What’s a Press Release and Why It Matters
What is a press release, and why does it matter? A press release is what an organization or school would use to make public comprehensive news. Perhaps they are introducing a product, holding an event, or celebrating an achievement. Here’s why a well-written press release matters:
- Professional Look: If laid out clearly, a press release shows you are serious and professional. It makes the information more accessible to find and consume.
- Credibility: A proper format gives credibility to the news. Journalists are likely to run a good press release. It covers critical facts that can easily be extracted and shared.
- Visibility: Your news is sharable only if it is deemed a good one. A good press release contains significant facts, easily shareable.
- Engagement: If you present your news well, it attracts people. They’re more likely to be interested and engage with it.
- Better Online Presence: A well-formatted press release can boost your SEO, helping your news be found on the internet by more readers. This enhanced online presence can further market your news product effectively.
Key Parts of a Press Release
Let’s look at the essential parts of a press release:- Headline: This is the first thing people see. It needs to be catchy and give a clear idea of what the press release is about.
- Dateline: This part shows the release date and the location where the news is from.
- Introduction: The first paragraph that summarizes the most important details – who, what, when, where, why, and how.
- Body: This is where you provide more detailed information. You can add background info, quotes, and other relevant details.
- Boilerplate: A short paragraph that tells a bit about the company or organization. It gives context to those who might not know you.
- Contact Information: This includes the name, phone number, and email of the person who can provide more details.
Tips for Writing an Effective Press Release
Writing a press release may appear to be very elusive, but the following tips can help you:- Simplicity and Clarity: Be direct and avoid unnecessary words.
- Attention-grabbing Headline: Make it interesting and informative.
- Compelling Lead: Your first paragraph should grab the reader’s interest right away.
- Valuable Information: Include important facts, stats, and quotes that add depth to your story.
- Use Quotes: Adding quotes from key people can give your press release a human touch.
- Inverted Pyramid Style: Put the most important information at the beginning.
- SEO Optimize: Use keywords relevant to your topic to make your press release easier to find in search engines.
- Proofread and Edit: Go through the entire content before sending it out.
- Add Multimedia: Attach relevant images or videos to make it more appealing.
- Clear Contact Information: Make sure it’s clear how to contact you.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
With the best intentions, mistakes happen. Here’s what to watch out for:- Too Promotional: Focus on news, not just selling your product or service.
- Lack of Newsworthiness: Ensure your news is interesting and valuable.
- Burying the Lead: Put the most important info at the top.
- Ignoring Readers: Write in a way that appeals to your target audience
- Jargon: Simplify your language and make it clear
- Fail to Proofread: Errors ruin your credibility.
- Leave Out Contact Information: Always include how to reach you.
- Information Overload: Stay on point and avoid overwhelming readers.
- Call to Action Void: Guide readers on what to do next, like visiting your website or contacting you.
- Neglecting the Boilerplate: Add a short bio about your company.
How a Press Release Works
A press release allows companies to share news with journalists. It can help get media attention but might present the company’s perspective more. Unlike news stories, press releases often don’t have an author’s name and show the press office that sent them at the top.
Public relations experts use services called newswires to spread their press releases. These newswires send the releases to thousands of journalists and media houses. In a survey conducted in 2012 by Vitis PR, PR Newswire emerged as a favorite with 54% of journalists. Other popular ones were Press Association (PA) with 38% and Business Wire with 34%.
They have broad reach as well. For example, PR Newswire connects with more than 440,000 newsrooms and digital media points. Press Association churns out an abundance of news content weekly. Business Wire sends releases to over 100,000 media points throughout more than 160 countries—an enormous reach that helps press releases get seen by many people.
How Riyoadvertising Can Help You Craft the Perfect Press Release
With Riyoadvertising working around the clock, we know very well how to help polish your press release. Let us assist you with:- Professional Writers: We give you a professionally written, impressive press release.
- Custom Content: A press release tailor-made to fit your requirements.
- SEO Optimization: The right keywords so that more people will get your news online.
- Professional Format: We provide all necessary details in proper format.
- Multimedia Integration: We add images, videos, and infographics in your release for more attractiveness.
- Wide Distribution: We use all the media outlets to ensure your news will reach the targeted audience.
- Thorough Review: We carefully review and craft your press release before sending it out.
- Timely Delivery: We assure you that your press release will be ready on time.
