Did you know that 44 percent of journalists trust press releases the most out of other forms of news conveyance? A press release is a marvelous way to reach millions of people with important information and news. With that being said, it is important that you use the right press release format when you choose to write a press release.
It takes a certain skill set and knowledge to write a press release the correct way. If you’ve never done it before then it is a wise move to make good use of a press release example of a press release template.
The good news is that you’ve come to the right place for some helpful tips for writing a proper press release. Keep reading this article for ten helpful tips that will make you an expert on press releases and releases.
1. Know Your Audience
A huge part of writing a successful press release is knowing who your intended audience is. You need to make sure that you have a certain purpose for the press release rather than choosing to write a press release with no goal in mind. The primary purpose of writing a press release is to provide information to and engage with your audience.
Before you start writing your press release you should sit down and think about who you want to reach with your press release. Make sure that you have a firm understanding of who your target audience is and what that audience’s interests are. It is also wise to consider the demographics of your press release.
Perhaps you’re writing a press release for a new product that makes cleaning the home easier. There are certain demographics that will find more value in that product than others. People in their late teens and early twenties won’t be nearly as excited about that product as working parents and homeowners.
2. Put Together A Catchy Title
You can put together the best press release the world has ever seen but it won’t serve the intended purpose if it doesn’t have a catchy title that will attract the eyes and attention of your readers. There are some types of writing that favor the bare bones of the story but press releases need something to grab attention.
Make sure that you get creative and come up with something that will make readers curious. This curiosity will help because they’ll want to gain more information based on your title. Intrigue is a big deal when it comes to choosing to write a press release to get the news out there.
3. Keep It Short And Simple
Another thing to keep in mind when you set out to write a press release is how much information to include. Most press releases are short and simple and try to get to the point with the least words possible. Many readers are short on time and don’t have the free time to dedicate to reading a 5,000-word article.
Going with a press release is perfect because it gets the most important tidbits of information to the readers in an efficient manner. If your press releases are too long then you’ll find that many readers won’t get through all of it and will miss out on information that you want to share with them.
Answer the basic questions that they might have. Focus on the “who”, the “what”, the “when”, and the “how”. Taking this approach will make it easy for your audience to get the most information possible in the least amount of time.
4. Put Together A Great First Line
Your first line is almost as important as your press release title. Make sure that your first line builds off of the title to capture that curiosity and the attention of your readers. Catchiness is everything when it comes to a successful press release.
Your first line should be somewhere between 15 and 20 words to keep things short enough that you don’t lose the reader’s attention. Include the best information that you can to convince the readers that your content and your story are worth reading and sharing.
5. Focus On The Facts
The primary goal of writing a press release is getting the facts out to the public in the most efficient way possible. In addition to presenting the facts, you should also do your best to show your brand or your organization in the best light possible. Think of it as a way to market your organization to your audience.
Once you get those facts out there, the journalists and the bloggers will do the rest over the newswire to tell the story. It isn’t your job to create the online buzz. Your job when you choose to write a press release is to provide the factual information that the journalists and bloggers need to write exciting pieces of journalism.
6. Use Statistics
If you want to present your press releases in a factual way then it is a wise move to use statistics to back up your statements. Statistics are great for providing an added degree of credibility to the message that you’re trying to spread to the public.
The more facts that you use, the more convincing your press release will be. While statistics are great, make sure that they’re relevant to your press release. No one will care about facts related to the cost of refrigerators if your press release is about the shortage of sand in the United States of America.
7. Add At Least One Relevant Quote
Another great strategy to use when you write a press release is to include a quote. Quotes are great for grabbing the attention of your readers. Using this strategy will help your press releases stand out from the thousands of other press releases that come out each day.
Make sure that, as your statistics, the quote is relevant to your press release. You also want to make sure that the quote has context and that it is easy to understand. Use the right format when you include the quote in your press release.
You need to put the quote in Italics and put quotations around it so that it is clear that it is a quote. You also need to avoid adding a random quote for the sake of including a quote in your press release.
8. Edit Your Press Releases
You also need to be ready to do some editing before you submit your press release. Editors for big-time magazines and websites will not settle for low quality when it comes to the content they put out. The obvious goal is to get your press release out in the media and to do that you’ll need to make sure that it is up to snuff.
The editors will have certain requirements that they’ll expect you to meet. Make sure that you use plain English for your writing. You should also set a clear and obvious tone for the press release that is consistent throughout.
Use an editing program that will help you find any grammar or spelling mistakes. It is an investment but it will help you catch mistakes that you might not notice otherwise. It is a great investment if you want to improve the odds of your press release getting printed.
9. Improve Readability
It is also important that your press release is easy to ready. Your press release format goes a long way towards making for an easy reading experience for your target audience. Making your content fun and easy to read is a big step in the right direction for getting your press release approved.
People don’t like staring at walls of text so keep that in mind when you’re editing. Focus on putting together short paragraphs that are easy to read. Taking this approach will make it easier for your readers to scan the text to find the most important facts and figures within.
10. Collaborate
Another key to use when you write a press release is remaining open-minded and staying willing to collaborate with others for your press release. You might be the main person that is responsible for writing the press release but odds are that there are other team members that can help.
Perhaps they can help with editing what you’ve written. They can also help with brainstorming for fun first lines and titles that will grab the attention of your target audience. Working together is a sure way to put together the best press release possible.
If you write a press release that gets accepted and is eye-catchy then everyone will benefit. Don’t try to take everything on your own shoulders if you don’t have to.
Learn To Write A Press Release Today
Taking the time to learn how to write a press release is a great way to add value to your skillset as a writer but you need to understand the press release format. A press release needs to be efficient and capture the attention of your readers at the same time. Make sure that you’re editing and collaborating for the best press releases possible.
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