The S.M.A.R.T. Guide To Press Release Writing
Topics: press release writing, online marketing, Rebekah Iliff, communications, marketing, publicity
This guide offers practical suggestions and insider tips for entrepeneurs and business owners on communicating their message to the right targets using the right information.
QUICK FACTS:
The Who What, When, Where, Why of a press release
Who should write a press release?
Well, for starters, someone with professional level writing skills and ample public relations experience will probably be your best bet for writing a press release that meets industry standards. Although small business owners often write and distribute their own press releases, it goes without saying that if you haven’t written a paper since the 8th grade then you should strongly consider hiring a professional. PR Specialists are usually proficient writers, will be privy to current best practices and updated journalist formatting preferences.
What is a press release anyway?
Simply put, a press release is a tool for getting your message out to the world and for creating buzz about a new product, service, or business endeavor. Generally speaking, a release is sent to a specific journalist, group of target journalists or reporters who may be interested in writing a synopsis, feature, or simply listing the information in their publication.
When do I send a press release?
The best time to send a press release depends on the nature of the information. If you are announcing the Grand Opening of a new business then you would send it out 2-3 weeks before the big day so that journalists have an opportunity to plug you prior to opening. However, if you have just created a strategic alliance with another small business that you think may be interesting to a local business journal or community newspaper then carpe diem! Write it, edit it, and send it out.
Where do I send a press release?
This is a good question, and the one most often misunderstood by aspiring publicists and individuals attempting to get their message out. Press releases, quite frankly, should only be sent to people who care about what you are saying. If you send a press release about a new type of female hair product to the foreign affairs editor of a major newspaper then you are barking up the wrong tree, not to mention probably the wrong country. Press releases should be sent over the wire to your specific target industry, or to editors, reporters, and staff writers of print and online publications who cover topics related to your information.
Wait…Why do I need a press release?
Well, there is only one correct answer to this question: because your information is worth sending. To understand that loaded phrase, it is important to follow the S.M.A.R.T. guide below to find out whether or not you even need a press release, or if the press release you have is worth sending out for the world to see.
GET S.M.A.R.T.
5 simple steps for creating a killer press release
Although it may seem cliche to say, press release writing truly is an art, and journalists are beyond savvy when it comes to deciphering a newsworthy piece of information from a fluffy, sorry excuse for a press release. Not only is it insulting to them when you waste their precious time by tooting your own horn about nothing special, but what’s worse…it makes you look bad. End of story. Bah-Bye.
If you really want to understand what goes in to writing a great press release, and to find out if the information you are sending is up to par, ask yourself these 5 simple questions:
Is your press release….
S=Straightforward
Ask yourself: is the press release written in simple, concise, factual language void of industry jargon and buzz terms? Can I get my point across in an understandable manner in less than 400 words?
M= Magazine Ready
A reporter or editor should be able to take the information from your press release and plop it into any medium without having to correct bad grammar, or call to get specifics on what the heck you are trying to say. The key is to make the journalist’s job as simple as possible. If you master this, then your chances of getting press placement will increase exponentially.
A= Attention Getting
This is actually the FIRST question you should ask yourself before you even dive into writing a press release. Another way of saying this is: is it newsworthy? While you may care about the fact that your company toy poodle is having twins, I assure you that no one else will.
R=Researched
Remember that last paper you wrote when you were in the 8th grade, and how you didn’t cite any of your sources but instead just pulled some information out of your, eh-hem, head. Remember how you got an F? Well, needless to say, things haven’t changed much since that day and journalists are much like teachers: they want to see that you’ve done your homework and that you have a thorough understanding of the topic on which you are writing. No, you don’t need actual citations in your press release, but you should definitely be prepared to answer in depth questions if the situation presents itself.
T=Timely
A timely press release is the first cousin of a researched press release. That is to say, a press release that is relevant to current events or cutting edge technology is more likely to get noticed. Remember, it is important to be aware of trends in your particular industry so that you can seize opportunities to create the news!
Rebekah Iliff is the Founder of Smart Girls Consulting, a boutique marketing and communications agency located in Los Angeles, California.
Website: www.SmartGirlsConsulting.com
Blog: sgcbragblog.blogspot.com
Previous Articles Highlighter:
How To Prospect In Network Marketing With A Smile Every Day! (1)
4. Only invite qualified prospects to your presentation or what ever the next step in the prospecting process is. This will increase you sales efforts and make prospecting more positive experience.
Web Design Graphics That Improve Conversions (2)
Good graphic design is the best way to create instant differentiation that gets people's attention and gets your site read and visited. You can even find some graphics packages already made that will boost your results quickly.
SEO; The Gateway To Greater Online Profits (3)
Nearly every computer user has heard of Google, the world's most popular search engine, understandably, if a business can top the listings for certain key terms on Google it is possible to make a great deal of revenue purely through internet sales.
How To Find The Right Affiliate And Ad Tracking Software For Your Business! (4)
Your search should provide with the names and website addresses of a number of different software services or programs. You will want to quickly examine each of these products and eliminate the ones that do not offer what you need.
The Importance Of Mobile Marketing During Tough Economic Times (5)
You can create documents (called cards, instead of webpages) for WAP-enabled phones using WML (Wireless Markup Language), which is the same as XML and generally based on Internet HTML standards.
Online Advertising For Beginners (6)
To find out more information visit Netlyte Houston Texas Web Design at www.WebsiteDesignHouston.net - You can also request more information to help you start designing a website for your business.
Is Your Affiliate And Ad Tracking Software Worth Its Money? (7)
To make more money, you will have to do a number of different things. Unfortunately, there are many business owners who think that there is nothing more that they can do.
A New Income Opportunity Through Cash Gifting (8)
A cash gifting business opportunity does not require one to do a lot of explanations. It is because promotions and marketing plugs are automated. One just has to request for a callback and he will receive the information he needs.
How Can You Start An Online Business? Sell Advertising On Your Website Or Blog (9)
You can either include standard rates or request that all interested parties email you, for customized a quote. This gives you more flexibility to offer some sort of discount if you choose.
How To Make Money Online With List-Building (10)
The List-Building Way is a belief that you can provide added value and meaning to your customers who signed up with you to be part of your mailing list. If the people on your list start to think that the products and information which you are providing is really just to fill your own pockets, you will see that people may start un-subscribing from your list.
Enhancing Your Life With Internet Business (11)
Or, they see their return on their bank statement each month. It really is that simple. Looking for ways to increase your income is an idea that is an inviting proposal.
The Best Kept Secret In Online Business (12)
Basically, it is an all-in-one solution to help you build a truly successful online business. Curious? I also encourage you to check out the short video tour and the other in-depth case studies to learn even more in my bio box below.
How To Start A Home Based Business Online: Niche Blogging (13)
Start a home based business online with niche blogging. Niche blogging is setting up a blog which focuses on one market niche. For example natural dog food would be a niche and all the posts would about dogs, dog food, and natural dog food.
Online Watch Stores - Buying Brand Name Watches At Affordable Prices (14)
However, while choosing the latter, it is imperative to double check if the online watch stores one intends to shop from is indeed genuine, and has a secure payment gateway that ensures complete privacy of all financial transactions made through it.
How To Get More Online Traffic (15)
However, your PPC (pay-per-click) ads will appear in the "sponsored results" section, so they'll be even higher on the page. If you're looking for something more attention-grabbing, check out banner advertising.
How To Optimize Your Landing Page- Part 2 (16)
But still, with all these information you are recommended to put in your landing pages, be cautious in using long paragraphs. Try to utilize bold, italicized, or enlarged fonts to emphasize your value proposition of the important points you want to communicate.
The Key Ingredients Of Pay Per Click Advertising (17)
Why else unless it is just your passion? So conversion is the main thing you are after and what they are in simple terms are people who signed up for something with you whether it be for a purchase or just signing something that puts them on your list as a potential client or lead.
Five Marketing Tactics You Can Teach New Downline Members (18)
Social Networking Again, neophytes to the affiliate marketing game may not understand how social forums can help them. Many will certainly use them for their personal conversations. You have to teach them how they can use these sites to promote their business.
Balancing Relevance With Popularity (19)
However, what many of them do not know is that by the continual addition of fresh relevant content to their website, they can actually build popularity with every incoming link to their content.
Strategic Internet Marketing: 6 Points To Ponder Towards Success (20)
With so many considerations, what will you think of first and foremost? This is where strategic Internet marketing takes the action. It is used to define your potential market.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Landing Pages- An Aid For Conversion (1)
And since landing pages are usually optimized pages, meaning it is designed is a way that search engines can easily pick them up by using valuable keywords for your niche market, it may also contain links that would direct visitors to your website or a particular page in your website which will nonetheless motivate them to take an action.
New York SEO, Search Engine Optimization And Internet Marketing (2)
What do people want to know when they're planning a trip to the Big Apple? Hotels and restaurants obviously. An SEO expert would probably contact a few major hotels and ask about reciprocal links.
How To Buy Banner Ads (3)
There are companies out there that specialize only in the sale and design of banner ads. Companies like this offer plenty of information on their websites about the cost of banner ads as well as the various factors that will influence that cost.
Attention Attorneys: Enhance Your Client Experience With Your Firm's Legal Website (4)
Be certain any information you share is well-written, free of errors, as well as clear and concise. Do not use legal jargon to communicate with prospects. Some law firms make the critical mistake of concentrating their legal marketing efforts on getting prospects to visit - just once.
Economy Growing In Time Of Recession - Get Your Site Ready! (5)
Maximize this opportunity by including complimentary items on your order confirmation pages. Take advantage of your transactional emails. Studies have also shown that transactional emails are opened nearly 75% of the time.
Search Engine Optimization & Internet Marketing, Phoenix Arizona (6)
Other things that can halt search engines from picking up your website for listing are of a more technical nature that typically requires extensive training to understand. Where you place your advertising and wording them to attract search engines and potential buyers is another consideration for why a seo and internet marketing pro might be the best equipped to handle this for your company.
New Jersey SEO For Search Engines And Internet Marketing Services (7)
This is certainly not an assignment for someone having only a tentative understanding about the key areas of business promoting to take on. Tack on the fact that the strategies for the implementation of these are in a constant state of evolution, and you have a massive job needing expert skill to pull off.
The Advantages Of Hiring An Internet Marketing Coach (8)
People who aren't familiar in Internet marketing don't understand that you can make money online and a lot of it. Successful people hang out with other successful people. Do you really want to listen to your broke friends?
How To Become An Unique Affiliate (9)
The domain You really should buy your own domain name. It is so much easier to market your own website with your own name and customer will see you as serious.
Work From Home In Affiliate Marketing- Making The Right Choice? (10)
Is the niche in demand? Finding an affiliate program that is associated with an interest is nice but finding one that is also in demand is even better. Relationships, golf, weight loss, and earning money on the internet are always in demand online.
Writing Effective Search Engine Optimised Copy For The Web (11)
Do not let your keyword phrases get in the way of what you are trying to say. 5. Keyword phrases should make up around 5% of your copy and no more than 10%.
Guide To Making Money On The Internet (12)
Indeed successful web site requires good design, useful content, proper description and keywords in metatags, registration with major search engines and marketing. There are various methods to make money from online business including affiliate marketing.
Are You Making These Critical Mistakes When Building Your List? (13)
Encourage your subscribers to learn about your product or service. You will begin to build trust and respect from them. Auto responders will help to build your list of subscribers.
4 Ways To Advertise Online (14)
Topics: online advertising, how to advertise online, banner advertising, ppc advertising If you want to succeed in your business and/or website endeavors, you need to know how to properly advertise online to get the most traffic to your website.
Good Protocol For Business Audio Conferencing (15)
Peter Bennett is CEO of Ozone Conferencing Limited. This article was prepared for small businesses wanting to know more about audio conferencing. For more articles like this please visit www.ozoneconferencing.com
How To Advertise Your Website Online (16)
This process, however, focuses on quality rather than quantity, so you'll need to choose the most credible, strongest sites you can find, instead of just slapping links up all over the place.
Keyword Research Tool: A Tool Towards Good Keyword Research (17)
Many people visit the Internet everyday nowadays, so it is only natural for businesses and other organizations that seek to reach out to a lot of people to respond to it by seeing it as an opportunity and a tool where much selling, advertisement and information letting can be done.
Affiliate Marketers Have Mixed Results With Internet Travel Business Sites (18)
It is not surprising that companies will actively woo such affiliates and seek to present delectable business opportunities that take affiliate marketing consistently to new heights. In a day and age where the average affiliate payout is between five and 10 percent of a sale made through the affiliate link, it only makes sense that those in the affiliate business would look for the high ticket items that consumers might purchase time and again.
4 Benefits Of Buying From A Gift Shop Online (19)
Thirdly, let's talk of the comparison. You can quickly make the purchase of confrontation over things such as the evaluation. It will be hard to do that when you are buying on sale to retail trade.
Truth About Search Engine Submission (20)
What did they do? They simple placed a submission form on their website... so no one emails them again, they just fill the form right? But do you think search engines actually manually review all the submissions and get the sites indexed?