to read.
A book publicist will likely receive a book or set of books months in advance and will be responsible for creating an advertising campaign around the book. Much of a publicist’s job is to create press releases for new books. These press releases are then sent out to various media outlets in hopes that they will write about it. For this reason, it is important for a book publicist to develop contacts in various media, as well as fully understand how the media works. For example, a magazine needs much more time before publishing a story than a newspaper, which can publish a story within a day.
In addition to generating media buzz about the book, a book publicist may also be responsible for setting up tours and book signings for authors. The publicist will need to work with the author and their schedule, as well as determine schedules at various locations or bookstores where the author will be traveling. In addition, the advertiser may need to establish travel arrangements, such as hotel stays, airline tickets or rental cars, to name a few.
Once the tour is set up, the publicist can start creating promotional materials such as flyers and advertisements. The publicist will likely need to work with other departments quite often, such as the art and design department. He or she will likely also have a budget and need to stay within that budget while creating publicity for the book. For outgoing people who enjoy working with others and who want to work in the publishing field, a career as a book publicist can be an excellent option.
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