E-mail is becoming the preferred way to receive media releases. Although it can sometimes be harder to get valid e-mail addresses for media contacts, e-mail releases are more likely to be read than faxes and faster than snail mail.
Collect e-mail addresses for your preferred media contacts from the web sites for publications and broadcast outlets. For example, many newspapers list e-mail addresses of their editors, columnists and reporters at their web sites. They may also print e-mail addresses in each section of the newspaper.
Can't find the e-mail address for the person you want to reach? Often, you can guess what the address is if you know the e-mail address convention for that publication. For example, if others there have addresses that are firstname.lastname@magazine.com, you can try contacting columnist John Jones at john.jones@magazine.com.
Keep the release short. There shouldn't be more than a couple of screens worth of text.
Use text, not special formatting such as HTML. What you thought was a beautifully formatted message with special fonts and graphics will show up on some systems as a bunch of garbage code. Also, with all the viruses, worms and trojans out there, some people will not open HTML e-mail.
NEVER send an attachment. Some systems will automatically strip them out, but even if they reach the addressee, many will not open an attachment because of the possibility of viruses as well as the inconvenience.
Your subject line is your headline. Use it wisely. Don't leave it blank, or put a generic subject such as "Hi!" or "Something for you." Most will delete it believing it to be spam or just not interesting. Don't try to be cute with a subject line such as "Guess who?" or "I dare you to open this," for the same reasons.
Make the FROM field meaningful. Put your name, company name or other identifier there. If all that shows up is that the e-mail is from a meaningless series of letters and numbers, it looks unprofessional or like spam.
Don't use the CC: field to send the e-mail release to dozens or hundreds of media. All of the addresses will show up on each person's e-mail, meaning they will have to scroll through pages of header to reach your message-and they won't. Your e-mail will be deleted unread. It's annoying and unprofessional to send e-mails this way.
E-mail releases can be an effective, free way to get publicity. Use them wisely.
Copyright Cathy Stucker. Learn more about how you can attract customers and make yourself famous with free publicity at free publicity.
move in cleaning service Mundelein ..Your important outside audiences behave in ways that stop you... Read More
Do editors of newspapers, magazines and online news sites really... Read More
Big corporations like General Motors and Coca-Cola spend thousands of... Read More
Hundreds of thousands of News Releases are sent out all... Read More
Many of our clients are in service businesses, such as... Read More
It doesn't matter how cruel the reality programs get, there... Read More
Especially good advice for business, non-profit and association managers whose... Read More
In an ideal world, your business would be overflowing withnewsworthy... Read More
It behooves you to know and remember the names of... Read More
To many marketers, the press release is something of a... Read More
The media need you. Need the information and expertise you... Read More
As an entry level position to PR, I found myself... Read More
Press releases are a useful tool for announcing news and... Read More
1) Establish Rapport, then get the editor/producer excited.There's not a... Read More
Just like a financial planning client fears not having enough... Read More
I address this article to businesses, associations, non-profits and public... Read More
Publicity will take your financial planning practice, your business, and... Read More
Everyone is talking about the Ps of successful marketing, so... Read More
When most people think of media relations, they think of... Read More
When you are planning to call a reporter for the... Read More
Things are pleasant for many business, non-profit or association managers... Read More
When starting a successful business venture or launching a new... Read More
Press reviews are a common and basic feature for surveying... Read More
The short answer is, it works best when its fundamental... Read More
With all due respect to all those stereotypical males out... Read More
insured cleaning company Highland Park ..When you are planning to call a reporter for the... Read More
Would you advise clients to buy a stock based on... Read More
You can have dozens of marvelous ideas to get free... Read More
I am often asked by clients to target USA Today... Read More
As an entry level position to PR, I found myself... Read More
What is bad PR?Well, if you're a business, non-profit or... Read More
You've probably noticed, if you live on this planet, that... Read More
There's an old African proverb:"If you think you are too... Read More
1) Do you NEED solid, consistant media exposure...week after week,... Read More
Public relations is all about credibility and trustworthiness. If you... Read More
A press release telling about "Stevie, the Water-Skiing Squirrel" will... Read More
NUMBERS, NUMBERS EVERYWHEREYou just placed a terrific story on the... Read More
How cool is this? You're a business, non-profit or association... Read More
Yes? Then do something positive about the behaviors of those... Read More
Think carefully! You're a department, division or subsidiary manager for... Read More
Keep these few crucial details in mind when writing and... Read More
So you've put yourself "out there" with a public relations... Read More
When a reporter is wowed, intrigued, surprised or captivated by... Read More
Maybe it played for Kevin Costner in "Field of Dreams,"... Read More
When special events and communications tactics rule the PR roost... Read More
Everyone is talking about the Ps of successful marketing, so... Read More
Sure, any publicity is good. But don't invest time and... Read More
A common complaint you'll hear is that the media is... Read More
What may be the more appropriate question is: What makes... Read More
Would you like to expand the volume of your business?... Read More
Public Relations |