How and Why to Use Electronic Press Kits

Let’s set the scene: It’s been several months since you self-published your first book.

- BY SAIDA R. PAGAN

It’s been listed on just about every online platform and has even received a few positive reviews on Goodreads and Amazon. On the one hand, things look promising. On the other, well, not so much. That's because as hard as you've tried to market it, sales are not as robust as you think they could be.

You always knew that you would have to put in the work to promote your book—and you have. You've posted nonstop on social media, scheduled book signings, and even appeared on a few writers’ podcasts. But as much as you've tried, your book is still not inching anywhere near the top of any of the bestseller lists.

At this point, you've come to the conclusion that while social media is an important tool, maybe, just maybe, traditional media, with its wide reach, should be a bigger part of your public relations plan. You're hoping that with publicity you can connect more quickly with the thousands of potential readers you're sure will love your book.

So, you put together a solid list of television and radio stations, newspapers, and magazines and are ready to move forward. But now the question is, what's the secret to getting journalists to actually run stories on your book?

Having a strong pitch is a good start. But one often-overlooked strategy is something that far too few writers have even considered— the creation of an eye-catching, information-filled, easy-to-use electronic press kit, aka EPK.

“It's an incredibly helpful thing [for an author] to have a specific resource where their press kit, their media, their assets all live,” said Lauren Oritz, Senior Publicity Manager for Little, Brown and Company's nonfiction division in New York. “It is often the place we will refer a journalist to,” she added.

WHAT EXACTLY IS AN ELECTRONIC PRESS KIT?