Sunday, November 2, 2008

5 Tips to Make Your Press Release Brilliant

By Theo McLanahan

If you want to get publicity for your business via the media, press releases are an excellent way to do it. Here are 5 ways to boost the appeal of your press release.

Use the correct format. Press releases follow a well established format. If you want your release to be read and taken seriously, you need to be sure it is written properly. You should also be sure to double-check the spelling, grammar and punctuation before you submit it.

Keep it clear and to-the-point. Your press release shouldn't be any longer than two pages. Media outlets receive a lot of releases and they won't take the time to read a long report. Keeping it clear and concise will let you fit in your important facts without going beyond two pages. And remember to answer the important questions - who, what, why, where, when and how.

What Is The Reader Going To Gain: Give your press releases a call to action. Include something that is going to inspire readers to go to your event, visit your website, attend your grand opening, etc. Writing a blatant ad will be obvious. Incorporate the features and benefits of what you are promoting, and give information on what it will do for your target market.

If you are promoting a new food processor, simply stating that it is smaller and takes up less space than previous models isn't enough. However, writing the information as 'the new model is smaller and takes up less space, allowing our customers to have the full chopping power of our larger model, but also save precious counter space' lets the reader know how the new model will help them.

Make it interesting. If your press release is boring, nobody is going to read past the first couple of lines. Try to find the line between simple facts and excitement. Back to the food processor example, instead of just saying "our new food processor will be available in the spring" try something like "out new space-saving food processor will be available this spring, just in time to help you chop the fresh vegetables you're growing for your summer salads."

Remember Your Target Market: As you write and submit your press releases, keep your target market in mind at all times. By keeping your audience in mind, you will be able to focus on what information to include and where to submit your press releases. For instance, if you are promoting an event related to children's health, submitting a press release to the travel editor of your local paper isn't going to help you.

The media cannot run a story on every press release they receive, but implementing these tips will help you write press releases that grab, and keep, the media's attention. The old saying 'practice makes perfect' rings true for press releases; the more you write them, the better you will get. - 15634

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