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All businesses will, at one point, require press releases to go out. This could be because you need to announce something such as a new product or service launch, or because you have some news regarding your company. Whatever the reason, if you want your news to get talked about, you are going to want to have a press release to get the word out there. There are companies that you can get to write press releases, or you can alternatively look to hire a freelancer to do it for you. If you don’t have the budget for this or want to write one yourself then that is absolutely fine, there are just a few things that you want to know while doing so. It doesn’t need to be a daunting project, after all, you are speaking about your business and your offering which is something that you are an expert at! Whether you have all the info on the top of your head or need to do some archival research, you can do this. It is just about getting the layout and wording right. Here are some top tips to help you along your way.
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Write a catchy headline
Your headline is the first thing that people will read so you want it to be short, snappy and eye-catching. Let the reader know what the release is about in simple and engaging terminology that will make them want to read on.
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Include the main information in the first paragraph
People don’t want to have to scour press releases to find out what they are about. Include all your most important information in the first paragraph and keep the tone succinct and to the point. You can get the main details further down, but this paragraph is about keeping their attention and letting them know the main points of the release.
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Write in the right style and include all relevant information
Keep your style formal and in with your brand. You don’t want a press release written like a story, it is meant to be informative and to the point. Include all the five “W”’s – the who, what, where, when, why and make sure that these are all included. These are the main questions that the reader is after so check that you don’t leave any vital information out.
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Don’t forget your contact details
Your contact details need to be at the end of the email so those reading the release can get in touch if they need or want to. This should include your website, email address and your phone number as well as anything else relevant to this.
These are just a few tips that can help you with your press release. Remember to keep it succinct, engaging and written to grab the reader at first look. Businesses get sent many press releases every day so you need yours to stand out in the sea of emails. Have you written press releases before? What have you learnt from doing so? If you have any tips, please let me know!
