If you run a business, press releases are a critical way to spread the word about your happenings and events.
Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to write press releases, and they wind up missing out on important media opportunities as a result.
In this article, we’re here to help you learn how to write a press release for a business, and what you need to expect in the process. Read on.
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10 Tips to Help You Learn How to Write a Press Release for a Business
1. Understand the format of a press release
To write a great press release, you need to master the structure. Format keeps a press release organized, and helps ensure that it touches on all the needed points.
As a general rule, the opening of your press release should answer what Business Insider calls the “five W questions.” Here they are:
1. Who
2. What
3. Where
4. When
5. Why
When you answer these questions, you help place your audience and let them know what they can expect from your press release.
[bctt tweet=”As a general rule, the opening of your press release should answer who, what, where, when, and why. – @JuliaEMcCoy on #pressreleasewriting” username=”ExpWriters”]
2. Keep your press release short
Press releases aren’t the place to mimic the novel. To keep yours interesting and useful, keep it short. The press release should cover the essential details of your announcement, but they shouldn’t go over the top with information.
Bear in mind that the primary purpose of a press release is to make a statement about something and that the media can contact you if they want to learn more. That said, resist the urge to get overly wordy in your press releases. You readers will thank you.
3. Write in a professional tone
A press release is a professional document, and it’s important that your voice reflects this. To get the most traction possible from your press release, write it in a very professional tone.
Again, a press release is meant for your colleagues and reporters, and it’s important that the material and tone you include in it reflect that level of professionalism and intelligence. Anything less will result in lost readers.
4. Write it for the media
While most marketing copy is written for your clientele or audience, press releases should consider the media, first. Think about the document the way a reporter would: where is the hook? What is interesting about the story? Where are the “must-have” facts?
By making these things as pronounced as possible, you can ensure that your press release does what it’s supposed to do – appeal to reporters and journalists. When you consider a journalist’s outlook on the piece, you can write it more efficiently and help it cater to its needed audience.
5. Make it readable on all devices and platforms.
Today, people view press releases on desktop computers, phones, tablets, and more. With that in mind, be sure that your press release is readable on all devices. This means the text should be large enough to read on a small screen, buttons should be clickable, contact information should be simple to find, and the press release should be easily shareable and downloadable for your viewers.
6. Optimize for SEO
Yes, even press releases need to be optimized for SEO. While they’re meant to be picked up by the media, they’re also intended to appear in search engines and, when they do, they can be a fantastic form of advertising for your company. That said, optimize your press releases for your target keywords, target visuals, and keywords that are relevant to your business or niche. This will make the press release easier to discover and can broaden its reach with your audiences.
7. Cut the fat
A press release isn’t for “fluff,” either in content or tone. Your press release will automatically become less compelling if it features repetition, unneeded words and phrases, or a joking tone that misses the mark. With this in mind, trim the fat and ensure that the material included in your press release actually needs to be there.
8. Time your press release correctly
A press release is only as good as its timing, and timing your release correctly can make the difference in its performance.
According to Business Insider, the time that you send your release depends in large part on the channels through which you’re sending it. If you’re sending it via email, for example, you’ll want to aim for a time between 2-3 pm, since people are typically at their desks then.
If you know that there is a day and time that performs best for your audience, consider pushing your press release out at that point, since it’s likely to get more traction if you publish it at a high-volume moment.
9. Use quotes
Quotes are a powerful tool in the world of press releases. In addition to helping draw out important points, well-placed quotes also showcase your voice and help establish you as an authority. Don’t be afraid to sprinkle some original quotes throughout your press release. The media will have a chance to pick them up, and they won’t have to work hard to do so since you made it easy for them.
To make sure that they can find more or take a further interview from you, include your contact information within the press release, where journalists can easily find it.
10. Find a distribution partner
Once you’ve written and organized your press release, it’s time to consider distribution. Today, though, that’s tougher than it used to be. PR syndication is dead and the key to getting your press release found today is a localized distribution in local media. Here at Express Writers, we don’t offer press release distribution because the benefits for a typical “syndication network” don’t outweigh the costs.
That said, localized distribution in your local media system can help make your press release distribution more effective and enjoyable than before.
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Learn How to Write a Press Release for Business Right Now
Learning how to write a press release for business is an ongoing process, and these ten tips can help you manage it, step-by-step. Whether you’re unleashing a new product or announcing a new partnership, knowing how to write a press release for business is a critical skill that can take you far in the world of online business.
Not sure you can tackle running your business AND writing the press release for it? That’s why we’re here! We have a 100% acceptance rate with talented team journalists on staff to write your PRs.Check out our press release services.
While they are typically considered the domain of companies and individuals, press releases can be extremely helpful for nonprofit organizations.
By spreading the word about community services, charity events, and more, a press release can serve to boost attention and increase attendance for a charitable event.
If you’ve ever wondered how to write a press release for a nonprofit, here’s your complete guide!
How to Write a Press Release for a Nonprofit: 5 Key Components of a Successful PR
Knowing how to write a press release for a nonprofit, and being successful at it in getting the word out and publicizing your organization or event successfully, stems around five key components.
Since a press release is a very professional document, there’s not much wiggle room in the formatting standards. Journalists and other organizations expect to see a particular layout, and it’s in your best interest to abide by this. With that in mind, here’s a brief breakdown of how your nonprofit press release should be formatted:
1. The headline
The headline is the first and most visible portion of your press release. It should be centered across the top of your company’s letterhead and should contain information including the city of origin for your press release, the state of origin, and the date of publication.
The next piece of the headline should be a two-sentence paragraph that offers a brief overview of the press release content, and why it matters to readers. It should be exciting and intriguing to the audience.
2. The intro
The intro is a few-sentence paragraph that offers relevant background information regarding your nonprofit’s program or event.
It should be written to a general audience and should be as succinct and targeted as possible. This is not the place to go into the “why” or “how” of the event. Instead, it’s just the place to offer some background information surrounding the event and your nonprofit.
3. The body of the press release
The body of the press release should be 2-3 paragraphs in which you explain the purpose of your nonprofit’s events and compel your readers to want to learn more about it. Here is where you provide relevant details regarding the time, place, name, and sponsors of the event. Again, write this section of the press release to a general audience and give your readers a reason to get excited.
4. Boilerplate information
Boilerplate information is an official bio that offers detail about your nonprofit. It’s a common practice in press releases for nonprofits and is the content that a journalist will likely pick up to introduce your organization to readers should he or she decide to publicize your press release. The boilerplate should be a paragraph long and should offer some brief background and relevant information about your nonprofit organization.
5. Contact information
The final component of the press release is your contact information. This allows journalists and other interested parties to contact your organization for details, and is a critical part of the media release. For best results, include your current phone number, website URL, and mailing address. You may also choose to include links to two or three relevant social media profiles.
6 Things to do When Writing a Press Release for a Nonprofit
While 50% of writing a nonprofit press release is nailing the formatting, another 50% is making it interesting and compelling for readers. Here are six things you need to do every time you create a press release for your organization:
1. Hook the reader in the first sentence.
While a “hook” is commonly written off as the stuff of novels, it’s critical in a press release, as well. To grab the reader and keep him or her there, you’re going to need to provide a reason for them to stay. This is where your hook comes in.
For best results, make your first 1-3 sentences catchy and compelling, and arranged so that they inspire curiosity in your audience. This will enhance the likelihood of your readers staying with you all the way to the end.
2. Structure your press release like an inverted triangle.
An inverted triangle is widest at the top, and narrowest at the bottom and your press release should follow suit. Keep people interested by top-loading the body of your press release with the most relevant information, and narrowing down to the least valuable information as you conclude the body paragraph. This will ensure readers don’t miss your most critical points and will help people stay attached to your press releases.
3. Tell the story of your nonprofit.
It’s easy to get dry and dull when you start talking about your nonprofit. Instead, seek to tell a story that keeps readers interested. For best results, start with the “why” of your nonprofit – why it does what it does and where that mission came from – then branch out to the how and the where. This will help people make an emotional connection with your organization and will increase the likelihood that the media will pick up your press release.
4. Stay brief and focused.
A press release is not a place to ramble on and on, and you’ll lose your readers if you do. For best results, keep your press release focused and succinct. This will help readers stay on-topic and will allow the most important components of your press release to shine, instead of being bogged down by unnecessary information.
5. Keep it realistic.
A press release is a document designed to be picked up by the media, so it’s critical that everything in it be news-worthy. This means that exaggerating and using hyperbole are both strictly prohibited. In addition to harming your organization’s credibility, this will just reflect poorly on the writer if the press release does get picked up by the media.
6. Optimize for SEO.
Optimizing a press release for SEO will improve its chances of succeeding. With this in mind, add relevant keywords and target phrases throughout the body content of your press release. It will help your press release rank more efficiently and increase its likelihood that the document will appear in the search results.
The Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Press Release for a Nonprofit
To make your press releases as successful as possible, follow these dos and don’ts:
Do:
Write your press release to a general audience
Give readers a reason to get excited about your press release
Provide some background information about your organization
Give readers the specifics (where, when, why, and how) of your event
Be targeted and precise in your language
Top-load the body content of your press release with the most important details
Be realistic with your language
Use storytelling language to draw readers into the story of your nonprofit
Optimize your press release for SEO
Don’t:
Ramble through your press release – only offer what is relevant to your readers
Forget to include the current contact information for your organization
Target PR syndication for your press release. This is an ineffective method of distribution (which is why the team at Express Writers doesn’t do it anymore), and you’ll be much better off reaching out to local news agencies instead.
Forget to put the most relevant details in the top of the press release
A Better Press Release, Made Simple
If you’ve always wanted to learn how to write a press release for a nonprofit, now is your chance. From publicizing an upcoming event to showcasing the unique offerings of your organization, press releases provide many benefits for nonprofit organizations. By becoming familiar with the standard format, layout, and content of a nonprofit press release, you can write compelling and exciting press releases that help further the mission of your organization.
It’s finally here: the big launch of your new line. You’ve spent countless hours working on it, and the time has arrived to share it with the world. You couldn’t be more excited. To showcase all of your hard work, you decide to learn how to write a press release for a fashion brand. The only problem is that you’ve never done it before.
Fortunately, this next step isn’t nearly as tough as it might sound.
Today, we’re going to walk you through the process of how to write a press release for a fashion brand, in hopes that these simple tips will have you on your way and writing your own press releases before you know it.
Read on!
Why Learn How to Write a Press Release for a Fashion Brand?
When you’ve poured thousands of hours into a new line, just hoping someone will notice its release isn’t enough.
Instead, you’ve got to make a concerted effort to spread the word, and a professional press release is one of the best ways to ensure that your big launch finds its way into the mailbox of big-time fashion editors.
While learning how to write a press release may seem hard, it’s a worthwhile expenditure to ensure that your big launch goes off without a hitch.
How to Write a Press Release for a Fashion Brand: 5 Actionable Tips
A press release for a fashion brand is different than one for an album launch or a new product. To ace your press release, follow these top tips:
1. Be as specific as possible.
When it comes to your press release, specificity is your best friend. You need to tell people exactly what is exciting about your fashion launch, and why they should sit up and pay attention. Bear in mind that, within your press release, you’re speaking to content editors, PR executives, and editorial assistants at various outlets and each wants to know why, exactly, picking up your press release is a good idea. The more specific you get, the more you can help convince them.
With this in mind, be sure to answer the where, when, how, why, and who questions about your new launch. Provide some detail about the inspiration for the line and how it came to be. Tell your readers where they can find it and where it will first debut.
In addition to giving people something to get excited about, this level of specificity also makes it easier for journalists and other content specialists to pick out the relevant portions of your press release and share them with the public.
2. Provide clear and actionable details.
For your press release to succeed, it needs to be clear and actionable at every step of the process. This means that you’ll need to answer exact questions regarding where your launch will happen and why it matters to people.
You should also consider adding an image to your press release to underscore your point further and make it more exciting for people to interact with. Because fashion is a highly visual industry, an image in your press release can help grab a reader’s attention and keep it throughout.
3. Provide all the needed information throughout your press release.
If your press release is going to be useful for journalists, it needs to provide as many specifics as possible so that they don’t have to dig for additional information. In the realm of fashion, this detail-rich structure should include a discussion of who the brand is that’s launching the product, the season the line is designed for, when the launch will happen, and where.
Only once you’ve done all of this should you dive into your “why.” In any press release, you want to top-load the document with critical information, so it’s easier for journalists to access. This helps them pull out the most relevant information and get on with reading, rather than having to wade through lots of unnecessary information to locate your key points.
In addition to making it easier on journalists, top-loading your press release with relevant information can help make it more useful for readers from all walks of life, since readers who can’t find what they’re looking for (such as the venue your launch will appear at, for example) are likely to leave.
4. Include boilerplate content.
Boilerplate content is essentially a standardized breakdown of who you are, what you do, and where people can reach you. It’s meant for editors and journalists and can serve to streamline a reporter’s job massively.
To show that you’re thinking of the journalists reading your press release, include a boilerplate piece at the end of the press release that includes a short bit of background information on your brand, your contact information, a phone number, and an email address. This will make it easier for interested parties to communicate with you, and can also be used in future media to feature your brand and company.
5. Make it visual.
Visually exciting press releases perform best, especially in the fashion industry. With this in mind, include the best image at the top of your press release and lay out the press release in a way that will allow it to be easily digested by journalists and other content specialists. Not only will this make your press release more exciting to view, but it will also reflect positively on your brand.
The Dos and Don’ts of Writing a Press Release for a Fashion Brand
Write the best press release of your life by following these do’s and don’ts:
Do:
Speak directly to your target audience
Be specific
Include relevant visuals to make your document more interesting
Distribute your press release through local news agencies and media outlets. PR syndication is dead and this is the most effective way to get your press release out there today.
Don’t:
Go overboard with graphics, fonts, and colors
Forget to include relevant contact information
Stuff the bottom of your press release full of the most essential details
Fashion Press Releases Made Simple
While learning to write a press release for a fashion brand might seem tough, following this simple guide can help you nail it, starting now. When you write a succinct, interesting, and compelling press release, you’ll be rewarded with increased attention for your fashion launch and a place in the minds of target fashion editors everywhere.
If you’re curious about how to write a press release for an art show, you’re not alone. While press releases are a common form of content used to announce things like new products, new company mergers, new hires, and more, many people don’t know how to write them. In fact, learning how to write a press release for an art show can seem especially daunting.
Fortunately, the process is not nearly as complicated as it sounds, and it’s easy to master in just a few simple steps. PR is the perfect channel for getting the news out about your art show!
Read on.
How to Write a Press Release for an Art Show: 7 Essential Things to Include
How do you write a press release for an art show? What do you need to include in the document? How much detail is enough? What will your readers want to know? If these are questions on your mind, read on to learn about the seven critical elements you need to include in your art show press release.
Regardless of whether the press release is for business, the music industry, or the art world, a headline is its most critical component. The headline is what grabs the press’ attention, and tells people about what is in the media release.
To ensure that your headline performs the way you want it to, keep it descriptive and concise. Some sources recommend keeping your press release headline to 120 characters or fewer. While that’s not a hard and fast rule, it is smart to keep it as short and succinct as possible.
On a formatting note, be sure to format each word in the headline with the first letter capitalized and include relevant details. When people read your press release headline, they should get an immediate value proposition that tells them what the press release covers, and what they can expect to learn from reading it.
2. An information-rich summary
The next most critical piece of your press release is the summary. The summary is the section that allows you to expand on the key details of your press release and include any relevant keywords that you are targeting within it.
This section of the press release should be short, detailed, and simple. Be descriptive about your upcoming events, and tell your readers why they should read the rest of the press release.
Keep in mind that this is one of your first opportunities to “grab” the reader, and you don’t want to waste it.
3. Relevant dateline information
The dateline component of a press release contains the date that the press release is published. While it may seem like a small detail, this is critical for the authority of the press release, since it allows the reader to determine whether the press release is new or old. This, in turn, allows a journalist to decide whether to contact the author of the press release for more information or keep looking for new news.
In addition to telling readers when the press release was published, the dateline also includes the city of the press release, which is important if you’re hosting an art show in a particular location. By including the city of origin in the dateline section of the press release, you stand a better chance to track to local news media and pick up local coverage for your event.
4. An exciting introduction
After the headline, summary, and dateline comes the introduction. While it may seem like the summary and introduction go hand-in-hand, the introduction is a paragraph meant to answer the following questions for any journalist that may be reading your press release: who, what, when, where, and why?
Think of the introduction as the component of the press release that helps journalists decide whether to pay attention. It should offer the relevant details of your art show and should be written in a clear and easy to understand fashion.
5. Informative body copy
Next, it’s time to focus on the body copy of your press release. While the introduction provides the critical details regarding your art show, the body text offers background information, further details on the artist, and explanations for the show.
Although the length of your body copy will depend on the art show and the details you need to share, it should feature at least two paragraphs. These paragraphs should both be short, with no more than five sentences in each.
Be sure to top-load the body copy with the most important details in the first few sentences. This will enhance the chance that your readers will catch them rather than skimming over them.
6. An original “about” section
The “about” section is a single paragraph that offers some relevant background information about you, the author of the press release. This paragraph should be short and should provide some needed details about you, your organization, or your company.
7. Current contact information
Last but not least, you’ll want to include your contact information in the press release. These contact details will be used by any journalist who wants to contact you for further information about the art show.
For best results, include your full name, your current telephone number, your email address, the mailing address for your company or office, and the URL of your website. You may also include two or three relevant social media links.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Art Show Press Releases
To ensure the success of your press release, follow these do’s and don’ts:
Do’s:
Keep your press release short and detailed
Write like you would speak, without too much jargon or industry talk
Answer the questions who, what, where, when, and why?
Include your current contact information
Don’ts:
Get too long-winded in your press release
Neglect to include relevant details
Forget to add a city of origin for your press release
Get tied up in PR syndication. It’s dead, and you’ll be much better off reaching out to your local news agencies and media outlets to help you publicize the press release.
How to Write a Press Release for an Art Show: The Professional Way
Learning how to write a press release for an art show is critical for the advancement of your career.
With these seven tips, it’s easy to master the art of the press release and ensure that your local news organizations pick up your press release and help publicize your next big art show.
Need some help creating your next press release? Check out our press release writing services and have our professional art press release writers help you publicize and boost engagement for your next show.
A product press release is critical to inform journalists and customers about your exciting new offerings. A professional document designed to be picked up by reporters, a press release is a fantastic way to drive attention to your new product and create a social dynamic that’s ripe for sales.
When done correctly, a press release is an excellent way to boost your business and spread the word about your newest offerings. Keep in mind, however, that learning how to write a press release for a product is a process, though, and there are skills that you need to know to execute the task properly. Fortunately, these things are easy to learn!
Today, we are going to talk about how to write a press release for products, and how to make sure that your brand aces it every time.
4 Things to Remember Before Writing a Product-Focused Press Release
If you’re going to write a product press release, it needs to be done well. Since the purpose of a press release is to inform the media about your upcoming product, it’s critical to ensure that every piece of the press release is newsworthy, professional, and accurate. With this in mind, here are four things to consider before you sit down to write your press release:
1. The press release should showcase your product’s unique features.
If you were going to write a press release about your new product, it needs to be newsworthy. In other words, nobody wants to read a press release that just says, “Hey, we made a thing!” Instead, arrange your press release so that it includes the most unique benefits of your new product.
A portion of the press release should outline your product’s selling points, and make readers feel intrigued enough that they want to interact further with the products. To ensure that you’re including the unique benefits of your products in the press release, consider making a list of the things that make your product stand out before you sit down to write. This helps ensure you won’t miss anything when crunch time comes.
2. Tell a story in your press release.
While some people mistakenly believe that storytelling is reserved for novels and books, it’s a critical tool for a product-focused press release. The reason is simple: people don’t want to simply hear the features of your new product. Instead, they want to hear why they should use it, how it will change their lives, how you came up with it, and what makes it so different from anything else on the market. Storytelling is the best way to achieve these things.
As you write your press release, put yourself in the reader’s shoes. Try to visualize what would catch his or her attention, and what would be compelling or entertaining enough to make them want to keep reading.
3. Stick to the point.
No matter what a press release covers, it’s no good if it wanders and rambles. To make your press release useful and compelling, stick to the point and be sure that all of the information you’re providing within the press release is relevant to your readers.
4. Edit the press release carefully.
The final thing to consider regarding your press release is how much editing it will take. Remember, a press release is meant to be picked up by the media, and pushing one out that includes errors or other mistakes can be devastating to your company. With that in mind, set aside ample time to edit your press release before you publish it.
How to Write a Press Release for a Product: 4 Essential Steps
Now that you know what to consider as you start writing a press release, let’s talk about how to navigate the writing process. Here are the steps you’ll need to follow:
1. Craft a killer headline that considers your product’s unique selling points.
Your headline is the first thing a reader sees, so it should grab attention. For best results, include the unique selling points of your product in the header.
Regardless of how you choose to structure it, it’s essential to ensure that the header stays succinct, clear, and easy to understand. This will help intrigue the reader without losing his or her attention in the process.
2. Make your target audience clear.
When people read your press release, they need to know who will benefit from using your products. Is it seniors living at home? Is it teens with ADD? Is it stay-at-home moms or college students?
No matter who your target audience is, you’ll want to target them in the body of your press release. When people know that you’re talking directly to them, they’re not only more willing to read your press release, but they’re also more likely to share it.
3. Use the body paragraph of your press release to back up your claims.
This piece is a unique to a product press release. If you are going to make claims about the product’s effectiveness or desirability, use the middle paragraph of the press release to back yourself up. An excellent way to do this is to include quotes from executives or users, or even to draw in statements made by shareholders.
While this may seem like a simple approach, it serves a critical purpose. First, it gives journalists something to pull out of your press release and use in publication. Second, it inspires confidence within the people reading your press release.
4. Finish the press release with current contact information.
The end of the press release should include your company’s current contact information, including website URL, phone number, a point of contact email address, mailing address, and links to two or three relevant social profiles.
This contact information will be critical for anyone who wants to reach out to your company for more details, so it’s essential to make sure that it is current and up-to-date.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Press Release for a Product
As with any other type of press release, writing a press release for a product comes with a set of do’s and don’ts. Here’s a breakdown of each:
Do’s:
Speak directly to your target audience in your press release
Keep the entire press release direct, and brief
Use storytelling components and a good hook to draw readers in
Showcase the unique selling points of your product
Use executive or shareholder quotes to back up your claims
Distribute your press release to local news organizations and agencies, since PR syndication is dead
Don’ts:
Be too wordy or verbose in your press release
Speak to too general an audience
Forget to craft a hook at the top of your press release
Include outdated contact information
Excellent Product Press Releases Made Simple!
Although learning how to write a press release for a product can seem difficult, it’s a critical skill for any company, and following these tips will help you learn to do it in your business. From crafting the hook to optimizing your press release for SEO, there are dozens of little things that can spell the difference between success and failure for your press releases. Happy writing!
Need some additional help on your upcoming product press release? Contact Express Writers to take advantage of our professional press release writing services today.
