How to write a basic press release
How to write a basic press release
Have your company logo in the top right hand corner.
Use a simple font such as verdana
Underneath write in approx 18p PRESS INFORMATION IN BOLD and justify it to the right.
Under that in 11p type the month and year
You now need a headline - a simple line, written in 14p bold/caps that summaries the story. This is sometimes the hardest but so if you struggle just put anything down and then go to the body of the text. You can return to it later.
Write in 11point and set at 1.5 spacing.
If it is your first release don't try to be too clever or technical but simply think about including: Who, what, when, where, why.
If those questions are answerred you are on the right track.
Journalists also like to have a quote from a spokesperson so write that in, in your own words . e.g "The new contract is a huge boost for us and we are delighted to be able to recruit in what are difficult times for many people"
Keep a press release to 1-2 pages.
Spell check and if possible get someone else to check it too - you can get word blindness by re-reading the same thing over and over.
At the end it may be worth putting a short "Note to Editors" which is 2 or 3 bullets about you or your company. How big you are, where you are based, how long you have been in business.
Complete the release with your contact details/email/mobile so reporter's can easily find you.
When you are happy with the basic press release think about where you would like it to appear; pick a couple of publications to trial it with. Easiest way to get their details is to go to their website and get the email and tel number in the "contact us" section.
I prefer to cut and paste the release into the body of the email as well as attach as a word document. If you have any low res images that are relevant attach those too.
When sending a press release on email the subject box is crucial, it has to be relevant or it will be junked. Try and chose key words that will catch the reporter's attention - exclusive, invitation, investment, etc.
If you have a tel number put a follow up call in within a few hours to ensure they have received and see if they need any more information.
After that it is in the lap of the editors!
PR's come into their own with the sell in process and their contacts book as they should have access to the right people at the right publication. Even a poor press release will be covered if the story is a good one - it will disappear into the ether if it is sent to the wrong reporter at the wrong time.
If anyone would like a press release template made up I am happy to do this for free to Evan Carmichael subscribers. Simply send me your logo and I will send back a template ready for you to fill in.
Good luck
How to write a basic press release - To learn more about this author, visit Deborah Hastie's Website.
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It's always a good idea to have a basic press release template on file that you can simply write over with each new topic.
Have your company logo in the top right hand corner.
Use a simple font such as verdana
Underneath write in approx 18p PRESS INFORMATION IN BOLD and justify it to the right.
Under that in 11p type the month and year
You now need a headline - a simple line, written in 14p bold/caps that summaries the story. This is sometimes the hardest but so if you struggle just put anything down and then go to the body of the text. You can return to it later.
Write in 11point and set at 1.5 spacing.
If it is your first release don't try to be too clever or technical but simply think about including: Who, what, when, where, why.
If those questions are answerred you are on the right track.
Journalists also like to have a quote from a spokesperson so write that in, in your own words . e.g "The new contract is a huge boost for us and we are delighted to be able to recruit in what are difficult times for many people"
Keep a press release to 1-2 pages.
Spell check and if possible get someone else to check it too - you can get word blindness by re-reading the same thing over and over.
At the end it may be worth putting a short "Note to Editors" which is 2 or 3 bullets about you or your company. How big you are, where you are based, how long you have been in business.
Complete the release with your contact details/email/mobile so reporter's can easily find you.
When you are happy with the basic press release think about where you would like it to appear; pick a couple of publications to trial it with. Easiest way to get their details is to go to their website and get the email and tel number in the "contact us" section.
I prefer to cut and paste the release into the body of the email as well as attach as a word document. If you have any low res images that are relevant attach those too.
When sending a press release on email the subject box is crucial, it has to be relevant or it will be junked. Try and chose key words that will catch the reporter's attention - exclusive, invitation, investment, etc.
If you have a tel number put a follow up call in within a few hours to ensure they have received and see if they need any more information.
After that it is in the lap of the editors!
PR's come into their own with the sell in process and their contacts book as they should have access to the right people at the right publication. Even a poor press release will be covered if the story is a good one - it will disappear into the ether if it is sent to the wrong reporter at the wrong time.
If anyone would like a press release template made up I am happy to do this for free to Evan Carmichael subscribers. Simply send me your logo and I will send back a template ready for you to fill in.
Good luck
How to write a basic press release - To learn more about this author, visit Deborah Hastie's Website.
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Dianne CramptonDianne Crampton is an executive leadership coach, team culture consultant, author and president of TIGERS Success Series, Inc. Dianne has been helping CEO's and Executives connect their employees to their core values and goals for over 20 years using the trademarked TIGERS team culture process, which stands for trust, interdependence, genuineness, empathy, risk and success. To download a free white paper on behaviors that build strong teams and behaviors that will predictably tear them down go here. Dianne's contribution to the 2010 Pfeiffer Consulting Journal (an imprint of John Wiley and Sons Publishers) entitled TIGERS Hearted Teams is available in November 2009. Her new book TIGERS Among Us: 5 Winning Business Team Cultures And Why, Three Creeks Publishing will release in March 2010. To receive publishing discounts, subscribe to the free TigerTracks Newsletter here. - Visit Dianne Crampton's Website |
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