Journalists rely on captivating tales for their publications, and one way they get stories is through reading press releases. These press releases may arrive in their inboxes (if they subscribe to press release distribution services) or on prominent newswire websites. When journalists locate a story that piques their attention, they may print the press release as is, or, more frequently, they will create their own narrative based on the press release.
Of course, this is easier said than done, but if a journalist picks up and publishes your tale, your company can receive a lot of (useful) attention. This is why it is typically well worth the time and effort to create a compelling paper and track its success.
How to Write a Press Release
11 Steps To Write A Press Release
Select A Template
Starting with a guide or example makes writing a press release faster and easier. Everything will take much longer if you stare at an empty sheet of paper or a blank screen. Our templates, which we'll go through below, make the work easier. Choose an appropriate sample or press release format. Then, to make it unique to your tale, fill in the blanks with essential information.
Include A Business Logo
Your company's logo should be visible in the upper right corner of your press release. At a glance, this tells folks reading your press release who you are and what you do. It also helps with brand familiarity. If reporters are acquainted with your logo, having it at the top of your release may refresh their memory and increase the likelihood of coverage. It might also help to make your press release appear more professional.
Include Contact Details
A press release's purpose is to make it simple for media outletsto report or generate material about your firm. After reading, it's possible that some of them may have more questions. So, at the start of each media release, send them to the appropriate contact. If a journalist or editor has a question, provide the name, phone number, and email address of an executive in your company who can react quickly.
Make Your Headline Enticing
Use simple, plain language. Your title should be intelligent and unique, without being overly lengthy or confusing to the reader.
Include The Date And Location
The date the news is announced, as well as the location and state where the announcement is originating from, are all included in press releases. The city and state are usually the headquarters of the firm that is distributing the news. If the news originates from somewhere other than the United States, the city, such as New Mumbai, is frequently included.
Create A Captivating Lede
The lede is the brief opening paragraph of a journalistic work that specifies the five W's (who, what, when, where, and why) as well as how. Lead with the most vital information so that readers who browse away from your article obtain the essential information right away. The majority of journalistic releases adhere to this inverted triangle form, in which the story moves from the most crucial to the least important part.
Make The Body
The who, what, where, and when of the story should be included in the body of a successful press release. Include these facts early on so reporters don't have to look for them later. Include any information that would be useful to someone writing an article about your news. Also, try to include the most relevant information first, in the first paragraph or two.
Select A Dramatic Quote
Quotes provide dimension to news pieces. As a result, be sure to include them in your press releases as well. Find a senior executive or a member of your leadershipteam who can give a unique perspective to your tale. A press release announcing the debut of a new product, for example, can include a comment from the principal developer discussing the problem it answers. Quotes should contribute something unique to the tale rather than just repeating what you've already said. Consider quotes from news articles and prioritize them when you draft a press release.
Add “About” Boilerplate
A boilerplate is a paragraph of text that describes what your company does. It is the concluding paragraph of your press release and, ideally, is a reusable statement that you may include in every organizational news release.
Include End Notation
Traditionally, you will finish any press release with the notation "###" — this tells the printer that there will be no more copy. Although the printing factor is no longer widely used, it is still necessary to provide end notation as a formality.
Proofread
Make sure to proofread thoroughly. It's difficult to make a good first impression when there are mistakes, missing words, or badly structured material. Excessive use of acronyms or businessjargon can sometimes be troublesome.
Proofreading is often disregarded since it is time-consuming. Here are three basic methods for proofreading. First, use your browser's or word processor's spellchecker and grammar checker. Second, slowly and loudly read each word. Third, put the manuscript away for a day and return to it later. Often, you may see things with new eyes that you didn't see previously. If at all feasible, have someone else read the release and provide input on clarity, intelligibility, sentence structure, and other areas.
Free Press Release Template Examples
Product Press Release Template
New Research Finding Press Release Template
New Hire Announcement Press Release Template
Award Announcement Press Release Template
How Does Press Release Work?
Journalists rely on captivating tales for their publications, and one way they get stories is through reading press releases. These press releases may arrive in their inboxes (if they subscribe to press release distribution services) or on prominent newswire websites. When journalists locate a story that piques their attention, they may print the press release as is, or, more frequently, they will create their own narrative based on the press release.
What Is Press Release?
A press release is a corporate news item that is objectively written or created in order to pique the interest of media professionals. The idea is to pique this interest so that the narrative may be shared with a relevant target audience in a certain industry or place. It might be a merger or acquisition news, a book or product launch, an event, a new businessopening or hire, or a corporate crisis. Learn more about the definition of a press release.
When Should I Send My Press Release?
Send out your press releases over the week. Thursdays appear to be the best days to issue press releases, with an average open rate of 26%. Furthermore, the largest open rates occur between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. During the workweek, attempt to submit your press releases during this time of day, Eastern Time. To be sure, you should think about timing in terms of when your news should be released and try to plan it around your ideal publish date.
Final Thoughts
Now that you've learned how towrite a press release, you're ready to craft a newsworthy press release for your company - one that will get you the media attention you deserve.
Learning how to create a press release may appear to be a lot of effort, but doing it properly may have a long-term good influence on your organization.