News releases (also called press releases) are an important part of a public relations campaign. They are also an important part of marketing your business. They are the primary means of "selling" your story to the media. All press releases are structured the same way. Make sure you
answer "yes" to these key questions when writing your next press release:
Is it easy to read?
Editors look at hundreds of press releases every day, and if your news release is difficult to read, they will throw it out. It should be on plain white paper and printed in black ink. The main body of the release should be double-spaced and have at least a one inch margin all around the edges.
Your letterhead should appear at the top of the first page to establish your identity.
Have you double-checked your spelling and grammar?
A good press release has no typographical or grammatical errors. If yours contains such errors you'll lose credibility; it will have the same effect as a badly written business letter or resume. The release should be typed. Print out (or type out) a fresh copy for each person to whom you will send it. Do not send out poor-quality photocopies with dark staple marks or blotches.
Did you include the six news elements?
Because all news articles include six basic elements-who, what, when, where, why, and how - your press release should also follow the same guidelines. Put the most important facts in the lead paragraph, with the facts decreasing in importance as you go down the page. Why? Suppose you send a press release to an editor who has five inches of space open in the newspaper and your release runs eight inches long. Ideally, the editor would trim your press release from the bottom. Therefore, to make sure the most important information gets run, put the less important information at the bottom.
Did you include a contact source?
In the top, right-hand corner of the first page, directly beneath your company name, there should be a line that states, "For further information, contact." A name and telephone number should follow. The editor must have somebody in your business to call to answer questions or to be interviewed about your news item. If you can only be reached during certain hours, specify them.
Have you included a dateline?
The best press releases have a dateline with the city in which the business is based and the date the release is written. Every press release needs a dateline so that the editor can tell when it was mailed. Nobody wants to cover an old story that has lost its timeliness.
The other morning during my favorite radio talk show they mentioned this guy who wrote a book about selling water beds which was coming out next week. How you do think this guy got the radio stations to talk about this....you got it - a press release or a publicist who sent a press release.
Copyright DeFiore Enterprises 2002
Interested in having your own successful, home based creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have been helping folks start successful home based businesses for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how, visit http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products and coaching in creative real estate investing and home based businesses. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to our "how to" Home Business Solutions Digest, it's like having your own personal coach: http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com
Lincoln Stretch rentals Alsip ..Strong for business, non-profit and association managers when they use... Read More
Once considered the stepchild of the publishing industry, custom publishing... Read More
That big story the media pursue each day is what... Read More
Can your PR do something positive about the behaviors of... Read More
Most small businesses have logo'ed shirts, usually polo shirts with... Read More
Demand that it pull its own weight in your boat... Read More
If you do, it means:you don't value tracking the perceptions... Read More
It used to be that all you had to do... Read More
Because PR can be difficult to control, it is often... Read More
You're a business, non-profit or association manager who needs to... Read More
Experience tells me that too many business, non-profit and association... Read More
When ABC News anchor Peter Jennings announced he had lung... Read More
Do you have a great idea for a story, but... Read More
When you should send samples with your press release:1) When... Read More
NOTE: Brad Phillips was a Producer for CNN's The Capital... Read More
It's one thing for a senior manager to approve story... Read More
Media interviews are an important part of an overall public... Read More
Especially good advice for business, non-profit and association managers whose... Read More
Use journalistic styleReporters are busy. Just like you.So when you... Read More
When you pay good money for public relations services, you... Read More
The media has the power to shape public opinion and... Read More
I say public relations can be a matter of survival... Read More
Public relations and news releases are synonymous in the minds... Read More
It's the time of year when calendars crowd out the... Read More
It really is powerful when a business, non-profit or association... Read More
Western Springs shuttle limo ..What else, for goodness sake, could you as a business,... Read More
I recently worked with a group dealing with an unusual... Read More
Experience tells me that too many business, non-profit and association... Read More
Are you launching a new product or website? Announcing a... Read More
Want to get radio interviews and coverage in print publications... Read More
There's the old joke about the two buzzards sitting in... Read More
In the 'Age of Scepticism' gaining media coverage is one... Read More
If, as is often the case, you are preoccupied with... Read More
It's hard to imagine a reporter working today who doesn't... Read More
Without a solid, well-designed foundation, few buildings successfully withstand the... Read More
Publicity will take your financial planning practice, your business, and... Read More
The power of PassionPassion is an extraordinarily powerful spring. Without... Read More
When most people think about marketing, they think advertising. While... Read More
How can media training help you create a successful Hispanic... Read More
Yes, that's what public relations really is when it tracks... Read More
Don't assume that a reporter understands financial planning. If anything,... Read More
One study found that as many as 90% of the... Read More
Just promoted to manager?Here's something you need to know.Whether you... Read More
The public relations goal and strategy make sense; the message... Read More
As a business, non-profit or association manager, why continue a... Read More
What is the one thing that all of the best... Read More
The media's role is to package and spread news, current... Read More
You are in business for yourself, but how well do... Read More
?makes the rules, of course.But when the gold takes the... Read More
Yes?Good!Still, as a business, non-profit or association manager, if you're... Read More
Public Relations |