Press Release Protocols

In a promotional world dominated by social media, Should authors still use old-fashioned press releases?

This piece first appeared in print in the November 2025 issue of Writing Magazine.

Writing Magazine — November 2025

Social media dominates the writing world. We’re encouraged to have writer profiles that promote our work, publicise our writing projects, and help us engage with readers. In the BSM days (Before Social Media), one of the best ways to promote a new book was to issue a press release.

In some ways, press releases had a lot in common with social media posts. We never knew who might see them, who might stop what they were doing to read them, or if anyone would even notice them at all. But sometimes, just like a social media post, one would resonate with the world and go viral.

So, do press releases still have a place in today’s world? Can they still benefit our writing business? And if so, how do we go about issuing one?

Authorised Article

Media outlets love press releases because they are authorised content. Not only is the information designed to be shared, but it is official. It is not hearsay from some dubious social media influencer, but information the author has approved for distribution.