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Member You - Public Relations: Avoid These 5 Press Release Blunders
What would you do with 500, 1000 or more additional visitors each day? Imagine how your web business will grow with an extra 2000, 5000 or MORE leads each month . . .Okay, I'll stop teasing you. . . But what IF those extra leads and visitors cost you NOTHING? Let me tell you a story a friend of mine named Paul Galloway shared with me...The Brilliant WebmasterOnce upon a time, not too long ago in a nearby web land, there was a business owner looking for a way to increase visitors to h
I have created a very simple Press Release Template for you to download and use however you’d like. When left to my own devices, this is the one I use. You can automatically download it to your desktop at http://tinyurl.com/hf3ot.
Blunder #3: Not Having an Angle
An editor’s job is to find stories that will interest readers and enhance their lives, not to give away free publicity. So do their job for them by making sure that your story has a c
In this installment of medical billing and DME software, we're going to cover a brief overview of lookup tables, which is probably the heart and soul of the whole DME system. Without lookup tables, the whole operation of the system, including the medical billing itself, would be extremely difficult.A medical biller has a hard enough job as it is. When billing a medical claim, there is an enormous amount of information that has to be sent to the insurance carrier, including patient information, ite
That’s because people put their advertising filters away when they read articles. They don’t expect to be sold to, which in turn makes them more open and receptive to your message.
Whether your business is big or small, you clearly have a lot riding on every press release you write. Which is why clients often ask me to review their drafts (or write them from scratch) before they send them out.
Over the years, I’ve encountered several common blunders which can prevent press releases from performing effectively. With so much at stake, you cannot afford to overlook them. These are my top five:
Blunder #1: Not Minding the Medium
Before you send a press release to a publication, learn everything you can about it. Review previous editions, find out what kind of stories they run, and evaluate their space requirements. Jot down the names and contact information of the editors.
Also check to see if there is a special section devoted to content like yours. If you are launching a new product, perhaps they have an area devoted specifically to product announcements. Your news story might make a great addition to a News in Brief section.
The goal here is two-fold. You want to make sure that the publication will even be interested in the first place. And then you want to take the information you find and customize your release to make them so interested that they stop in their tracks and call to arrange an interview.
Blunder #2: Not Using the Proper Format
A good press release follows a very specific format. It is not the place to show off your design creativity or a good time to reinvent the wheel. If it can’t be easily identified by an editor, it will probably end up in the trash.
I have created a very simple Press Release Template for you to download and use however you’d like. When left to my own devices, this is the one I use. You can automatically download it to your desktop at http://tinyurl.com/hf3ot.
Blunder #3: Not Having an Angle
An editor’s job is to find stories that will interest readers and enhance their lives, not to give away free publicity. So do their job for them by making sure that your story has a co
There is a plethora of technology solutions needed to run a call center today. Call center technology can vary widely, based on the database platforms, vendor offerings and business requirements. But most call center technology packages will feature five core components.An automatic call distribution software package (ACD) helps to route your customer calls to the appropriate call center associates. This software effectively allocates your incoming calls based on your pre-defined parameters. Ch
Over the years, I’ve encountered several common blunders which can prevent press releases from performing effectively. With so much at stake, you cannot afford to overlook them. These are my top five:
Blunder #1: Not Minding the Medium
Before you send a press release to a publication, learn everything you can about it. Review previous editions, find out what kind of stories they run, and evaluate their space requirements. Jot down the names and contact information of the editors.
Also check to see if there is a special section devoted to content like yours. If you are launching a new product, perhaps they have an area devoted specifically to product announcements. Your news story might make a great addition to a News in Brief section.
The goal here is two-fold. You want to make sure that the publication will even be interested in the first place. And then you want to take the information you find and customize your release to make them so interested that they stop in their tracks and call to arrange an interview.
Blunder #2: Not Using the Proper Format
A good press release follows a very specific format. It is not the place to show off your design creativity or a good time to reinvent the wheel. If it can’t be easily identified by an editor, it will probably end up in the trash.
I have created a very simple Press Release Template for you to download and use however you’d like. When left to my own devices, this is the one I use. You can automatically download it to your desktop at http://tinyurl.com/hf3ot.
Blunder #3: Not Having an Angle
An editor’s job is to find stories that will interest readers and enhance their lives, not to give away free publicity. So do their job for them by making sure that your story has a c
The toy manufacturer faces many financial demands for equipment, large operating and storage space, staff expertise, supplies or raw materials, and industry compliance. The coffee shop, on the other hand, needs a relatively small space, enough equipment to brew coffee, pass government health and safety inspections, and as little as one part--time employee with minimal experience. With the relative ease of opening a coffee shop, there are few barriers for competitors to open coffee shops nearby, or perhaps
Also check to see if there is a special section devoted to content like yours. If you are launching a new product, perhaps they have an area devoted specifically to product announcements. Your news story might make a great addition to a News in Brief section.
The goal here is two-fold. You want to make sure that the publication will even be interested in the first place. And then you want to take the information you find and customize your release to make them so interested that they stop in their tracks and call to arrange an interview.
Blunder #2: Not Using the Proper Format
A good press release follows a very specific format. It is not the place to show off your design creativity or a good time to reinvent the wheel. If it can’t be easily identified by an editor, it will probably end up in the trash.
I have created a very simple Press Release Template for you to download and use however you’d like. When left to my own devices, this is the one I use. You can automatically download it to your desktop at http://tinyurl.com/hf3ot.
Blunder #3: Not Having an Angle
An editor’s job is to find stories that will interest readers and enhance their lives, not to give away free publicity. So do their job for them by making sure that your story has a c
An amazing thing happened today that exemplifies the power of the "global network".I received a call from UPS Japan. They have to deliver a parcel from America to my Italian associate that lives in Tokyo. The address on the waybill was incorrect and there was no telephone number on the waybill.UPS wanted to deliver this parcel so they did a search on google inputting my associate's name. What they came up with was my Intrmarket Solutions web site at http://www.intrmarketsolutions.com. They s
Blunder #2: Not Using the Proper Format
A good press release follows a very specific format. It is not the place to show off your design creativity or a good time to reinvent the wheel. If it can’t be easily identified by an editor, it will probably end up in the trash.
I have created a very simple Press Release Template for you to download and use however you’d like. When left to my own devices, this is the one I use. You can automatically download it to your desktop at http://tinyurl.com/hf3ot.
Blunder #3: Not Having an Angle
An editor’s job is to find stories that will interest readers and enhance their lives, not to give away free publicity. So do their job for them by making sure that your story has a c
You're young, keen and 21. You may have just left training college or university. You feel you could rule the world and you have the answers to all the unasked questions. On top of that, you have an interview coming up soon, a permanent job on the horizon offering good pay, good perks and pretty good prospects. All that money and security, what more could anyone want as a starter?It is 15, maybe 20 years later and, yes, you did get that wonderful job which you had to accept, along with everything el
I have created a very simple Press Release Template for you to download and use however you’d like. When left to my own devices, this is the one I use. You can automatically download it to your desktop at http://tinyurl.com/hf3ot.
Blunder #3: Not Having an Angle
An editor’s job is to find stories that will interest readers and enhance their lives, not to give away free publicity. So do their job for them by making sure that your story has a compelling angle, or a unique way of looking at your topic.
For example, I just wrote a press release for a client launching a new line of colorful metal earbud headphones. But instead of just announcing the product with techs and specs, we focused on how they offer a stylish alternative to the ubiquitous white earphones that are so popular today. This gives the editors much more to run with.
Blunder #4: Not Using Quotes
Attributing a quote to an executive or key player in your company will humanize your press release, making it more appealing to an editor. It also lets you indirectly praise your product without editorializing.
In other situations, a quote from an expert in a related field can support your story and supply it with more credibility. It also suggests to the editor that someone is available for further discussion should the need arise.
Blunder #5: Not Expressing Urgency
Don’t give editors the chance to set your story aside, because they probably will. They’re on constant deadline to find newsworthy stories with immediate relevance. Everything else can wait for a while in that giant stack on their desk.
So in addition to writing “For Immediate Release” at the top (as opposed to a specific future date), try to give them an angle that is timely and pertinent. For instance, tie your story to a current trend in the marketplace, or a major news event.
(c) 2006 R. Cory Fossum. All Rights Reserved.
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