Without a headline that demands attention, your press release will never have a chance of getting serious exposure. It doesn’t matter if your press release is being sent to editors at the top industry news outlets or if you’re publishing it online yourself, everyone – from editors to your customers – is in a hurry. Their decision as to whether or not to read your press release depends on if they find your headline interesting.
So, what can you do to write headlines that suck readers in? Here are some tips for better headline writing.
1. Keep it short – The first thing you need to do is trim the fat from your press release headline. Remember, the people reading your headline are in a hurry, and they might only skim through it. Keeping it short helps to ensure your message gets across quickly and effectively. Don’t try to put too many details in your headline; let the rest of the story take care of the tiny details. Less is more.
2. Clarity is key – Whenever an editor or anyone else reads your headline, they should instantly know exactly what the rest of your press release is about. Never mislead readers by promising something in your headline that you don’t deliver on in the story. And while you’re at it, get rid of tech jargon that will go over the head of most readers. Here’s a tip: Show someone who doesn’t work at your company just the headline of your press release, and ask them to describe what they think the story is about. If they’re unable to do this, it’s probably time to rewrite your headline.
3. Stop trying to be cleverer than you are – There is a very thin line between an effectively-clever headline and an overly-clever headline. If your headline is too clever or cutesy, it could instantly turn off readers. When you try to be too clever, you also risk losing the clarity of your headline. If in doubt, tone it down a little bit.
4. Beware of sounding gimmicky – Sure, the ultimate goal of a press release is to get your name out there, but that doesn’t mean you should treat it as an advertisement. If your headline is “New Miracle Product by ABC Company will Change Your Life Forever and Solve All Your Problems!!!”, you’re way too over the top. Eliminate the hype, and ditch any words that sound salesy or gimmicky.
5. Always proofread before sending – It seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many companies send out press releases with typos or other errors in the headline. Here’s a tip: Set your press release aside for 24 hours (if you have the time) before trying to proofread it. This allows you to come at it with a fresh set of eyes, making it much easier to spot mistakes.
What tips would you add to this list? Share your thoughts in the replies.
This article is written by Mickie Kennedy, founder of eReleases (https://www.ereleases.com), the online leader in affordable press release distribution. To subscribe to PR Fuel, visit: https://www.ereleases.com/prfuel/subscribe/.