How to write a great press release
This article was created when I was clearing up in my own mind what I would like about issuing a press release myself. So imagine this, you and I are sitting in a Starbucks having a cup of coffee, and the question arises, “What can you tell me about the press release?” You’re my best friend now, so I don’t hold anything back. Besides, you paid for the coffee.
The objectives:
1. Get any website seen by search engines like Google, Yahoo, search engine formerly known as MSN, now called Windows Live Search, to be included in their natural listing within a few days.
2. Get significantly higher search engine rankings in less than a few days!
3. Enjoy thousands of targeted visitors to your website.
4. Also, build potential media contacts for HUGE promotional opportunities.
Issuing a press release is a tool that allows you to use leverage, in your business and in whatever you are promoting. A great man once said: “If you are not using leverage, you are working too much and earning too little.”
Everyone uses press releases, from our presidential candidates to our favorite football team. Best of all, this incredibly easy and almost effortless strategy is very effective in gaining an edge over your competition because virtually no one else is doing it.
In this series of articles, we’ll go over how to create an effective press release to get the maximum effect from the online and offline website medium. Next time we talk, you’ll know that after you’ve enjoyed the success of your press release on the web, you’ll learn how to take your release, tweak it, and get more attention from TV, radio, or print media.
So are you ready? Ready to try this strategy on yourself? Then let’s get started.
Let’s start by focusing on printing your press release. Before we start writing a successful press release, you should be aware of a deadly mistake. It’s so lethal that it’s the number one reason press releases fail. I mention this so that when you start writing your press release, you don’t accidentally fall for it and do it anyway. Many do.
Don’t write a sales letter or what many people call a product pitch or focus on you. don’t do it. This is the first mistake that most people make and get rejected.
The first sniff of a sales pitch or too much focus on you or your company will get you nowhere. For example, if you want to promote a new travel website and the title is “New travel website writes about enjoying travel”. So you have already added a “tone” of your back motif. This is compared to a headline that reads, “VacationOften.com Owner Donates Vacation To Local School To Help Fundraising Efforts.” The focus is no longer on you, but on the school and helping them. Big difference! Because… The job of the media is not to advertise to people or companies, but to provide a valuable resource to their readers, listeners or viewers. The media, who review your press release, don’t care about your business, their concern is their readers. It’s Your Job So, with that being said, there is a rule of thumb when it comes to writing your press release. It’s a “help me – help me” mentality that you have to keep in mind.
As you write your press release, imagine what the media and your readers want to know instead of telling them what you want to tell them. Ask yourself: What kind of novelties does it offer? How does it affect the public?
For business owners, you should keep in mind that many of the readers of your press release will be targeted prospects and not just the media. What can you say that will snap someone out of their mind and give them no choice but to read your press release…And then…be tempted enough to take action and go to your website and buy your product?
Focus on what your company has to offer that is of interest to the media. To get attention from Google, Yahoo, the search engine formerly known as MSN now called Windows Live Search and the other search engines and get thousands of visitors ultimately earning more cash in your pocket then you need to focus In the goal. Remember that your company is not the focus of the press release.
When you can focus on letting people know what’s available, you can’t help but be of interest to potential buyers…and the result will be amazing benefits.