Steps to Ensure your Press Release is Powerful

A well written and formatted press release can be a powerful tool that promotes your business in a positive light.   However, it will only work for you if it is written the right way and if it contains content that is worthwhile news for the reader.   Additionally, SEO has to be part of that writing process.  When all of the components are present, the press release will be effective for promoting your business as you publish your story for the world.

 Topic

It is very important that you select your topic wisely.  It shouldn’t sound like a sales letter.  Instead, it needs to focus on sharing information.   Do you have a company event coming up to share?  Do you have a new social media page that you would like tell others about?  Perhaps you have a new video to share or you are excited to tell the details of a new product.  Any community service endeavor that you are a part of can be used too – it can really be anything you want.

Title and Headline

You only have a couple of seconds to enthrall the reader.   They will scan titles and headlines, only reading what makes them curious to find out more.  It is vital that you have a title and a headline that draws them in.

Hook For Your Press Release

Your press release needs a hook.  This is the part of the message that the reader takes away with them.  Deciding on your hook before you write is very important.  Make sure that the message is very clear and that it is in the introduction, body, and the conclusion.

Press Release Formatting Tips

A press release should always be written in third person.  While you do want to speak directly to your target audience, avoid the use of lingo and don’t be persuasive.  When it comes to a press release you need to speak with authority, and you also need to speak objectively.  It doesn’t need to be too long, up to 500 words is sufficient.

SEO is very important for a press release, but you need to focus on the content, so the writing can being easily read and understood by the audience.  The keywords should flow in there and not stick out like a sore thumb.  Don’t stuff them in over and over again, they should occur naturally and make sense when when reads.   Always make sure the grammar and spelling are checked several times as having a professionally appearing article is perceived as having a greater value.

Add Quotes

One of the ways you can add authority to a press release is by including quotes.  Try to include at least two of them.   Proper formatting is a must with quotes so make sure you follow the rules for them.  For example, it’s important to know that placing the punctuation at the end of a sentence inside of the quotation marks rather than outside of it is the rule to follow.  As a previous transcriptionist, this always sticks out like to me.

Generating Traffic

With a well written press release the audience will be captivated from start to finish.  That curiosity is going to result in them reading it from beginning to end.  It will also cause a buzz.  Many of the readers will take further action and see what your business is all about.  All of it adds up to a powerful punch behind your press release and a positive outcome for your business.  Take advantage of many outlets for distributing your press release.  This includes those that you pay for and those that are free.  In addition to online locations, consider your local newspapers.

Here’s an online source where you can submit a press release for free:  1888pressrelease.com  Hope to help. 

Take Care,

Carol