Beginners Guide to Writing a Press Release
If the thought of writing a press release (PR) makes you want to cry, don't worry, here are some helpful tips on making an outstanding PR.
Learning the basics of a standard PR is simple and if you follow these instructions you will have a great one at the end of this article.
In the case of the Internet a PR is an electronic document presented to the media announcing the arrival of a new service or product.
Its purpose is to give journalist useful, accurate and interesting information, that's what your PR should have in it, accurate, useful and interesting information.
Almost all press releases are the same, once you get the hang of it, they are all the same, just copy and past and you are done.
But you have to write the first one and that can be a little tricky.
Journalist receive so many of them everyday that you must adhere to a certain standard in order to have yours read or it will not even be looked at if it's not in the proper format.
It should be spelled out - in all caps - at the top so they know that is what they are looking at.
The contact information, including contact person, should be printed underneath this.
Then immediate release should be printed under all of this if it's for immediate release, again, in all caps.
There should be a bold headline or title that comes next.
This is very important because the person reading it will merely skim the first part, but the title or headline is a must read.
Next you are to write the interesting, useful and accurate information in the body.
The information must be accurate because you only get one shot at making a press release.
The body of the press release is very basic: who, what, where, when and why.
Begin with a brief detail description of what it is going to be about.
The next paragraph should explain who cares - in detail, why you should care, where you can find this item and how it can happen.
You should also include a quote of some sort to make it more authentic and real.
Make it a 'real' story, journalist are tired of the same old thing.
By having a 'human' aspect to it you will grab their attention and make sure it gets noticed.
The third and final paragraph is a summation of the entire press release.
Summarize the who, what, where, when and why again.
Make sure to have it hit home.
This will make sure it is taken seriously and put into their paper or magazine when there is room for it.
Just always remember if you have useful, accurate and interesting information in your press release, you will have a publishable PR for a journalist who has seen them all and don't forget the 'human' aspect if there can be one.
Learning the basics of a standard PR is simple and if you follow these instructions you will have a great one at the end of this article.
In the case of the Internet a PR is an electronic document presented to the media announcing the arrival of a new service or product.
Its purpose is to give journalist useful, accurate and interesting information, that's what your PR should have in it, accurate, useful and interesting information.
Almost all press releases are the same, once you get the hang of it, they are all the same, just copy and past and you are done.
But you have to write the first one and that can be a little tricky.
Journalist receive so many of them everyday that you must adhere to a certain standard in order to have yours read or it will not even be looked at if it's not in the proper format.
It should be spelled out - in all caps - at the top so they know that is what they are looking at.
The contact information, including contact person, should be printed underneath this.
Then immediate release should be printed under all of this if it's for immediate release, again, in all caps.
There should be a bold headline or title that comes next.
This is very important because the person reading it will merely skim the first part, but the title or headline is a must read.
Next you are to write the interesting, useful and accurate information in the body.
The information must be accurate because you only get one shot at making a press release.
The body of the press release is very basic: who, what, where, when and why.
Begin with a brief detail description of what it is going to be about.
The next paragraph should explain who cares - in detail, why you should care, where you can find this item and how it can happen.
You should also include a quote of some sort to make it more authentic and real.
Make it a 'real' story, journalist are tired of the same old thing.
By having a 'human' aspect to it you will grab their attention and make sure it gets noticed.
The third and final paragraph is a summation of the entire press release.
Summarize the who, what, where, when and why again.
Make sure to have it hit home.
This will make sure it is taken seriously and put into their paper or magazine when there is room for it.
Just always remember if you have useful, accurate and interesting information in your press release, you will have a publishable PR for a journalist who has seen them all and don't forget the 'human' aspect if there can be one.
