A press release is a great way to bring attention to an idea, event, business, or anything else that you wish to be brought to the forefront in the media. In most cases, a press release will be written by a professional who will have experience in the field but that being said, nothing is stopping you from creating your press release, and with a few helpful pieces of advice, you will be able to create a piece that grabs attention immediately.
Why Should I Write A Press Release?
Before we get into the best ways to create your press release, it is essential to know what benefits you will reap from sending one out in the first place. You may already have a reason in mind, but there are a whole host of reasons why a press release is a good idea.
- A press release gives you immediate exposure. Whatever the subject is, you can be sure that it will have attention from the get-go, which is especially useful if you are a small brand that has previously found it challenging to get into the limelight.
- Sales and profits will dramatically increase from the exposure from a press release, boosting the income of your brand.
- A press release is an excellent way to reach your target audience, whether that be in a particular location, group of people, or any other way, and you may even reach an audience that you never realized you had.
- Website traffic will be increased, and this can only lead to further beneficial outcomes in terms of sales and interaction with your brand.
- You will be building a good relationship with journalists and the media, giving you better future opportunities in this area.
Now that we have established just how effective a press release can be, let’s take a look at some useful tips for penning your first press release. It is essential to take your time and ensure that you get all the information just right so that your press release will be as beneficial to your brand as you intend it to be.
1. Use A Template
If you are completely unsure where to begin, there are plenty of templates that can be found online, which are a high starting point for those who are new to doing this. By using a model, you can be sure that all of the relevant information will be included. You can check out sites like marketables.com for ideas and already created templates.
2. Create An Amazing Headline
Your headline is essential! When you send your press release to your chosen media outlets and journalists, you will be one of the hundreds that they receive every week. However, if you can create a headline that stands out from the crowd, you can be sure to get noticed.
One of the most important things to remember when designing your headline is that it should be short and to the point. There are opportunities to create subheadings further into the press release, should you so wish, but the main headline needs to be something attention-grabbing and quick. Also, your headline needs to contain the most relevant piece of information from the entire story. For example, if you are writing a press release to state that your company has just been awarded a grant to take on a hundred new trainees, you would need to include this information in a catchy heading. You might use something along the lines of “Company name awarded a huge grant to boost local employment.” This headline includes all the information that needs to be relayed effectively and concisely.
3. Begin With Crucial Information
The opening paragraph of your press release is going to either catch the attention of the reader or make them pass. It is for this reason that the first section should contain vital, and only essential information surrounding the brand or company as well as all of the vital information. A grand opening will draw the reader in and encourage them to keep reading to find out more information. Still, at the same time, after reading this initial paragraph, they will already have a clear understanding of what is going on.
4. Include Up To Date Contact Details
Of course, the journalist who receives your press release may well wish to get in touch with you to discuss further details on what you have written; in this case, they are going to need to know how to do this. Be sure that you include every relevant contact detail in the press release, giving the most opportunities to get in touch with you. Contact details can consist of an email address, telephone numbers, postal address, and even your social media details.
5. Include Answers To The Five Question Words
Whoever is reading your press release is going to need to know as much information as possible. Your statement should include answers and knowledge surrounding the why who, what, where, and when of the situation. Let’s use the example of the grant for 100 new trainees once again to demonstrate this.
- The company has proven itself to provide effective training and, therefore, should be free to do so more frequently to improve local unemployment rates.
- The government is giving the grant.
- The company will be receiving funds to train 100 new staff members who will continue their employment within the company or another one within the field.
- The training will take place on-site with expert staff.
- The grant has already been given, and new staff training will begin in December.
As you can see, providing answers to these questions give a thorough report on the situation and leaves no stone unturned. Of course, you will probably want to go into more detail than the example we have listed here to maximize the effect of the press release.
6. Include A Statement Or Quote
Something that journalists will thrive off is being able to see that this information is not merely coming from you but is backed by a statement made from a third party. Attribution could be from another member of staff, someone who has been involved with the brand, a client, or any other person whose opinion may be relevant, which confirms what you are saying and will add another layer to the press release.
7. Don’t Forget To Use Hashtags
Usually, a professional press release will end with three ###’s and is a way to show that the press release has completed. While this is not compulsory, it will demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about this process and will reflect well on you.
Conclusion
Writing a press release may seem like an impossible task, especially if you have never done it before. But it isn’t as daunting as it may first look, and the creation of your press release can be made simple by following these useful steps. You could also click here to find somebody who can help you through releasing a press release.
