Logan Voss
Press releases are an inexpensive, straightforward way to get your business noticed, but they rely on quality writing and attention-worthy information. If you don’t know where to start, follow these tips for writing a press release to produce effective results for your business’ media coverage.
Tip #1: Cover things that people care about
This is the biggest piece of the puzzle when you’re figuring out how to write a press release for a business. You want to create something that will capture the attention of your target audience, so before you start writing, ask yourself whether this announcement is relevant to the people you hope to reach. No matter how well you write, you won’t get very far if your topic doesn’t interest your intended audience.
Tip #2: Keep it simple
When it comes to tips for writing a press release, there are a few major components to keep in mind. The headline shouldn’t be vague; instead, make it explanatory in a way that encourages readers to continue to the body. While there isn’t a prescriptive word count, the key is to make the body concise and specific. Include important facts, and perhaps quote someone relevant to the campaign/topic you’re writing about. For small businesses that want to distribute their press release to the local media, make sure to include a dateline of the city and date it was issued. Keep it professional by ensuring that there are no grammar mistakes or typos.
Tip #3: Contact information
You don’t want to send your press release into the world with no relevant contact information—after all, if your release does its job, people will want to contact your business. Make sure to list your business address, email and telephone number at the very end of your press release.
Tip #4: Targeted Distribution
If you’re a small business, you may want to use eReleases to send out your press release. They’ll send it out to over 4,200 websites and more than 90,000 registered journalists. The more common route is to contact journalists directly, but you should avoid the pitfall of sending mass emails. Target your search to a few local journalists that have written about similar stories, and contact them personally via email. Use resources like Pressfarm or Anewstip to start a media list of journalists and look up phone numbers and email addresses.
Don’t delay in writing your press release! It’s not the easiest thing to approach, especially if you consider yourself a novice writer, but our tips on how to write a press release for a business will help you create a finished product you can be proud of.
