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Article:
How To Write A Killer Press Release by: John Jantsch One of the primary tools still used by PR professionals to garner media coverage is the press release. Now understand the purpose of a press release is to grab the attention of an editor, not to offer a word for word story to a publication. Most professionals as well as small business owners misunderstand this concept and are therefore frustrated when they can't seem to make it work for them. If you understand that the purpose of a press release is to grab attention then you might also begin to realize that there is a bit of an art to writing an effective one. This art actually begins with proper format. It probably shouldn't matter how you format a good story but editor after editor has told me that if a press release comes to them and is not properly formatted, it often doesn't get read. Read that again if you are bit of a maverick. You want to read about your company in the news then you might just have to follow the rules. Ultimately your story will have to stand on its own but follow this accepted format and you stand a better chance of making that all important first impression. + For release timing The very first thing to appear on your release is the release date or time. If your story is for immediate release say so For Immediate Release. If there is a reason to hold some news or a seasonal deadline say so. For Release Before Halloween. Some background type releases can also carry the - Release at Will tag + Contact Information Don't make it hard for them to get in touch with you. Right under the release info state your name, address, direct phone, and email address under the heading 'For more information' Remember the real point is to get them to call you. + The Headline 90% of all advertising effectiveness rides on the effectiveness of the headline. It is no different for a press release. Most readers will decide whether or not you have anything to say based solely on the grabbing power of your headline. Pull them in quickly. Write 5-6 attention grabbing headlines and then put your release away for day or so. Come back and see which ones still grab you. It is that important. + Dateline At the start of the body of your release you are expected to provide some useful information. First the date of the release and then the city the release originates from. Put a dash after the city and then start the body of your release. ie: February '18
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