Press Release Writing

Press Release Writing Tips from an Experienced Press Release Writer
The traditional definition of a press release is "an official written statement handed out to the media so that it can be publicized."  However, with the evolvement of the internet and online news publications, press releases are neither "written" nor "handed out".  Instead, these announcements are typed and submitted to leading press release distribution sites, like PRweb.com or NewsWire.com. 

Historically, companies relied upon press releases to update the media on newsworthy events, products or promotions.  The media would then review the announcement and maybe write a story.  Now days, it works a little differently as companies are using press releases not only to make big news announcements, but also to acquire one-way links to their websites.  Companies also like press releases because once they are submitted to distribution sites, the release may appear on page one of search engine sites, like Google, and ultimately increase web traffic for a day or so.

As you can see, there are numerous reasons why companies find press releases beneficial.  While these announcements can be a great addition to any company's internet marketing plan, it is important that companies create releases that are informative, optimized for search and compelling - anything less and people are really wasting their time.

In order to help companies and individuals craft great press releases, the writers at Star Content have compiled a list of useful press release writing tips.

Useful Press Release Writing Tips:

Create Newsworthy Copy.
Make sure your press release conveys late breaking and interesting news.  Internet users and the media can quickly tell the difference between an advertisement and a story.

Answer the 5 W's. 
Your release should answer Who? What? Where? When? And Why?

Write an Eye Catching Title.
Your title should be interesting and make people want to read more.

Prepare a Description. 
Most press release distribution sites will require a brief description.  Make sure you can summarize what your press release is about in 150 characters or less.

Who are You Writing For? 
Know your target audience and then create a press release that really speaks to them.  For example, if your audience is comprised of stay at home moms, keep the tone conversational and light.

Be Aware of Your Word Choices. 
Stick to language that is simple and easy to understand.  You want people to be able to pick up on information quickly, which can be hard to do if the language is too complicated or technical.

Write News, Not Ads. 
While press release writing, it is OK to promote your service or product, but you should do so subtly.  Otherwise, your press release will no longer be considered news and may be ignored.

Follow the Buzz. 
It is always a good idea to link your press release to a buzz worthy issue or time period.  For example, if you are planning to announce a special promotion for a product in December, link your release to the holidays (ex: Christmas). 

Write Well. 
Practice appropriate grammar, capitalization and punctuation throughout your press release or else it will look unprofessional.

Stick to 500 Words. 
The typical press release is about 500 words.  It is always a good idea to stick within the parameters of this word count.

Do your SEO Research. 
Before writing your release, come up with some keywords that are relevant to your news story and that will perform well in the search engines.  For more information on choosing keyword phrases, we suggest you read our article on Google's Keyword Tool.

Include Company Information. 
Every press release should have an "About Us" section at the very bottom.  In the "About Us" section, you should include a brief description of your company and contact information (name, phone number, email , website url and fax).

Work With Press Release Writers
If you simply do not have the time to write your press release or would like fresh angle, why not work with a professional press release writer?  The experts at Star Content Writers have immense experience in press release writing and would welcome the opportunity to craft engaging press releases for your company.  Contact our press release writers to learn more!

This article was written by Amber Khan, founder of Star Content Writers.