Use Marc Harty's Seven Point Formula to Make Press Releases Work for You
If you're like most businesspeople, you probably want your news release to be used by the media. It can be an effective tool in building your reputation as an expert in your field, but it doesn't work unless people read it. That's where I come in: I'll show you how to write press release format that will catch the attention of editors at newspapers and television stations across North America—and then get them published!
Simply defined, a press release is an electronically delivered story that news media can use if they choose. It isn't a magic bullet, but it can be a plus in your public relations arsenal. The more newsworthy you are and the better your writing, the more likely your press releases will be used.
Simply defined, a press release is an electronically delivered story that news media can use if they choose. It isn't a magic bullet, but it can be a plus in your public relations arsenal. The more newsworthy you are and the better your writing skills (and punctuation), the more likely your press releases will be used.
Press Releases Are Written News Stories
press release example are written stories that contain factual information about an organization's background, what it does and why it's important for readers or listeners to know about its mission. They're also designed to encourage further coverage by media outlets—and sometimes even lead them to publish stories on the topic itself!
It shouldn't be hard to figure out what's "news" about your story. If it's not news you have the wrong story. The seven points of this article are designed to lead you to a "newsworthy" release.
You should be able to figure out what's "news" about your story. If it isn't news, then you have the wrong story. The seven points of this article are designed to lead you to a "newsworthy" release:
It should be specific and clear.
It should be well written.
It should have a good headline that grabs attention and conveys the main idea of the release in an evocative way (without being too long).
The second paragraph needs to set up what happened so far in order for readers who didn't read the first paragraph or skipped over it entirely can get caught up on what happened so far without having any confusion about how long ago things happened or how far away everything is from now (and why). *
Address the single most important point of your release...
The most important point of your press release should be addressed in the first sentence.
The lead must support this single most important point, which is why it's so important that you choose a lead that supports that main idea. The lead should:
Be newsworthy (if not already known)
Be clear and concise (no more than two or three sentences)
Be interesting or unique enough to capture attention from journalists who are searching for something new to cover
...in the first sentence of your release (the "lead"). Make sure there are also one or two other facts in the lead that support that most important point. Think of them as "lead support."
Make sure the lead is newsworthy. If you're writing a press release template about a new product, feature or event, make sure your lead is an interesting fact that will grab attention and get readers interested in what you're saying.
Use the lead sentence as you'd use an introduction in a story (or article). The first sentence of your article should be its hook; it should be something that makes people want to read more—and it should do so without being too long or complicated for them. It's also important not only for that reason but also because the rest of what follows needs some support from this initial statement if they don't want their attention wandering off during reading time!
Include at least one other fact in each paragraph/paragraphs after "lead" section until there's enough material here with which readers can get acquainted with before moving on into main body paragraphs/paragraphs."
In the second paragraph give some examples of why you're making this announcement. And, as in any story, keep going as long as needed to tell it completely and clearly.
In the second paragraph give some examples of why you're making this announcement. And, as in any story, keep going as long as needed to tell it completely and clearly.
Don't worry about being comprehensive; just make sure your facts back up your assertions. You can always add more details later if necessary (or even after publication).
Also remember that press releases are not designed to be read like novels—they're meant to be short and punchy with a clear focus on one central idea or point. So don't go on at length here! If there's something you want people reading about but aren't sure how much detail would be helpful for them, ask yourself what purpose each sentence serves: Is this sentence adding new information or repeating what was already known? Or maybe both? If so then keep those things together instead of separating them out into different paragraphs within the same release which could confuse readers who don't know where they fit into the overall structure."
Provide facts to back up every assertion you make in the release.
Provide facts to back up every assertion you make in the release.
You should always provide details about your company, product or service and research. You can do this by using a table or list format of facts that explains what you do and how it helps people. If you have a team involved in any aspect of your business, then include their names as well - but make sure they're not just carbon copies of each other!
Proofread! You want news people reading your words, not cringing because of mistakes. As professional writers know...
Proofread! You want news people reading your words, not cringing because of mistakes. As professional writers know, proofreading is an important step in ensuring a well-written piece and can make all the difference between success and failure for a press release sample
Spellcheck: Use spellcheck before sending an email or posting on social media. If you don't have access to this feature then do not send out any emails or posts until you have corrected them!
Grammar & Punctuation Checker: Use this tool if available; check for common grammar errors like misspelled words/phrases (e.g., "they" instead of "them") or mismatched commas (e.g., instead of opening with something like How are things going since last seen). Also make sure that all punctuation marks are used correctly; make sure there aren't any quotation marks missing from quotes within quotes (i) etc.), commas should always be used after prepositions such as "in", "at", etc., while periods should only be used after question marks - except when they're necessary within direct quotations which means that these rules don't apply here!
Conclusion
"The seven points of this article are designed to lead you to a "newsworthy" release. They are not hard and fast rules; they're guidelines that will help you write better releases. The more newsworthy your story is and the better your writing, the more likely your press releases will be used."
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