PR Fuel: Press Release News, Resources & Public Relations Tips - Page 1 of 81

Major press release distribution sites release nearly 1,000 press releases a day. During busy news cycles, this number can skyrocket even more. Because there are so many press releases knocking on journalists’ doors every day it’s important that you make your press release stand out and be impactful.

A press release is a succinct way for an industry or brand to get news attention and push out first-party information. Press releases should be factual and tell a story. A good way to make a  press release impactful is to balance the storytelling side with factually focused writing.

For a brand that may not already “knows” you, it’s even more important to produce a high-quality release. Keep reading to learn more about how to construct an impactful press release.

What is a Press Release?

A press release is a written communication that is distributed to members of the media. Typically businesses and industries will generate a media list that they will push out press releases to in order to generate news.

Public relations professionals are typically tasked with writing press releases and succinctly sharing a storyline or hard-hitting piece of news. Typically press releases from a media standpoint are issued for one of two reasons. Either to generate positive press around a new product or expansion or to mitigate negative press.

When a business is in the limelight, it can be the victim of negative media. In order to build a network of reliable media connections and gain newsworthiness, businesses often try to push out positive headlines in order to soften the blow of a negative one.

Press Release Sample

Writing strong press releases is an important promotional tool for a business. Being able to showcase a business’s success and advancements is an important way to grab the media’s attention. However, the most important aspect of writing press releases is to report actual news and slowly build a rapport with journalists.

When you are writing a press release it’s important to think like a journalist. By giving a release that unique perspective you can sell a story to a media network. Having press releases written in-house allows you to ensure that your company’s brand is properly represented.

Apart from a well-written release, following the template for a press release sample is important to gaining credibility with news networks.

Contact

The top of any press release has the contact information for journalists to follow up if they have any questions. Having media contact information such as the point of contact’s name, phone numbers, and email can help make sure that the story is accurately portrayed.

The contact section of a press release is designed to give media contacts the opportunity to follow up on any questions they may have after reading the press release. They may follow up for quotes or just ask for exclusive publishing rights. Being readily accessible after distributing releases is a simple way to strengthen your relationship with a contact.

Headers

Press releases typically include the headline and a subhead. These titles are designed to catch the viewer’s attention and provide a quick line or two of context to the release.

Your headline is going to be no more than a single line of text. This typically allows you to make a lasting impression on the journalist. A well-executed headline acts as a hook for a potential news network.

A press release’s subheader provides additional context to the release and expresses to the reader why they should continue reading. Any compelling factor that you can use to capture the reader’s attention can be used here, while still keeping this subheader to a line or two of text.

Lead

The lead of a press release is a traditional hook. These first few sentences help summarize the press release in its entirety. By providing a clear and concise direction for the release, the lead can be considered a parallel to the abstract of a research paper.

Body

The body of the press release is where you provide all of the details and quotes that are relevant to the story. This is the main part of the press release, the information shared in the body’s copy gives a reporter meat to back up their article.

Typically the body is written using the journalistic strategy of the inverted pyramid (Who, What, When, Where, and Why). The body starts off by providing facts, figures, and quotes from key shareholders. These pieces are useful for a journalist crafting a story.

Boilerplate

The term boilerplate is an old newspaper terminology that refers to standard text that is repeated. The closing paragraph or boilerplate will have a sentence or two that promotes your company and explains its purpose. Your boilerplate can be repeated for different press releases and does not need to be adjusted based on the story.

Boilerplates are a part of press releases to share more information about the source of the release. By sharing an organization’s purpose and mission, a reporter can determine its relevance for their desired audience.

Generate Media Attention Through Press Release Distribution

Press releases are a great tool to generate positive media and combat any negative PR. By following the outline of a press release sample you can easily generate high-quality press releases to distribute to news networks.

Once you are confident in your ability to write concise press releases, it’s just a matter of distribution to get your business media hits. Connect with us at eReleases to get started distributing your press releases.

As an industry tycoon, business owner, or member of the media it’s important to know a way to get a journalist’s attention and get your brand recognized. Although you may not always have cutting-edge news, it’s important to constantly be building a rapport with journalists. This means that when your releases hit their inbox your name is familiar.

Do you want to make sure that all of the content you give journalists is quality material? Spamming a journalist will actually have a negative effect on your relationship with the media.

So the real question is what is the balance? What is the right time and circumstance to send a press release? Keep reading to learn about how often you should send a press release.

Why Press Releases Matter

A press release is a way to get attention and share information with media outlets. Press releases are an effective way of creating interest and incorporating fax in an efficient way. By giving the news a first-party testimony or statement you’re able to give them an insight into the story.

Press releases allow you to get in front of a problem, promote innovation, and garner brand awareness. These tools can help make your business or brand stand out amongst others and directly affect your profitability.

How to Send a Press Release

When you are publishing a press release it’s important that you follow a few simple steps. Publishing press releases is a much more efficient process when you build relationships with a media list. These are lists of journalists that you have his points of contact with a different marketing agency.

Then you want to compile your actual release with facts and write a submission email to send with your press release. This email is going to introduce the topic and why it’s relevant to certain news sources’ readers.

If you have your own brand you can use your earned media and help generate a buzz. By promoting a release on social media you’ll be able to get more views and further establish your brand name in the news.

Once you’re able to make contact with a publisher and get your release public do you want to track the performance using analytics and reports.

Write What Matters

A well-written press release is concise. It is thorough and refined and fully edited. One of the biggest embarrassments that you can have your brand is to send out press releases that happen undergone thorough editing and proofreading.

By connecting with services like ours as you can ensure that you’re giving top quality contact at a quick professional rate. The news cycle moves quickly and so do we. We work diligently to ensure that your press releases are well written and provide content that matters to readers.

Something is newsworthy just because it happened recently. Some things are newsworthy because when I read or read that they are interested and want to learn more. You need to write about what matters not just company shareholders but all target audiences.

When writing a press release you should not only address the facts of the story. But you also need to address the question of how this matters to a consumer. We go through so much media any given day that ensuring that something is newsworthy is going to be what makes someone stop and read a release.

Leverage Press Releases as Needed

One of the most important elements of sending a press release is building relationships with new sources you will be able to leverage your news. Journalists are much more inclined to publish a release if it is pitched as an exclusive.

Journalists rely on a network of strategic partnerships to help them always have a steady stream of news. By building a relationship you can establish yourself as one of those strategic partners.

Be Timely

One of the most important elements of creating a press release is timeliness. News is only relevant for a short period of time before it loses its wow factor.

It is essential that you and your brand understand the timing and relevancy of a new cycle. This tool can help make sure that your press release makes headlines rather than sitting in a journalist’s inbox.

Another aspect of being timely is to understand the ins and outs of the news cycle. News that breaks on Monday or Friday is not going to get as much attention. It’s going to be shifted off in the morning emails and not make as big of a splash.

When you were sending out press releases to news sources you want to make sure that you’re doing it during the typical workday. Sending an email after hours or before work starts can just ensure that it’s at the bottom of an inbox when a journalist goes to check.

Make an Impact With Your Press Release

Timeliness and quality content can never replace a strong media list. One of the most important aspects of being industry is building strategic partnerships so that your press releases will be well circulated.

No news outlet wants to be spammed with something that isn’t newsworthy. You should never send a press release for the sake of sending one. If there’s no story all that you’re going to do is weak in your relationship with a reporter.

Connect with us to learn more about how to make your press release is more impactful and expand your viewership.

Branding is an essential part of a business, with 77 percent of marketers stating that it’s a critical factor in future growth. Every enterprise needs to create a brand around which business advertisements will revolve.

Top marketers go out of their way to generate as much brand awareness as possible. 70 percent of these experts believe that building an audience is way more important than converting sales. That’s because once you’ve built an audience and established trust, sales and customer loyalty will naturally follow.

To create brand awareness, you can put out a well-crafted business press release regularly. Another popular way of marketing your brand is through advertising.

To use both business press releases and advertisements effectively, you need to understand how the two differ. This guide highlights the key differences between a business press release and advertising.

What Is a Business Press Release?

A press release refers to written communication that reports news related to an organization. The press release may give information about a circumstance event, product launch, or some other happening tied to the company.

Press releases are released to the media to be made public. They’re written in a formal and unbiased way and aimed primarily at raising awareness about something in the organization.

Writing effective press release headlines and content can help capture the interest of both your audience.

What Is Advertising?

Advertising refers to marketing communication that employs openly sponsored and non-personal messages to promote products, services, or ideas. In the business world, sponsors of advertising are companies out to promote their products or services.

When advertising a business, the message used is highly tailored to engage the market audience that your company is targeting. It’s one of the oldest and most enduring marketing strategies, with the advertising industry valued at $348.4 billion in 2021.

How Does a Business Press Release Differ From Advertising?

While both press releases and advertising play a significant role in growing a business, there are several important differences between the two. Here are four top areas they differ in.

Cost

Generally, publishing a press release costs much less than paying for an advert. The process of writing a business press release itself only takes several hours. Most top press releases are between 300 and 1000 words.

You can, of course, write and issue a business press release yourself. But it’s generally much more prudent to let the professionals handle it for you. An experienced press release agency can ensure that both the creation and distribution of your press releases are handled effectively and professionally, giving you the biggest bang for your buck.

The cost of writing and publishing will vary based on the agency you use, but it’s almost always much lower than producing an advertisement. This is especially the case with TV adverts, which require a cast, a production team, and a suitable shooting location. In addition, you’ll need to pay a considerable amount of money to get your commercial aired on TV.

Even when you’re only using print adverts, it does cost a hefty amount to pay for space slots in newspapers and magazines.

Target Audience

The audience that a press release targets is quite different from that targeted by an advertisement. Given that a press release is essentially a news announcement, it typically targets people who usually follow news about the organization. Press releases also generally target people who have an interest in the world of media, as communication is commonly done through the media.

Advertising targets a much wider audience. Everyone that engages with the media, as well as other potential clients who get their news and entertainment through other channels, are targets.

Lifespan

Given that press releases are news announcements, they remain relevant for a short period of time. You can thus reap the benefits of a press release for only a limited amount of time. Once the season for which the press release is over, it loses its relevance.

Conversely, advertisements can stay relevant for a long period of time. That’s because the product or service an advert markets is unlikely to change anytime soon, with many products remaining the same for decades. Sure, you may contemplate changing the way in which you present the advert, but that’s usually after months or years.

Content

Advertisements differ dramatically in their content from press releases. Generally, advertisements tend to be informal. Their tone is typically energetic, upbeat, and light-hearted.

An advert doesn’t necessarily include all details about a product or service. However, it tries to tell you as much as possible to convince you to make a purchase or subscription.

Advertisements typically offer a much wider creative space compared to press releases. You can choose to present the advert in a variety of ways, including the story-telling formats. Ads tend to be informative and humorous.

The language in press releases tends to be professional. The message is typically delivered in a set number of words. The content is usually precise and to the point.

Leverage the Power of Press Releases and Advertising in Your Business

Business press releases and advertisements can help you connect with your target audience effectively. But to make the most of these two approaches, you need to understand how a business press release differs from an advertisement. As you’ve seen, the two marketing approaches differ significantly in terms of cost, target audience, lifespan, and content.

Do you have any questions about press releases? Contact us today to get the guidance you need.

If you’re trying to write press release headlines, you know it’s a cutthroat world out there! For small businesses, there is so much competition that all of your content needs to be top-notch.

When you’re writing a press release, there are a lot of elements to think about. Whether you’re announcing new hires, a new product, or a company event, a press release is a great way to communicate information in an objective fashion.

However, to get this information out there, you need a good press release headline. That’s why we’ve assembled a guide to 8 elements you should consider when crafting the perfect press release headlines.

1. What About Keywords?

A crucial part of writing a press release is considering SEO. If no one sees your press release, then it might as well not be out there.

Consider this scenario. Your small business is releasing a new product, and you’re trying to build hype around it. So, you put the time into crafting a press release.

After submitting a press release, you breathe a sigh of relief. You’ve done it, right? Your business has established a source of truth for all relevant information about the product launch, and now it’s available online for everyone to find.

Not so fast! Your competitor has done the same thing. Their product is in direct competition with yours. And while their version isn’t nearly as good, they’ve put in the work to optimize SEO.

With the right keywords, they’ve skyrocketed to the first page of Google. Your press release is lagging behind on the third page of search results, which means it might as well not exist in the SEO world.

SEO isn’t just for the text of your press release. Include a primary keyword in your headline too. It makes a big difference when you’re trying to edge out your competitors for the highest Google rankings!

2. What’s Your Angle?

The truth is, you can write a press release about anything. Whether you made a new hire or published a new blog post, you can write a press release about it.

The question to ask is whether it’s newsworthy or not. If you’re a talented headline writer, you can make almost anything sound newsworthy. Take clickbait titles on celebrities, for instance.

Whether a celebrity likes pizza or not is likely irrelevant to their art, their career, or who they are as a person. In fact, no one would even ask about their pizza preferences if they weren’t famous.

However, it’s a slow news day. So, a headline writer at a paparazzi-fueled publication decides to turn pizza into something newsworthy.

With the right spin and a little stretching, the headline is combative. It hints at a feud, which is something drama-addicted audiences will click on.

You can picture it because all of us have been conditioned to expect this type of ‘newsworthy’ spin. ‘X Celebrity Lashes Out at Pizza Haters’, is one example of how a simple preference becomes a headline.

Of course, as a small business, ethics are crucial. Don’t veer toward dishonesty when crafting your headlines. But make sure that before you ever think about submitting a press release, you’ve taken the time to uncover a newsworthy angle for your headline.

3. Cut the Fluff

It’s a headline, not the next Great American Novel. When you’re writing a headline, review it with an eagle eye. If there’s a single word you can ax, cut it.

This is no time to be squeamish or precious about your writing. Can you turn ‘We cannot’ into ‘can’t’? You’re only saving a little space, but it’s worth it.

Think of it as a social media caption. Even though press releases are meant to attract a very different audience than an Instagram post, you’re working with the same attention span.

Many experts cite the study that finds modern audiences have the attention span of a goldfish. When you’re working with that kind of time crunch, there is no room for wasted syllables.

Focus on action words, verbs, and condensed language. You can always expound and explain within the actual context of the press release. The press release format is meant to follow a hook-line-sinker format.

The top of the release is where you generate interest. The rest is where you justify the interest that you’ve generated, with solid facts, statistics, and other qualifying information.

4. It’s Urgent

When you craft a headline, imbue it with a sense of urgency. For instance, note how local stores try to grab your attention with this technique.

Maybe you need a new mattress and were planning to put it off for a few months. After all, there’s no real rush. But your local furniture store is having a sale for 30%.

In big letters and urgent verbiage, they promise this sale won’t last more than a week. In fact, you need to make haste so they don’t sell out.

With some urgent marketing language, you’re now thinking about buying now instead of in a few months. After all, a sale that good won’t come around twice!

Just like that, you’ve been influenced by an urgent headline. When you’re crafting your press release, make it urgent. When surfing the Internet, many of us find ourselves craving the next hit of drama or dopamine.

What better way to achieve that than through urgent wording? People will feel compelled to click on your press release and take any CTAs that you indicate within the text.

5. Make It Useful

When it comes to headlines, it’s crucial to follow the four U’s of headline writing. These tenets are: make it urgent, useful, unique, and ultra-specific.

When you’re making a useful headline, know that everyone hates wasting their time. If you make your headline sound urgent, you need to justify that urgency.

If someone clicks on your headline and finds it’s just fluff—like a celebrity’s pizza preferences—they will feel irritated. They just wasted their time and emotional investment.

This feeling of irritation will transfer to the rest of your products. Why should they trust your products, your new hire, or your event if they can’t even trust your press release?

Make sure that your press release headline communicates the necessary information. You don’t need to give away everything, but make sure people have a fair idea of the release’s contents from the headline alone.

6. Make it Unique

If you’re struggling with press release elements, you may be tempted to rely on boilerplate text. After all, it does the job, right?

People see so much content every single day. From pop-ups in their Outlook email to billboards on their way to work, everyone is inundated with content. There’s so much that it all blurs together for many people.

If you use boilerplate, people will notice. Or, more accurately, they won’t notice. They’ll scan over your headline without ever clicking on it.

When you make it unique, you’re adding a sense of human interest to your headline. This is the sense of mystery we mentioned above.

It’s important to note that you might not be able to fit the 4 U’s into your headlines. After all, four unique tenets are a lot to fit into a single sentence. Aim to fit two, at minimum.

If you can fit all four, congratulations! But if not, focus on the two U’s that make the most sense for your specific headline and industry.

7. Make it Ultra-Specific

When you’re writing an ultra-specific headline, you’ll know that you aren’t wasting any verbiage or confusing your reader. A headline may seem crystal clear to you. But remember that you have years of backstory and context.

You may have been with the company for years, or you know the new product line forwards and backwards. That’s a lot of information that new readers won’t have.

And if a headline only makes sense with your layers of context, it will confuse everyone else. That’s why it’s important to make your headlines as specific as possible.

That way, every reader will be clear on what you’re offering or announcing. In fact, they may not even click on the press release. They’ll know from the headline, and will go straight to your website.

8. Take Inspiration

As we talked about, you want your press release headlines to be unique. But there’s a difference between unique and weird in the copywriting world.

That’s why it’s crucial for you to review press release samples. There are so many top-notch press releases and headlines, and you can learn something from each one of them.

Writing Press Release Headlines

If you’re struggling to write press release headlines, we can help. There’s a lot for a small business owner to do in a day, and the assistance of a writer can make a big difference.

If you’d like to investigate our PR writing options, contact us today! We’d be happy to help.

Release the beast. More than 270,000 Americans work as public relations specialists. One of their main jobs is to write press releases. 

Yet thousands of others have written releases for their companies and non-profits. When you are writing a press release, you have to write one that stands out from the rest. But that isn’t always easy. 

How long should a press release be? What are the qualities of the best press release? What can you do to keep the length of a press release down? 

Answer these questions and you can write a press release that stands out from your thousands of competitors. Here is your quick guide. 

Finding a Press Release Purpose

You can draft a press release for several reasons. You may want to tell others that you have hired a new executive or launched a new product. You may also want to get ahead of news developments like an executive leaving or a branch shutting down. 

Your press release should focus on one thing at one time. If you have two events you want to promote, you should write two press releases. 

Think of a purpose before you start writing. Then tailor your release to meet your purpose. It is okay to include some details to encourage someone to attend an event or buy a product. 

But don’t write about anything that does not help you get your message across. Keep in mind that many newsletters will just publish a press release as written. Think about what your audience needs to know to help you out. 

Presenting the Most Important Details First

Writing the most important details at the top of a document is a common rule in writing. It is paramount in a press release because you need to grab your audience’s attention.

If you are advertising an event, describe the event. Give the details on what the event is, where the venue is, and what time the event will take place. You should also include one sentence about who is running the event. 

Leave a quote or background details for the next paragraph. Your quote should be something of substance, describing how important the event will be. But your quote should offer a little color to your writing as well.

You can write a couple of body paragraphs with additional details. You may want to describe activities at your event or how it helps people in your industry. 

Your closing paragraph should summarize everything in a few sentences. You can provide the contact information for the person in your company heading the event. You should follow the paragraph with a boilerplate that describes your company itself. 

You can come up with your own format, or you can follow the standard press release format. The best press release is a conventional one, though you can be a little unconventional to grab people’s attention. 

Using Bullet Points and Subheadings

Some people like to include bullet points in their press releases. They are a good tool for making complicated information easy to understand.

They naturally break whole sentences into smaller pieces. They also allow you to make a list, which may be good if you need to write a few statistics. 

But they can come across as choppy or informal. Try to write things in complete sentences.

Subheadings are also helpful for breaking up long paragraphs. Yet a heading can create too big of a break. A release with many subheadings can seem too choppy and disjointed. 

Include a subheading when you need to group one section of your press release off from another section. Try to have two or three subheadings, as having just one can seem a little sloppy. When in doubt, do not include subheadings and try to create better transitions between paragraphs. 

Writing Succinct Sentences

You can keep your press release length down by writing shorter sentences. Remove any adverbs from your sentences. Most of them are unnecessary, and you can add color to your writing by using stronger verbs instead.

If you have a compound sentence, try breaking it into two sentences. If one sentence seems unnecessary, you can remove it. 

Write in the active voice instead of the passive voice. In addition to cutting down on your sentence length, it will help your writing seem forceful. 

Proofreading 

You should never send the first draft of your press release out. As you write your press release, read it aloud. Change sentences that seem gangly. 

Once you are done with your press release, read it aloud again. Check to see if you included any unnecessary details or made any typos. Then read it aloud to see how it flows from sentence to sentence. 

You can try handwriting your work. Handwriting helps you remember details better than typing. You can handwrite the first draft, then type up the second draft and change details as you go along. 

When you are feeling uncertain about your writing, contact a press release writing service. They can edit your work and give you suggestions on what to do. If you like their work, you can ask them to write a press release for you. 

So How Long Should a Press Release Be? 

People have many questions about press releases. How long should a press release be? That depends on what you are doing. 

Your press release should be as long as you need to fulfill the purpose of the release. The most important details should go right at the top. You can then follow them with other important facts. 

Bullet points can make complicated details easier to understand. But you can make things easy by writing succinctly and proofreading your work. 

Touch base with professionals if you are confused. eReleases helps small businesses write great releases. Contact us today. 

There are many different types of press releases, and industries are relearning what appeals to the public. Last year, the infectious disease industry reported a more than 3,000 percent increase in press releases.

In comparison, the travel industry went down by over 35 percent. The current news plays a role in press release advantages. However, a quality written press release can be just the boost your business needs.

Are you wondering which one your business can benefit from? Keep reading on and learn more about the different kinds of press releases out there.

Types of Press Releases

Before determining which press release options are best for your company, it is helpful in knowing the different kinds out there. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages that cater towards specific industries.

At its core – a press release provides primary source information to the public through news media outlets. Once a press release is given to a news source, the journalist can then produce a story.

After the story is written, it is released to the public. The aim of this news article is to garner the interest of the public towards the company.

1. Product Release

If you have a product that you are launching, then you definitely want to send a press release. In this release, information about the release date, product, and its details are provided.

It should also include how the product functions and its advantages. Make sure you include the product’s unique value in the market. If you have a product that is similar to many others, you want to make sure it stands alone.

2. An Upcoming Event

Events are also one of the more popular press release options. If you are hosting something and want more people to attend, then you need a well-written event press release.

Additionally, make sure that your event is relative or timely. For example, last year was not a great time for companies to announce large social gatherings. It also may not sound appealing for people to run a sponsored 5K in the middle of winter.

Make sure that you time your events with what is happening in your area.

3. New Business or Remodeling

Do you have a new business you are opening up? Or maybe, you are rebranding or remodeling your current one. If you have something exciting to share about a big change, then a press release can help boost your business’s exposure.

Journalists can help deliver the news at a faster rate and give you a quicker unmasking to the public. During the past two years, small businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic.

By mid-2020, over 40 percent of small businesses had temporarily closed down. With losses in revenue, now has never been a better time for rebranding.

Additionally, if you have partnered with another brand or company – make sure it makes headlines. These are big changes to companies that can grab the interest of the public.

4. New Award

Has your business just won an award for something? Make note of it! People love to hear that the businesses they are supporting are making a difference.

It is challenging for people to hear about awards for businesses outside of the press. In your written press release, highlight the positive aspects of the award and try to have quotes by the president or CEO of the company.

Also, consider reaching out to the business, foundation, or organization that gave you the award. Having quotes from these organizations tend to look better in articles.

5. Hiring New Executives

You don’t have to mention every single person that your business hires. However, if your company is undergoing big changes at the executive level, then a press release could help out.

You can also make mention of what this person brings to the company as well as the goals of upcoming projects. Hiring a new executive is a great time for reassessing your company’s objectives and releasing them to the public.

In a way, it can act as a form of rebranding and peak interest in the public eye.

6. Good Deeds

Have you started a non-profit or donated to a charity? In a day and age where a lot of negativity sweeps across the internet, charitable events and donations can boost your business’s profile.

A press release for businesses does not always have to include products, executives, and upcoming events. Sometimes it is helpful to include the finer workings and values your company holds.

You want to make sure that these press releases don’t sound too boastful. For that reason, writing a press release can be challenging. You want to ensure that you have a company that can give you well-written press releases while you handle the other tasks running a business entails.

Boost Your Company’s Profile

Different types of press releases can give your company the boost it needs. However, running and managing a business is time-consuming. It is likely that you are spending much of your time handling the critical, behind-the-scenes part of the job.

You shouldn’t let press releases fall to the backburner. Instead, hire out a skilled and qualified writer that can give you quality press release pieces. You can stay involved in the creative process and receive a quick turnaround.

Contact us today and let us help you take your business to the next level.

How much more revenue could your business generate from the exposure to millions of potential customers?

Well, if your business produces regular newsworthy content, you could profit from this information, reaching a wider audience.

Writing a press release newswire is the first step, but getting this content to as many people as possible could boost your sales and grow your business.

Working with a PR company guarantees your releases will feature on top radio and TV stations and influential websites and social networks. What’s more, most PR companies offer these packages to small business owners.

So, if your goal is to reach a wider audience, who could become future clients, then you should pick a company based on the following criteria. Keep reading to learn more about what you should know to get started.

1. Experience

Experience is the one thing you want to look for in a press release newswire. Because the longer a company has been in business, the more equipped they’re to hit your targets.

For this reason, you want a company with a proven track record of delivering accurate and timely results.

Confirm through their website whether the company has enough experience to achieve measurable results. Make sure that they align with the needs of your business.

At any cost, a press release company should be able to:

Build Brand Engagement

The secret to building a connection with your audience is engaging them on all platforms. A press release newswire should provide avenues to establish a brand authority by interacting with your audience.

Boost Search Visibility

With 90% of consumers online, getting your releases to appear on top of search engines could boost your visibility, and hence, chances of selling.

So, a press release company should have high domain authority and a structured SEO content creation process in all your releases to rank.

Increase Conversion

If your goal is to onboard as many new clients by writing a press release, a press distribution company should help you do this.

Ensure it has the proper connection in the media world to get your release across all digital news platforms.

Networks

Connecting with the right circles is crucial to getting your releases across all national media outlets.

Even if you write juicy headlines, the most impact comes from getting your content to as many people as possible.

For this reason, a newswire with deep ties in the media world should be among your top picks. This could be relationships with key stakeholders and journalists or access to top-tier news websites like Google News, Yahoo, and Bing.

2. Support System

The success of your press releases will depend on the type of support you get from the newswire company.

If you don’t know how to write a catchy press release, the company you choose should offer this service at no extra cost.

What’s more, a release distributor should teach you the concept of creating and marketing press releases.

This could be by providing eBooks or a whitepaper list of all the crucial steps in the process.

Be wary of companies that charge extra for support services and instead choose those that include them in the packaged prices.

3. Competitive Prices

All the best press release distributors offer competitive prices for their services. But, working within a budget ensures you get value for your money.

Identify a list of potential companies that offer what you need in line with your budget. Then, cut them one after the other based on their merits and demerits to find the right company to market your releases.

Avoid lower-priced companies which are intent on milking your dry by not providing the correct press release services.

4. Extra Features

Some distribution services offer more features as part of their packages, while others do not. For this reason, you want a company that can popularize your releases through:

Customizable, Interactive Content

Customized press releases are easy to scan through and go straight to the point. Also, the systems save them as HTML for Google crawlers to locate them.

A service company should create custom content for their clients that pique the interest of their target audience.

Multimedia Embed

Appealing press releases are likely to get more attention than plain content. Thus, you want a company that allows embedding images, infographics, and video clips in your releases, especially if you’re marketing a specific product.

5. Extra Services

While creating exciting press releases is a crucial initial step, the success of a press release lies in more than great content.

A press release newswire should go the extra mile to popularize your content on niche platforms and all media outlets.

A comprehensive popularization campaign includes strategic media placement, video production, and international press release distribution.

6. Testimonials

Testimonials serve as a good sign of whether a newswire is suitable for your business or not. Most testimonials are on the company website near the review section, and previous satisfied or dissatisfied clients write them.

So, read through all the reviews on the company page. If a newswire company has more negative than positive comments in this section, cross it from your list and look at the other options.

Be sure to confirm that reviews on each website are legit because some companies create pseudo accounts to leave positive comments alone.

7. Analytics

Tracking the numbers generated by a press release helps determine whether you’re hitting your mark or not long term.

For example, if your goal is to get 1000 new customers after an escape, a company should show you how they get new audiences.

When a company can’t track your press release success rate or miss the mark, look for better options to get you closest to your goal.

8. Ease of Use

Does the newswire have a complicated press release submission process? The harder it is to access or operate the company interface, the more difficult it becomes to meet your goals.

For this reason, you want a company with a program with all the features presented. If possible, ask for a demo to get an idea of how the system works.

At the very least, look at the online reviews on the site’s functionality to know whether the interface is complex or easy to use.

9. Distribution Channels

Distribution channels help as many people see your press release as possible. So, if a company promises to get you extensive coverage on your release, ask for some of the media outlets; they’ll look to air or publish your releases.

Look at your other options if a press release newswire can’t get you both local and international coverage through different outlets.

Besides, avoid distributors who offer press release distribution services as an extra service.

Remember this is part of the process, and it should come with the complete package.

10. Objective

If your goal is to improve search visibility through your press releases, go for a company that can incorporate SEO techniques into your releases.

So, if you’re on a mission to convert more potential customers, you want a service distributor that can do direct-response copywriting.

The aim of a press release should be the driving force behind the company you choose.

Thus, it would be best if the company of your choice offers all these services as a package because this means you can utilize different tactics to get to your intended goal.

11. Intended Audience

Who are your press releases geared towards the most? There are three ways you can segment your target audience.

By Market

Are your core audiences in the local, regional or national markets? Separating your audience by the market is an excellent way to narrow down to a loyal group to direct most of your marketing efforts to this group.

By Industry

There are specific industries that may enjoy the information you share through regular press releases.

For example, they’re in the automotive or manufacturing industry. Dividing your audience by industry helps create targeted press releases for them.

By International Standards

It would be best to determine whether your core audiences are in Europe, Africa, or Asia. This will help you address each group’s main issues and the solutions available through your press release.

Once you have a core audience in mind, choose a press release newswire that can get you closest to this demographic.

For instance, your press release should go to editors on top-tier family websites if you sell kids’ products.

This way, the release is relevant to the group and speaks offers solutions to problems they face.

Choosing Your Press Release Newswire

Now that you understand what it takes to find a press release newswire befitting your business, you can go to the market.

Remember to look at the most critical elements in a distribution company. This includes experience, support, network, and ease of use.

If you’d like to partner with a reputable press release company, contact us to get all the information you need to make an informed choice.

Are you wondering whether or not it makes sense to publish a press release? In short, the answer is a definitive “yes.” No matter how great your products or services are, you need a way to inform consumers about them. That’s where a press release comes into the equation. Press releases are worth the time and effort no matter what industry you’re operating in. Still not sure? Keep on reading to see 11 benefits of publishing a press release.

1. Publishing a Press Release Brings Exposure

Writing a press release and distributing it through appropriate channels will gain you valuable exposure. It’s been said that if you build it, they will come. But “they” — namely, customers — need to know about your offerings.

With the press release, you can convey what your value proposition is, why people should care, how they can get in touch when they can get your products or services, where they can find you, and much more.

If you retain the services of a business that produces and distributes press releases, you can get your message out in a cost-effective way. You’ll reach a critical mass of people and ensure your message gets seen and heard.

2. Sales Prospects

When a press release writer produces winning copy that includes a call to action, the result could be higher sales. The press release will highlight and underscore the key benefits of your products or services for customers.

You’ll want a press release with a clear, concise, and effective call to action that prompts a positive response from your target market. By employing the right press release strategies, you can boost the corporate bottom line.

3. Thought Leader Status

Another benefit of pursuing a press release strategy is that it’ll give you the opportunity to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

You can use your press release to establish a reputation as an expert in your field. As you build a reputation as an authority in your field, you’ll be able to communicate the value proposition of your products and services.

Consumers are more likely to patronize your company if they see you as knowledgable, honest, and dependable. By writing a press release and submitting it to the right places, you can build such a reputation.

4. Multi-Channel Distribution

Press release submission also offers the chance to distribute your message — and reach your desired demographic — via multiple channels. You can also tweak the press release to better suit the various channels you’re targeting.

You don’t want to be stuck with trying to reach consumers via one distribution channel. It’s important to leverage as many channels as you can to reach a critical mass of consumers who fit your target market.

Your message can be communicated via newspaper articles, the radio, social media networks, and more. Tapping multiple channels can really make your marketing strategy more effective and help you build your brand.

Of course, you’ll want to ensure your press release has the right information, is written effectively, and is distributed to the right channels. Here’s a look at a press release sample if you need a bit of inspiration to get the ball rolling.

5. Build List of Media Contacts

Getting a skilled press release writer to head your marketing strategy will also allow you to build a list of media contacts. Journalists are always looking for interesting developments to communicate to their readers.

As you become known as someone whose press releases offer value, you’ll have the chance to build up a contact list. Journalists will also pick your brain should they be working on stories where your expertise would be a good fit.

6. Cost-Effective Marketing Strategy

It can be cost-effective to hire a press release submission company to produce and distribute a press release on behalf of your business. The service provider will get the necessary information from you and then work its magic.

Going this route will enable you to focus on running your company. Also, consider that a press release writing and distribution company will work alongside your marketing department. So it’s worth considering.

Remember that many types of paid advertising can be pricey — particularly if your small business doesn’t have a huge marketing budget. It can be much more affordable to outsource this important task to a third-party company.

7. Greater Website Traffic

The right press release strategies will also help you generate more traffic to your website. This can, in turn, increase sales and profits for your company.

When distributing press releases online, you can include links that take consumers back to your website. So if you have a landing page on your site where you want people to visit, you can link to it in your press releases.

Outsourcing the writing and distribution of your press releases to a skilled provider of such services will help you generate greater website traffic.

The service provider will understand exactly how to attract eyeballs and increase the odds of people visiting your website. And the more people who go to pages featuring your offerings, the more sales you can generate.

It’s also important to note that the service provider you work with will understand how to increase your website’s SEO profile. It will also incorporate meta tags, relevant keywords, and more to generate the most interest.

So you’ll get plenty of bang for your hard-earned buck when you retain the services of a professional press release writer.

8. Social Sharing Possibilities

When it comes to press release submission, there are social sharing possibilities. What this means is that people who get the press release and who find it useful and relevant are more likely to send it to people they know.

And these recipients may also choose to share the content with friends, family, and acquaintances who they believe can benefit from it.

This won’t only potentially increase the number of people who get to see your press release and possibly generate even more traffic to your website. There’s no telling how much extra exposure your press release can get.

The great thing is that you won’t be out any extra money from social sharing. Social sharing will be icing on the proverbial cake. So it’s worth incorporating press releases in any marketing campaigns your company is planning.

9. Inform Audience of Developments

Because press releases are a cost-effective form of paid advertising, you can use them to inform your target demographic of any developments at your company.

Whether there are new products or services, special discounts or promotions, or anything else you want people to know about, press releases can help. You can ensure that customers and prospective clients are kept up to date.

10. Stay Top of Mind

With so many companies out there competing for the same customers, you can use press releases to promote your unique value proposition to consumers. So they will know where to turn if they need the types of offerings you sell.

This can help you differentiate your company from rivals that might not be as proactive about using press releases in their marketing strategies. What you want is to stay top of mind with your target market. Press releases can help.

A well-crafted press release strategy will create an indelible impression on your desired demographic.

11. Control the Narrative

Do you want to let others tell your story, or do you want to control the narrative? Chances are that you’ll prefer the latter — and for good reason.

Marketing provides a way for your company to communicate a consistent message to the marketplace. And press releases can be a part of this objective.

When you use press releases to communicate developments, you’ll have control over the narrative. You’ll be able to craft a message that builds your brand, explains your products or services, and appeals to consumers’ needs.

Can Press Releases Help? You Bet They Can!

Are you still wondering about whether or not to incorporate press releases into your company’s marketing strategy? If so, you owe it to yourself to consider it seriously. There are many benefits to having an effective press release plan.

When it comes to publishing a press release and getting it seen and distributed, your best bet is to retain the services of press release service company.

We assist small businesses in obtaining more website traffic and customers fitting their desired demographic via media coverage. So you can come to us for help in writing and distributing press releases.

Do you want to learn more about how we can help you grow your business, meet the needs of your customers and prospective customers, and more? Get in touch to see what we have in store for you.

Journalists receive thousands of press releases every day. You may wonder if a business press release is still relevant in the digital age. The truth is, a considerable percentage of journalists look at press releases each day to get inspiration for their articles. The evolvement of the press release over the years means it is still relevant in the online landscape.

How do you write a great press release? What can you do to stand out amongst the sea of press releases sent each day?

Read on to find out 11 ways to make your press release a cut above the rest.

Why Write a Business Press Release?

Before we get to the tips, let’s take a look at the reasons you should consider creating press releases for your business.

You may think your social media platforms are enough to get your name out there in the public eye. However, social media doesn’t assert your brand as an authoritative voice in your industry.

If a reputable news outlet writes about your business, you automatically get credibility as thought leaders.

Press coverage can also help to strengthen your brand identity and make it more recognizable to a wider audience. Never underestimate the power of press coverage for your company’s growth.

A press release is also a great way to get all the information in one place. If a journalist has accurate information in front of them and doesn’t have to do much research, it makes their life easier.

Now let’s get to the nitty-gritty of writing a killer press release.

1. Know Why You Are Writing

Let’s get things straight. You can’t write a press release because you want to promote your brand. It simply won’t work! You may think sending a press release to a journalist will be a great way to instantly get news coverage, but it doesn’t work like that!

You need to think about why you want to write a press release. Do you have something newsworthy to share?

When we have our own business or work for a company, we can get wrapped up in the bubble of that brand and think everything is newsworthy. When in fact, it isn’t.

Only share a press release if you have something to report that may interest people. For example:

• Are you hosting a large event to build awareness for a specific cause?
• Is your business merging with a competitor?
• Have you done some groundbreaking research?
• Is your company doing something relevant to current affairs?
• Do you have an upcoming product launch of an innovative product?
• Are you expanding and opening up new job opportunities?
• Do you have a tell-all story that could help other businesses learn?

If your news can offer value to potential readers, then, and only then, is it worth sharing.

A product launch may seem exciting to you, but it is not newsworthy if your product is the same as millions of other products on the market. Your press release will come across as an advert. Only announce a new product if it’s genuinely something innovative that has never been seen before and will change lives.

2. Who Are You Writing For?

Once you’ve decided why you want to write a press release, it’s time to think about who you want to reach.

Do you want potential partners or investors to read your release? Perhaps you’re looking for someone to buy your business or someone to publish a book about it. Or maybe you want to get your company in front of potential clients.

Decide who you are trying to reach; this will determine the details you include in your press release and the type of language you use.

3. Become a Storyteller

A great press release tells a story. You want the journalist’s life to be as easy as possible. If you can tell a story and show how it is newsworthy, they are more likely to publish it.

When writing your press release, think about why people may want to read and share your story. Why may your story divide opinion or spark conversation?

How can you create an extraordinary story that will stick in people’s minds?

4. Include the Answers

If somebody was interviewing you for your press release, they would ask you all the W questions. What, when, why, where, how. Make sure to answer all these details in your press release.

That way, a journalist won’t have to come back to you and ask further questions. You make their lives easy again!

5. Be Accurate

We spoke about storytelling, but this is important: don’t lie. If you over embellish or outright lie about the facts in your story, people will lose trust in you.

Be clear and accurate and include as many facts and data points as possible to back up your story.

Including images with your press release is another great way to get noticed. Including photos increases engagement by at least 18%.

6. Be Authentic

Authenticity sells. When writing a press release, be yourself. Explain who you are and why your story is significant for other people. If you can show you aren’t writing a release because you want to make sales and gain publicity, you will be more authentic.

People want to read stories about real people. They want to know about people like them who have gone through hard times to build a successful business and come out on top. It makes you more relatable and gives others hope that they could do the same.

7. Write a Compelling Headline

Did you know that headlines with the word who in them generate a 22% higher click-through rate? Readers want to know who your story is about, not why you are writing it.

Your headline is the most crucial element of your press release. If you get it wrong, journalists won’t even open your message. Tease the information and try to convey how opening your press release will benefit the reader.

Use some of these ideas to write killer headlines that get convert to views.

8. Include a Quote

One of the elements of articles that journalists often struggle to find are quotes from experts.

If your press release can provide a quote that they can easily insert into their article, you’ve done their job for them (and got yourself some coverage!).

Be intentional about your quotes; what are you trying to convey, and how will your information benefit the reader? A generic quote about how great your company is won’t suffice!

9. Get Personal

Journalists hate nothing more than receiving generic press releases. If you want to wow, get personal. Check out other articles the journalist you are pitching has written. Tell them why you think your story is relevant for them.

The more personal the email you send along with your press release, the more chance it will get noticed.

10. Pitch the Right People

When you send your press release, be intentional about who you send it to. If you have a food company, sending your press release to a finance journalist is irrelevant.

You want to reach out to people who write the type of article you want to get a feature in. Explain to them why your story can’t be missed.

Keep a list of journalists and publications in your industry to reach out to when you have a new story. Make sure it’s up to date as journalists move around all the time.

If you don’t have the time for this, use a press release service like E-release to disseminate your press release for you.

11. Follow Up

So you completed your press release submission but haven’t heard anything back. Don’t be afraid to follow up.

You know that people receive hundreds of press releases every day. Yours could have been missed. Emphasize in your follow-up why your release is not to be missed!

Start Telling Your Story

There are so many benefits to writing and sharing a business press release. Now you know precisely how to write the perfect pitch, it’s time to start telling your story.

Remember, don’t just write something about your company for the sake of it because you want a free advert. Make sure you have something newsworthy to share, and you are intentional about the way you tell your story.

If you don’t have the time or skills to write your own press releases, hire a press release company to do it for you. We have the expertise to write you a press release that will attract media attention for your company. Get started here. 

Over 70% of marketers say content marketing has quantifiably improved prospect engagement. Meanwhile, 66% of customers agree that companies should make it easier to access their content.

Creating a news release can help you appear in front of those customers.

You can generate brand awareness, build recognition, and expand your reach online. Then, you can draw more people to your business with ease.

Once people recognize your credibility, you could boost leads and sales, too.

Not sure how to grow your brand authority and reach using a press release? Here are nine essential tips that can help you get started.

With these tips, you can create a wow-worthy release media outlets will want to share. You can appear in front of their existing audience to boost your brand visibility.

Get started with these nine simple tips today.

1. Know Your Audience

Before you start writing your first news release, take a moment to research your target audience. Understanding your customers is essential. Otherwise, you might write a release that fails to match their interests.

If your release doesn’t appeal to a publication’s audience, the journalist that reads it won’t publish the release.

Journalists receive hundreds of press releases every day. They look for press releases that will excite or engage their readers.

Learning about your target audience can help you determine what they want to read.

First, try to segment your audience based on demographics and psychographics. Then, gather keyword research. Determine what your customers are searching for online.

Consider their pain points, too. What problems do your customers face on a daily basis? How can your product or service offer a solution?

Once you gather audience and keyword research, find a single focus point for your release.

Grab Their Attention

Sometimes, readers will only glance at a headline before deciding if a press release appeals to their interests. When writing your release, it’s important to grab the reader’s attention immediately.

Otherwise, they’ll skim by and turn their attention elsewhere.

Start working on your press release by creating an attention-grabbing headline. Focus on the release’s main purpose. Then, try to pack a punch.

Use strong, exciting action verbs and vivid adjectives. Avoid fluff, though. Instead, focus on the substance you’re trying to offer your readers.

Writing a strong headline can create a little trial and error. Consider finding a professional press release service. They’ll make sure your release is written with your target audience in mind.

With help from a professional team, you can grab the reader’s attention and keep it.

2. Focus on Newsworthy Topics

About 78% of content marketers use press releases as a part of their content marketing strategy. In fact, 92% of marketers report content as a valuable business asset. It’s not enough to create a news release, though.

You need to make sure the topic you cover is worthwhile to both your customers and news outlets. Otherwise, the news outlets won’t pick up your story. You’ll struggle to appear in front of your target audience as a result.

Instead, you need to find a newsworthy topic that media outlets will want to snatch up.

Determine why you’re writing this press release. For example, maybe you want to announce a(n):

• Upcoming content/competition
• New sister company
• New business location
• Change of ownership in the company
• Internship program or scholarship
• Partnership with another business
• Affiliate/referral program
• Merger, acquisition, or expansion
• New certification or credentials
• Upcoming tour of your facilities
• New executive you’re hiring
• Change in the name of the company
• Redesign of the company’s brand
• Redesign of the company’s website
• Upcoming special event
• Pro Bono work you’re doing
• New technology you’re developing
• Charitable contribution you’re making
• Upcoming anniversary
• Award or endorsement you’re receiving

Make sure the topic you choose appeals to your target audience.

3. Personalize and Localize

Once you determine the topic you want to cover, start outlining your news release. Make sure it’s personalized and localized.

About 74% of consumers get frustrated when content has nothing to do with their interests. Another 52% of consumers will switch brands if a company fails to personalize communications. Personalizing your content will help you connect with your audience.

As you write your press release to build your brand, focus on your customers, not your business. Write with their needs in mind.

Think about your local audience, too.

Consider any recent events that have occurred in your area. What’s on your customers’ minds right now? How can you leverage their current interests when writing your press release?

Personalizing and localizing your content will help media outlets recognize the relevance of your release. They could become more likely to pick up the story as a result.

4. Add Quotes and Visuals

As you start working on your press release, make sure it stands out among the rest. Remember, journalists receive hundreds of releases each day. You can improve your release by adding quotes.

Try to quote an authority figure. For example, you can quote an executive, CEO, project leader, or stakeholder. Focus on someone who has a leadership position if you can.

Focusing on someone who holds a leadership position will give your press release more credibility.

Journalists will have an easier time recognizing the value you’re offering within the release. A credible pull quote will back up any claims you make within your release.

Try to add visuals as well. Visuals like infographics, polls, or video content will help engage your audience. Visual components can also make complex concepts easier to understand.

Make sure to brand your visuals. Use the color palette and fonts that are relevant to your overall brand.

Brand consistency will help brand awareness and recognition grow. You’ll have an easier time as you build your brand reach as a result.

5. Make It Easy to Share

If you plan on posting your press release to your company blog, make sure it’s easy to share.

First, add social sharing buttons to your blog. Readers can post the release on their own social media platforms with a simple click.

Once a publication picks up your press release, share the link on your own social media accounts. Social sharing will help you build your brand reach online. It could encourage your followers to share the news release on their own accounts, too.

Then, you can reach an even larger audience, boosting brand awareness even more.

6. Use SEO

Nearly 70% of all online experiences begin with a search engine. Consumers are looking for your product and service online. With search engine optimization (SEO), you can make sure your news release appears in front of them.

Search engine optimization will ensure your release appears on search engine pages. When someone looks for your product or service, your content will appear. They can click on the release to learn more about your business.

SEO drives 1,000% more traffic than organic social media.

In fact, 60% of marketers say SEO and blog content are their highest sources of leads. SEO leads have an almost 15% close rate, too.

First, look at the research you gathered. Determine which keywords your customers use to find your business online. Then, include a target keyword within your press release.

Feature the target keyword in your:

• Headline
• URL
• A heading
• Opening and closing paragraphs
• Body text
• Image alt text
• Image file name

If you hire a press release service, ask if they’ll optimize the post for you.

7. Consider the Formatting

Take the time to review your press release’s formatting, too. You can find a news release example online. Otherwise, follow the general template, which includes:

• The release date for your press release
• Your company logo (which boosts brand awareness)
• A strong headline and subheading
• The dateline
• A strong, engaging lede paragraph
• Body text
• The boilerplate
• The end notation (“###”)
• The press contact’s information (name, phone number, etc.)

If your press release isn’t formatted correctly, journalists might not pick it up.

8. Use Multiple Distribution Channels

Before posting your press release on your own blog, consider contacting a press release company. They can help by distributing your release to multiple channels.

Sharing your release with multiple media outlets will expand your online visibility. You can generate brand awareness and attract more people to your website.

9. Review the Data

Once a press release company distributes your release, review the data. How many consumers saw your release? How many visited your website?

Reviewing the data from your press release will help you make more informed decisions in the future. For example, you can determine if you chose the right distribution channels. You might realize some channels worked better than others.

You can adjust your PR strategy in the future to expand your reach online. Otherwise, you might use the same outlets in the future, limiting your reach.

Boost Your Brand: 9 Tips for Using a News Release to Expand Reach

Ready to boost brand awareness and draw more customers to your business? Use these tips before sharing your news release with media outlets online. With these tips, you can generate more business than ever before!

You can remain top-of-mind with your target audience by posting releases throughout the year.

Eager to get started? We’re here to help.

Explore our pricing today to review your options.