PR Releases

Thursday, February 22, 2018

This is a great list of press releases that Bob Bly has personally written.  Read them and learn how to write strong and effective press releases. 

Bill Myers offers a template on writing Press Releases.  What I would like to know is where does one publish press releases?  The follow seems helpful.  It's titled, "How I Write Press Releases to Get International Media Coverage."  



I liked that advice.  So the idea is to generate news that is deeply personal to the niche you're writing about so that the news itself becomes, like an ad, very memorable and action worthy.

1.  Write a headline that sums up event, using present tense.

2.   A few paragraphs.  Highlight firsts.  "This is the first of its kind" or "This is the largest event of its."  It should tie into a news development, highlight those facts near the top of your release.

3.  clear and concisce, structure story like a news story, important points first, interview possibilities, and visual moments, known as photo-opts for cameras.

4.  exclamation points and too many adj and advs detract from company credibility.  over eager.

5.  1 page.  Reveal more details in follow-up conversations.

6.  Include catchy quote from organizer or leader.

7.  At the top right or left side, write in bold letters: Date, Contacts, Date/time of event, Location of event.

8.  Make sure contacts are available to answer calls and emails and prepared to respond to questions.

9.  find contacts online for news outlets.  Local ones will take an interest in the event.  Target specific news sections, radio, and TV stations, and individual reporters that pertain to my event.

10.  Email and text your event to news outlets I am targeting.  Send it in advance of the event, depending on the contacts lead times.

11.  Send another press release to the same contacts AFTER the event, detailing who showed up and any results, including who noticed, read, and acted upon the release.

1.  What's the key message?

2.  Who's the target audience?

3.  What does the target audience gain from your product or service?

4.  What's your objective?

Answers are news centered.

Capitalize on current events or local events within my niche industry.

Don't advertise!

Headline has primary key words.

Headline should not be a repeat of first sentence.

Avoid cliche words and jargon

Inverted pyramid approach:  the widest part of the triangle at the top with the most important points.

The 5 W's and the H: Who?  What?  Where?  Why?  When? and How?

Most people don't read beyond the first 2 paragraphs!

2nd section builds the news.

Bottom or 3rd section contains information least important to the event or to your audience, like

a.  your company information, so reader can learn more.

b. 

advertising copywriters

freelance copywriters

SAMPLE PRESS RELEASESE

1.  Seiko.

2.

HOW TO TELL IF A STORY IS NEWSWORTHY?

 See here, here, here, and here.