Whether you’re a seasoned veteran who has written hundreds of press releases for your business or you’ve just finished sending out your first ever release, another press-related document exists that you might want to know about. It’s called the media advisory and depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, you might find it even more useful than the traditional press release. With that in mind, let’s discuss exactly what it is and how it could prove useful to your marketing endeavors.
Media Advisory Defined
Similar to a press release, a media advisory is a document you create to send to members of the media you think will find your news relevant. The aim is to receive free press to help promote your product or event. However, a media advisory should not be confused with a press release, because:
- The specific purpose of a media advisory is not the same as a press release
- The media advisory has a different audience in mind…sort of
- The format of a media advisory is a bit different
Simply put, a media advisory is a document you compose with the intent of getting members of the media to attend an event you are holding. This event, like a press conference, is intended to share important information with the media in order to try and gain press coverage. A media advisory is not for the public eye, but instead is packed full of information journalists should specifically find useful.
How to Write a Media Advisory
If you have written a press release in the past, you won’t find a media advisory to be too far out of your reach. Here are a few tips to help you compose your first one:
- Type “MEDIA ADVISORY” in all caps at the top of your page so everyone knows exactly what to expect before reading.
- Begin your media advisory with the same info as your press releases. In other words, make sure it says “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,” has your company info, explanatory title, and city and state to start.
- Make sure the first sentence immediately contains a good reason for media members to attend. Hook them here.
- After a brief intro, organize your media advisory by who, what, when, where, and visuals sections.
- Ex.
- Who: Who might be involved.
- What: Brief explanation of your event.
- When: The date of your press conference.
- Where: The location of your press conference.
- Visuals: Whatever visuals you apply.
- End it like a press release with a brief description of your company.
This article is written by Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases (https://www.ereleases.com), the online leader in affordable press release distribution. Download your free copy of the Beginner’s Guide to Writing Powerful Press Releases here: https://www.ereleases.com/free-offer/beginners-guide-writing-powerful-press-releases/