As the leading press release distribution service for small businesses, we distribute thousands of press releases every year. Some are great, most could use work to make them more effective.
We want you to succeed! That’s why we’re providing nine free press release templates and examples to make it easy to craft your own press release.
Table of contents:
Scroll down below the free press release template to see industry-specific press release samples, formatting tips, and how to write and distribute your own press release.
This template is part of a larger collection of press release samples.
Download a free press release template in Microsoft Word format
And here’s a press release template in Google Docs format.
(no email or signup required).
We realize there are many different types of press releases you can write. So, to make your life easier, here are 9 different basic press release templates you can use, each focusing on a different press release type:
If you have a new product or service that you’re launching, the first thing you’ll want to do is publish a press release. This could include announcing a new product you’ve created, a new service you’re offering, even a new product or service you are offering through your company that someone else created (like a hospital announcing the acquisition of a new type of scanner they have purchased and are now making available to their patients). Here’s an example of a press release template announcing a new product:
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The following is an example product launch press release that shows the standard press release format you should follow:
Grand openings, ground-breakings, customer appreciation days, press conferences and events, premiers – companies frequently hold events that should be promoted through an event press release. Here’s an example press release template:
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Remember to tailor this template to fit the specific details of your event. Highlight what makes your event unique and why it’s newsworthy to attract the right audience and media attention.
Book authors and publishers are constantly seeking new ways to get attention to their books. Press releases are an important tool in that process. Here’s a sample press release template you can use to promote your book:
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Remember to tailor this template to the specific details of the book and author. A well-crafted press release for a book launch should create interest and intrigue while providing all the necessary information for media coverage.
Hiring the right person for your company can literally change its future and should be promoted through a press release. Here’s a sample new hire press release template:
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Customize this template with the specific details of the new hire and your company. This type of press release can be a valuable tool in both internal and external communications, showcasing your company’s growth and attracting attention in your industry.
Musicians have many reasons to issue a press release: new song/album releases, concert and tour analyses, award announcements, new members joining the band, opening act announcements, etc. Here’s a press release template to help you write a press release for musicians:
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This template is a starting point and should be tailored to the specifics of the musician’s release and career. Make sure to highlight what makes the musician and their latest work unique and newsworthy.
Do your company’s current quarter sales figures glisten brighter than the stars? Is your organization celebrating its 20th anniversary? Have you just opened a new office in Utah? Don’t let these milestones go to waste! Here’s an example press release template:
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This template should be customized with the specific details of your company’s achievement and history. A well-crafted press release can help highlight your company’s success, reinforce its reputation, and generate positive media coverage.
You’re not just a cog in the wheel of capitalism – you’ve got your own story to tell! Here’s an example template for a press release:
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This template should be customized to fit the specific details and highlights of your company. It’s a great tool to communicate your company’s story, values, and unique offerings to the public and the media.
People love tips and tricks to make their life easier. Here’s an example of a Tips & Tricks press release template:
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This is just like a Tips & Tricks press release, but with more in-depth information and step-by-step instructions that can help customers or clients learn how to do something. Here’s an example how-to press release template:
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Customize this template to fit the specific how-to advice your company is providing. This type of press release is not only helpful for promoting your products or services but also adds value to your audience, enhancing your brand’s reputation as a helpful and knowledgeable industry leader.
Is the type of press release you need to write not shown above? Here are more press release templates and examples.
The following is a more complete example press release template that shows the standard press release format you should follow:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Press Release Headline Here in Title Case – more info at Headline Primer Press Release Dateline: CITY, State, Month Day, Year (eReleases) –The opening sentence is the most important element in this press release template in which you should succinctly summarize what is being announced. The opening paragraph should clearly get the reader’s attention through a strong hook while providing the most important facts. As a best practice, write your press release first then come back and develop the opening paragraph as a summary of the news release. Then compare this new opening paragraph with your initial first paragraph, combining elements to form a strong anchor. You need to inform the reader what he or she will ultimately learn by reading the rest of the media release. A press release should consist of four to eight paragraphs where you provide all the relevant facts and information a journalist or reporter should use to write a story. The most important information should be listed first, with the least important information appearing in the final paragraph (also known as the Inverted Pyramid). Each paragraph should consist of three to six sentences written in the third person. You should maintain an unbiased tone and avoid hype. The average press release consists of 500 words or less. Another very important key to writing a successful press release is to not be too sales-y, presenting in an objective-sounding tone and style. “A great press release should include a strong quote from a company executive or industry expert,” says eReleases President Mickie Kennedy. “An important thing to know about quotes is that the media generally won’t use them unless they are evocative, fresh or state something in a way that would be very difficult to paraphrase. To ensure your quote finds a home in a story based on your announcement, avoid cliches or generalizations.” More info at “You Can Quote Me On That!” Be sure to spell check your news release and fact check the statements and/or statistics in your press release. You should check your grammar as well. A tip: read your media release aloud to ensure there aren’t any obvious errors. Lastly, it’s a good idea to have a trusted friend and/or colleague read your press release. Ideally, have both types of people read your release as sometimes co-workers or people in your industry might not notice knowledge gaps as they know the company or industry very well. A press release can be used to announce a new or updated product or service. Other news release topics can include a partnership with a company or organization, as well as being issued an industry award. For additional press release topics, visit: https://www.ereleases.com/prfuel/press-release-topic-ideas/. As you just saw, you may include a url in your media release. If you have a website, be sure to use it and link directly to any fact sheets, product descriptions, or overviews that might be useful for more information. What to do with your press release? At the very least, you should post it to your website, ideally a section dedicated to news or announcements about your company, which is also a great place to post articles and links to media coverage. You can also send it to customers, suppliers, journalists at trade publications you may know, and others who may be interested in what you have to say. You will get the biggest bang for your buck if you send your media release over a newswire, like PR Newswire, which eReleases includes with all of its distributions. You can learn more about our service and take advantage of a new customer discount here: https://www.ereleases.com/pr-submission/. Optional Press Release Boilerplate: About eReleases A boilerplate is a short paragraph that explains the identity of a company and what it does. While a boilerplate is optional, it doesn’t hurt to have one to help identify your business and to quickly summarize what you do and the industry you serve. Think of it as a thumbnail sketch of your company that provides a little background information to the press. Once you’ve written a boilerplate, you can use it in all of your press releases, serving as a staple for your very own press release template. Contact: Name of Media Contact Title of Media Contact Company Name Contact Phone Number Contact E-mail Website URL # # #
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Finally, here are some tips and training to help you write an amazing press release:
You can download a free press release template in Word format here.
And a free press release template for Google Docs here.
There are 10 key elements that should be included in every press release: