piątek, 16 września 2011

Basic Ways to Immensely Better Your Press Release Writing

By Jeff Santoro


Some call them press releases; some call them news releases. Essentially they are statements sent to various media (newspapers, magazines, websites, broadcasters) hoping to create awareness about events, accomplishments, or new products or services. Most press releases serve as outreach tools for businesses, groups or individuals.

Press releases are sent to various medias with the hope that they will be published in part or in full. In an ideal situation, the press release will compel an editor or journalist to develop it into a full-length feature story.

In addition to traditional direct outreach goals, a thoughtfully written press release can also serve as an SEO article marketing agent and help increase a website's page rank on popular search engines like Google, Bing or Yahoo. In this sense a press release can really serve as a two-pronged marketing strategy for businesses: 1. Getting the word out about a new product, service or personnel change via traditional media. 2. Enhancing that business's website search-presence by publishing the press release at key free posting portals on the Web.

Some things to pay attention two when writing a press release:

1. Keep to your 5 Ws and an H: who, what, when, where, why, and how. Avoid straying into abstractions and irrelevant or unnecessary details. Press releases should be simple and to the point. Give it to us straight. Who or what is this about? When did it happen/will it happen? Where did it happen/will it happen? And finally, why and how? Why is it happening and how will it impact the future?

2. Use one or two quotes in your press release whenever possible. Get a quote from someone directly connected to the story. This could be the individual the story is about, or in the case of a new product launch, the person responsible for it's creation or development. Someone with authority. "A quote or two in your press release is essential," says Bruce Kentner, a retired public relations specialist from Burlington, Vermont. "It not only makes the piece more interesting and readable, it also lends it an air of credibility." Additionally, if your lucky enough to have an editor or journalist interested in developing your press release into a feature story, the quoted individual can serve as an initial contact.

3. Finally, a look at the very beginning of a press release-namely the headline. Newspapers, magazines and broadcasters may receive hundreds, even thousands of press releases each week. To ensure that a press release even gets read, be sure to include a snappy headline that states what the story is about. However, don't be tempted to include too many details. Save the how and the why for your body copy. Let's say your press release is written on behalf of XYZ Law Firm announcing that they have just added a hotshot young attorney to their ranks.

This would be an example of a poorly written press release headline: XYZ Law Firm Hopes to Bolster Its Prestige and Cream the Local Competition By Hiring Talented Young Attorney

A far better headline would be: XYZ Brings In the Big Guns




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