How to write a press release that will get noticed

A press release should have one page, it does not include everything there is to know about your business, it is quick information, usually on a single event or topic. It should also sound like news, not an advertisement. Remember to think like the person who reads a magazine, blog, or newspaper: Would you like to know what writing is about, or would it feel like someone is trying to sneak into a sales pitch? That doesn’t mean you don’t write a press release if you have a new product for sale, but the way you write it should focus more on what the person will get out of it and then on “Hot New Product for $ 9.95 -! Come buy now! “

Here are 7 essential elements of a press release:

  1. Contact information. Your release should have your contact information at the top. Be sure to include a phone number, email, and website where applicable.
  2. The words: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Typically capitalized and often italicized.
  3. Your city, state and date, followed by a dash and all in bold. Put the city and state – spelled out – in parentheses, followed by the date, spelling out the month in full. Mine would look like this in a press release: (Portland, Oregon) March 25, 2011 –
  4. The body of the press release. The first paragraph should be the most compelling and should answer the questions: who, where, why, what, when, and how. You can then develop in future paragraphs.
  5. About your business. Also called the “standard text”, it is part of your press release that is used over and over again. Standard text is a short section that provides basic information about your business and includes a link to your website. This section begins with ABOUT [NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS]: – all in capital letters, in bold and followed by a semicolon. Alternatively, some companies say: MORE ABOUT [NAME OF BUSINESS] So decide which one makes you feel better. After your business name, provide a short synopsis of what your business does and include a link to your website. You can also include contact information in this section, but don’t make it too long.
  6. Four hash tags / number symbols. The end of a press release is indicated with the following centered on a separate line, below the boiler plate.
  7. List the attachments. Along with editorial content, the press loves to have pictures attached, especially from artists! Submit high-quality, high-resolution images that are relevant to the news in the press release, and list the file names of any images you submit with the press release. Put them under #### in a list like this:
    • Attachments: ImageName1.jpg
    • ImageName2.jpg

The best way to learn how to write really good press releases is to read a lot of them and get a feel for how others are doing it. Like everything, the more you practice, the better you will become!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *