What Are Some Tips for Writing a Good Press Release?

posted by Melanie Rembrandt on Mar 30, 2010 | Comments (3) | Permalink | Trackback URL

When writing a press release, it can be easy to fall into the standard, template format. But if you really want it to be the best press release possible, ask yourself these questions:

Is this newsworthy?

If you are announcing a major news event, statistic, research result, or other important activity, that’s fantastic. But many times, you will write a press release simply to announce a new staff member, upcoming event, partnership, etc. These announcements are not newsworthy to everyone so it’s usually best to send them to a limited list of pertinent investors, partners, customers, and media members.

Another idea is to simply post the release on your site. After all, you want reporters to take notice when you have a big story to report. And if you just send out press releases to everyone on your media list all the time, they may stop listening to you all together.

Is this boring?

Are other people really going to care about what you are saying? Check to see if you are focusing on facts alone without providing any benefits. You can significantly increase the odds of your release being read if you offer unique and interesting information that is pertinent and valuable to your audience.

Do your quotes offer value?

As I’ve mentioned before, if the quotes in your press release include, “we are excited,” “we are thrilled” or “we are honored,” please change them. We know you are thrilled, excited or honored with the news. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be writing a press release in the first place! It’s best if your quotes provide new information, a specific opinion or other, newsworthy information. (For more on this, please see the great article from Ragan.com at http://tinyurl.com/7br5yt.)

These are just a few quick tips to make your press release more reader-friendly and newsworthy. With a few simple changes like these, you can write a good press release that generates awareness and sales.

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