Are you making customers, prospects, the news media and other visitors work too hard to get information they need from your Web site? They’re only going to give you a couple of minutes to make your case, so make it easy.

Here’s how: Put all the good stuff just a click or two away from the home page by creating an online “Newsroom.” You’ll make a good first — and lasting — impression.

Paste a “Newsroom” button onto your home page. Have it take visitors to a special page that includes contact information (nothing worse than having to search all over for a company’s address and phone number) and links to product and service brochures, bios, press releases, news clips, testimonials, speeches, event information, white papers, FAQs, newsletters and case studies. Also, make the documents downloadable as .pdf files where possible.

Too often, organizations — even large ones with plenty of resources — put off creating a central information page until “we finish redesigning the Web site.” No need to wait. Everything you need is probably already there. If, for example, product sheets and executive bios are featured somewhere on the site, just link to them from the press page. In no more than a couple of clicks, visitors should be able get to the information from the newsroom. That makes it easy and inviting. Your online newsroom may also function as a sales and marketing kit.

This is also a good place to link to video clips, blogs, podcasts, slide shows and other media that feature recent presentations, product demos and the like.

It’s very important to keep the online newsroom and its contents up to date. If the last news release you posted is dated back in 2006, for example, it gives the impression of stagnation.

Check out the Web sites of companies you like and see how they have organized their online newsrooms. Pick one example and use it as a model for yours.

Robert Deigh is principal of RDC Communication/PR and author of “How Come No One Knows About Us?” (W Business Books), the PR guide for organizations large and small that want to win big visibility. Deigh helps organizations increase their visibility and build their brands by creating strong and positive relationships with the press and other audiences. He is also a frequent speaker and trainer on media and PR topics. Feel free to visit his website.

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Tags: pr, press, public relations, web, blog

Doing press releases is one very effective way of bringing information to the people. It has gone through a lot of transformations throughout the history of media, from print to broadcast to what we eventually know it to be on the realm of the Internet. In this modern age, press writing has become a more efficient means of disseminating information as it will only take one click of a button for a press writer to reach millions of readers in no time at all. This is really good news for the world of press writing, because this way they now have more time to come up with news and send it to people. But before you type out that must-know-about piece of news, you need to know about the eight skill building ways to press release writing:

1. Carefully format your targeted press release. You need to make sure that the contact information can be found on the top pf the page, and the words “For Immediate Release” right under the contacts.

2. Dates are crucial. To ensure that your release is distributed right on schedule, date it properly.

3. Likewise, your headline is important because it will serve as an attention grabber. Mimic the work of newspaper editors – use the latest in current events and make it part of your announcement.

4. Include your essentials: who, what, when, where, why and how. This will put down all the necessary information that people will want to read in your press release.

5. Be professional without being too technical. Nobody likes a boring read, but everyone appreciates work that is well informed yet addressed in an understandable and easy to absorb manner.

6. Remember: K.I.S.S. Or rather, Keep It Simple, Silly! Stick to the basics and don’t strain your brain thinking of highfalutin words to add to your press release to make it seem impressive. It will do just the opposite.

7. Never underestimate the power of good words. Make simple sentences but enhance their value by using as many powerful words as you can.

8. End using a call to action. Your press release material will need to have a function and direction to a certain website where more pertinent related information can be found.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article writing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide’

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Writing

Do you want to learn how to build a big online subscriber list fast? Click here: Secrets of List Building

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 9034 articles in print and 14 published ebooks.

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Tags: marketing, release, press, relations, activities

Press releases are a fantastic way of reaching the media and getting their attention, they’re also an equally great way of getting the media to promote your service free of charge. You can easily generate free advertising by announcing to the readership about whatever it is that you have to offer and getting your message across to the public.

The press release has two major functions:

* To persuade a print reporter, broadcast journalist or radio host to cover whatever story you’re offering and to conduct their own interview.
* To stand alone as an article used by print or Internet publications to fill unused space.

Both functions are a terrific way to spread any information about the business you do and the services that you have to offer. However, learning how to write in a way that gets the needed attention you desire takes some skill. Furthermore convincing a writer to take the necessary time to cover whatever story that you have, means revealing enough information that would make them think about how much potential your story has. The story is not to provide the reporter with the entire story but rather show them the potential for a story in the making.

Telling a Story with a Press Release:

Sometimes it’s extremely hard to get an editor and reporter to cover whatever story it is that you have to offer. If they don’t cover the story themselves, they will offer you the room to submit your story to the public. This is especially the case with rather low-budget internet publications. Press releases that are written like articles read less like a press release and more like an article. This means submitting an article that is properly researched and interviewed in its complete form.

What this entails is that you should write like a journalist. Make sure that all the angles of the story are covered in a manner that isn’t biased. You should back up every claim in the article with facts that have been documented. It is an excellent way to showcase whatever business or service you’re offering in a very professional manner. This sets you up as the expert that people have to go to for any new information. Smaller print and internet publications usually welcome these sorts of press releases since it provides them with free copy.

There are a few things Every Press Release Should Contain:

* A short but lively title that grab’s the reader (and editor’s) attention.
* A compelling lead.
* A succinct overview of what you’re publicizing written in the formal pyramid style of most pertinent info first, followed by less important facts.
* An information line with a contact phone number or website a the end
* Succinct writing. Avoid rambling.
* Complete Accuracy. Check all facts.
* Facts, not fluff.

Any press releases that you write must have details and information that the media is usually after. Make sure you give them exactly what they need and you’ll find yourself being called over and over again for great press releases that will market your business to clients in the future.

One other marketing tool which may be used to market your business is an email sent in a blitz format in order to notify both your existing and potential customers of any changes in your industry, updates or special sale events is the announcement release. Such releases should be used sparingly in order to inform your noteworthy clients of any events or topics that are of a newsworthy nature.

Darren Williger is an over-caffeinated, low carbohydrate eating, winemaking enthusiast who writes for LeadersPages.com, EbookIncomes.com, and MarketingSuccess.biz.

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Tags: public relations, effects, press release, press

Press releases are very common these days. It is one of the most effective ways to internet marketing. Moreover, it is easy to deal with and the ways to great press releases is not far beyond one’s reach. Are you interested in putting up your own online business? Want to know the basics to targeted press release writing? Here are some key steps to get you started with it.

1. Take a good look at your title. Is the title catchy enough? Your title should be a head turner and aside from that, it should be concise, brief, and direct. It will be the summary of your content so make it a point to make the best title. You must also insert relevant keywords on your title to make it search engine optimized.

2. Focus on the content. Do not make lengthy sentences and uninteresting information should not be included. Do not beat around the bush. People are so busy these days so the shorter the better. However, do not let the key details go astray.

3. The first two paragraphs should contain the most important information so that you would not waste your reader’s time.

4. Use the right words. Do not make use of very fanciful words for this might create a doubt on your reader’s minds. Make sure that the content is elegant and reliable. You can insert reviews and a forums page to know what your visitors think of it.

5. Take the feedbacks positively. Do not hesitate to accept these comments no matter how awful it is. There is always room for improvement so the best thing to do is to have a marketing plan.

6. Avoid writing long essays. This will be very heavy on the eyes. Try using bulleted or numbered text. Some web sites are very annoying because the details are so long and the paragraphs are very lengthy.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article writing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide’

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 9034 articles in print and 14 published ebooks.

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Tags: public relations, effective, press, write, publicity

Press releases enable organizations to get their news out, to promote the work the people in the business or organization are doing, or to announce changes.

Writing press releases have characteristics that are unique to their purpose and audience.

1.) Successful releases have a “hook” to get the reader’s attention. Write a strong headline and opening sentence to propel the reader’s interest through the details of your release. See if your opening sentence, by itself, could tell the main idea. In the first paragraph, cover the who, what, when, where, how, and why of what you are announcing.

2.) Successful releases use expert quotes. Strong, succinct quotes drive the release and nail the main points your are making in the release.You can use direct quotes that you got in your personal interview in-person or on the phone. It is wise to get permission to use direct quotes. You can also use indirect quotes that you get from a written or spoken source hat were not directly made to you.

3.) Successful releases stick to the essential information.”Just the facts, ma’am,” as Joe Friday said. Present the facts in an interesting way, without “fluff”. Present your information so that it is relevant to what is going on in the community and to your intended audience.Make sure your information is accurate.

4.) Successful releases are written in a newsy style and use correct grammar. Keep the release to under 500 words, with relatively short sentences, three or four to a paragraph.

5) Successful releases provide contact information: points of contact, address, phone numbers, Fax numbers, emails, etc.

The media receive many press releases, so it is important to get your press releases noticed, seen as newsworthy and relevant,and, ultimately, communicated to your target audience.

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Tags: media relations, write, media, press, business

It’s a simple question with only three words: What Is Newsworthy? But it’s also an important question that can put your product, company or service on the road to free publicity. As a former journalist with more than ten years experience, my career was based on that question. Each time I began my search for a story, I asked myself: “What is the newsworthy element that will get people talking about this story? Is it newsworthy, why or why not? ” If I couldn’t answer those questions, the story didn’t deserve airtime. Now that I am a public relations consultant, I drive that point home to my clients. Because I know unless I make them newsworthy, they will not get publicity…which is the foundation to any successful business. Good publicity can increase sales, boost public exposure and ultimately the bottom line of any company. The best part about it? IT’S FREE!!!….unlike advertising. But it all starts with that one question. So what exactly makes a story newsworthy? I have a few suggestions:

1. Emotion: something that moves someone to action, something that has universal appeal.
2. A connection to a timely event: A local angle tied to a bigger, national story. The holidays are typically slow times for news stations but great times to generate free publicity for those empty newscasts!
3. A “Guess What?” factor: Something that allows you to demonstrate your expertise on a subject.
4. A fresh, new trend: What’s hot right now…what’s the latest craze? Capitalize off of that trend.
5. A conflict or controversy: Unfortunately, sometimes it’s the bad news that makes the headlines. But a conflict doesn’t always have to be negative…not if you can offer a solution or an answer.

This list can go on an on. Research this concept yourself. The next time you tune into your local news, ask yourself, why did that particular story get airtime? Chances are (if the station is a good one) there was something unique about it. Finding that same unique quality about your business will also make YOU newsworthy. You will be a reporter’s dream and a publicity machine!

Shani Blount of the WIN Public Relations Firm (http://www.winprfirm.com) has more than ten years experience of working in newspapers, radio and television stations all across the country. She began her career in Philadelphia after receiving her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Temple University’s School of Journalism, Public Relations and Advertising. After graduation, Blount worked as a general assignment news reporter for CBS and Fox television affiliates in Missouri, Georgia and North Carolina. Blount has covered a wide variety of topics, from the deployment of Fort Bragg’s 82nd Airborne post 9/11 to a plague of frogs that descended on a North Carolina farm. Blount is the President and Founder of WIN Public Relations Firm in the Washington, DC metro area. Her unique experience will put you on the inside track towards becoming NEWSWORTHY!

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Tags: pr, business, newsworthy, news, press

Let’s talk about newspapers first. The editors putting them together are always working on a deadline and spend most of their working lives scrambling to get everything together. They’re always looking for good stories and reward quality contributors with regular coverage. Bottom line; you need to introduce yourself to these people and get in the habit of sending them good material.

The first step is to make a list of media outlets. Start with your local media as they will be more amenable to your contributions. Obviously, the local newspapers are a good place to start but the other media providers can be included as well. The idea is to accumulate a list of a dozen or two dozen media outlets that you’d like to be featured in.

With your list in hand, visit the appropriate websites and get all the contact information you can. I recommend building an Excel spreadsheet with columns for company, content focus, mailing address, contact name, title, phone, fax and email. Fill in as much information as you can and then call each one to fill in the blanks.

The most important field is that of the contact person. You need to get the full first and last name of the person handling your contributions and it may require a phone call and some direct questions to find the right person. It may be the person handling local community events. It may also be someone handling a particular subject matter. Be sure to get the right person on the front end because an after-the-fact correction looks bad from the start.

When it comes time to send out your press releases, you want to address them to a specific person. In fact, it will be important to follow up all of these individual submissions with a personal phone call. Yes, you will probably end up in their voicemail but believe me; a personal message confirming receipt of your press release goes a long ways in establishing a relationship.

There are some situations where you can send out your press release on a wire service. These services cost money but they distribute your story to every corner of the media universe. Of course, there are different levels of the service but a general distribution will probably cost you about $200. You can also pay a bit more and have your news go out to a narrowed field of appropriate recipients.

The trick to wire services is to use them only when you have a really juicy story. It can be tied in with the major headlines of the day or it might just have a great title or clever angle. But if it’s a really good piece, you can often get a ton of exposure by using the wire services. The big ones are PRN Newswire and BusinessWire but there are others. Do your research and pick the one you like best.

Public relations can dramatically change your business but you have to know how to approach it. The people who run the media machine are just like you and me. They’re busy people who look forward to their weekends. Treat them like human beings and you could see huge rewards. There is a lot more information on my website and I hope you take advantage of the free resources available there.

Become a recognized expert. Optimize your website. Explode your business. Tactical Execution provides implementation strategies for immediate results. Claim your free website traffic hotsheet today!

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Tags: press release, pr, prepare, press, publicity

When it comes to promoting your film, you’ll want to have a press kit to give to media contacts and investors. Just what is a press kit? It’s a package, focused towards media, that gives background information about your company, your film(s), and other important information about you or your works you wish to share. It’s the ‘who’, ‘what’ and ‘why’ of your business and can be a first impression on the masses.

When creating a press kit, you’ll need three basic essentials. First, you’ll need a cover letter addressed to your intended recipient. It’s a short letter that explains why you’re sending the kit and why they should be interested in it. Always get the name of the recipient so you can personalize this letter. It will make a big difference.

Next, you’ll want to include a brochure or a fact sheet that gives a rundown of information about your company. It’s the core of your kit, and it should clearly describe your business, your film and its premise. Accomplishments, testimonials, ratings, reviews or other highlights should be included to build a good impression.

Finally, always include your contact information in some form. This can be as simple as a few business cards or elaborate with the inclusion of flyers, posters, or other graphic materials. Just make sure your contact information is clear and up-to-date on these items.

Now that you have your basic press kit, you may wish to enhance it depending on the situation. Some companies add press releases, especially when the destination of the kit is the news media. If your film has acquired distribution, or is having its premiere, these are all newsworthy “angles” to use for press releases. You can also add a corporate history if you are going after investors to help with the cost of the film. As well, remember that your people provide value. Include bios on key producers, crew and featured actors that will stand out and get attention. Finally, if you’ve already had press coverage in the past, include those clippings as well!

With everything ready, you need to make sure that you present your kit in a way that gives a great impression. Don’t staple everything together and call it a press kit! Spring for the nice two-pocket folders with business card inserts so that your materials will be packaged nicely. Coordinate colors in your materials with the colors of your folders for that extra cohesive touch.

With press kits, the old saying always applies. You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

Ryan Vinson is the founder of VersusMedia, a marketplace that links independent filmmakers with musicians with the common goal of obtaining music for films. The company has a strong following in the independent film industry, and has assisted over 900 films to date. For more information, visit this site.

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Tags: press, media, effective, kit, information

Here are some tips every entrepreneur and small business owner can use, to gain local media coverage, for their business. Make a habit of sending out detailed fact filled press releases that provide lots of relevant information about your business and its products to every media outlet in your region.

The fact that you are releasing a new product line is not merely enough to warrant space on their day planner, but if your release identifies one or more unique benefits or features of your product, then they may give you some face time.After all, reporters are always looking for friendly, enthusiastic people in their local area, with a story to tell. If your story is interesting, when people hear your story, they will want to know more about you and your business.

If you always share useful and important information, the local media may be willing to use your information and mention the name of your business, giving you free publicity.

Having a contact list of local media sources in your area is by far the most important starting point. This list should include the E-mail addresses of the editors of the major newspapers and other local media as well as small weeklies, entertainment papers and magazines that are published regularly.

Any time you take a trip to the grocers and retailers in your community look for these types of publications that are usually found in racks by the door. Build and keep this list updated because it will become a valuable tool for your present and future marketing campaigns.

To the media any release can be relevant if it tells the public an interesting story, in which, your business or product just happens to play a role. Maybe your product is in demand because of a new city ordinance or it’s the same product used by the astronauts that is being introduced for private use for the first time. You can find a hook or an angle that other businesses have not taken advantage of with any item.

Subway’s use of Jared and the facts that he was able to lose weight by eating their subs is a great example of finding a new angle for a product. If you can’t find a hook then develop one, this provides customers with an incentive to spend their money with you instead of your competitors.

Another good way to get the media’s attention is to by sponsoring a charitable event.

“Find some way to get connected with the community, but it must be something from your heart”, explained Michele Miller, partner at Wizard of Ads, an AZ, marketing firm, in a recent article.

It shouldn’t be hard to find a worthy organization, doing a thankless job, that you can donate all or part of the sales proceeds, for a day, week, or a specified amount to help them with their budget.

The charitable component of the story will bring in media attention and create consumer awareness about your product or service. One added bonus is, the great feeling you’ll get, knowing that you made a difference in someone’s life.

Always implement a targeted public relations program, that include on-line press release distribution and viral marketing, directed to your ideal customer. Take the time to acquaint yourself with using on-line tools that can assist to get your business noticed. Be sure that any on-line releases that use web-based PR tools have been optimized to be “search engine friendly” in addition tailor your message to resonate with your target audience. One added benefits is that on-line releases are indexed by the search engines, for six months.

People looking for related information will have access to releases in their natural search results too. This gives them a definite edge over the traditional method. Indexed releases may become fresh news or a hot topic of discussion on a slow news day, when they hang around that long.

Nothing takes the place of having a strong marketing plan that includes effective advertising, interacting with other elements in the marketing mix, to pave the way for your product or service.

E J Jolivet is a freelance writer working, living, and writing in Houston, TX.

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Tags: media relations, plan, press, coverage, budget

The first thing you should do when asked to do a radio or television interview is say, yes, then control the panic that may set in.

A lot of people unfamiliar with doing an on-air interview are daunted by the prospect and get very nervous. This fear can stop us moving ahead and saying no to the chance of promoting our businesses. You need to put this fear into its right perspective – what is the worst thing that is going to happen to you?

You might think you are going to die or pass out and faint once a microphone is put in front of you but it is highly unlikely. The knocking knees and shaky voice you might think will give you away but generally nerves are pretty normal and not noticed so much by other people even though you may be feeling it strongly.

Nerves can be used as a source of enthusiasm to show your commitment to the subject you are talking about. So let’s look at how we might eliminate unnecessary fears from an interview situation.

Prepare

You only have one chance to get it right with live radio or television. You know your subject better than anyone else so think about some possible questions they may ask and prepare your answers. Ask your partner or a friend to ask you a few questions and have a rehearsal – practice. Find out as much as you can about the program on which you’re being asked to appear – is it live or pre-recorded? What angle are they taking? What are they expecting from you – what are the question areas? Is the audience completely general, or is targeted at housewives or business people? Think about the points you could make which are most interesting, useful and relevant to the appropriate audience.

Stick to the Point

What’s really useful is to prepare three or four main points which you wish to convey. Write them down on a sticky note and refer to it. Most radio interviews are less than four minutes long so always keep to the point and avoid being drawn into side issues. Always try and take control and use every opportunity to get your message across. Don’t wait to be asked the appropriate question.

Give Yourself Time To Think About It

The phone rings, and out of the blue a journalist is on the line asking you some tricky questions about your company’s activities. How do you handle it? Your company’s reputation may depend on the answers you give. Don’t be afraid to call the journalist back rather than talking straight away off the top of your head – but find out when their deadline is and don’t leave it too late. Use the time to think through what you should be putting across, particularly in response to any controversial issues that are likely to be raised.

Have Something To Say

If there are controversial issues in your area of expertise, work out where you stand, and what you should say. It is better to respond rather than say “no comment”. Don’t be afraid to put your point of view across.

Make It Interesting and Relevant

Make your message more memorable by using real stories and examples. Use word pictures. Cut through the clutter with words that paint a picture in the mind of the listener. When you have facts and specifics to back yourself up, you will come over as more authoritative. Remember to stress the points that are likely to interest the listeners or viewers rather than just your own internal messages.

Make it Personable

Use the interviewer’s name to make it more personable when answering questions. If you’re doing an interview face-to-face use eye contact and try and interest the interviewer in what you’re talking about rather than thinking – do I sound OK – do I look alright on TV. If your eyes flicker around during a TV interview, you look uncomfortable, and possibly a bit shifty. If you keep your eye-line focused on the interviewer, you will come over as being in command of your subject. Focus on getting those main points across.

Be Buoyant & Enthusiastic

Be bright and buoyant in your answers – boring answers will probably be edited out and boring interviews will be dropped altogether. You need to be slightly more animated and larger than life. Pep up your delivery so that it is bright and enthusiastic, rather than dull and low-key. Remember broadcasting is a performance! If you do not hold the audience’s attention, there are plenty of rival channels people can switch over to.

Mind Your Language

Think about the way you talk in your work life – is your conversation peppered with abbreviations, technical terms and other jargon? For the outside world, this will just not do. Imagine instead that you are chatting to someone who is perfectly intelligent, but who simply doesn’t know anything about the subject. People often make the mistake of addressing their remarks to the interviewer (who may be well informed) rather than the audience.

Keep Your Comments Concise

Catchy short answers work best in the media especially for television news. They’re known as “grabs” and can be slotted in to a news story. If you watch the news, or listen to radio news, you’ll notice that the grabs or “sound bites” are about 5-7 seconds long. If you don’t give enough information the journalist will simply ask a follow-up question.

Be Available

Always make yourself available for radio interviews. Be available to go into the studio for better quality than over the phone. If you’re on talkback radio use a landline not a mobile phone and be aware of external noise. When you do radio interviews make sure the background is as quiet as possible.

Warm Up Your Voice

Always take time to warm up your voice so you sound more articulate, intelligent and authoritative. This will give you more confidence.

Call to Action

Most people will remember the opening and closing of a radio interview. Always have a strong closing with a call to action, something you want listeners to do i.e. attend the event or buy the product. And finally remember to smile – when you smile you feel and sound much friendlier – and enjoy it!

Sue Currie, the director of Shine Communications Consultancy and author of Apprentice to Business Ace – your inside-out guide to personal branding, is a business educator and speaker on personal branding through image and media. To learn more about how you can achieve recognition, enhance your image and shine, sign up for free monthly tips here.

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Tags: media, interview, media relations, educations, press

Businesses can often feel that getting press coverage is out of their reach unless they have big budgets – this is not the case. It does time and effort but it is really about knowing what journalists want and the best way to present what you have to offer. Here are some handy tips to help you on your way.

Understanding what journalists want – It is easy to get caught up in what the business is focused on and believe that a journalist will be interested too. A new product, service or website may be of value to the company and customers but journalists may not, necessarily, be bashing down your door to get an interview. Human interest is key – journalists want the people angle – the personal story, the impact the news has on people. There are many other ingredients but this is key. If your widget is ten times faster than the last one then specialist journalists may well be interested but what will really get attention is the impact it will have on people – will it make the queues at airline security move ten times faster?

Know the audience – Journalists are only interested in stories that are relevant to the publication’s audience. There must also be a ‘peg’ for the story – a reason for the story. Usually, it concerns something that has just happened. You can also ‘create’ a ‘peg’ for your story by linking it to, for example, anniversaries or forthcoming events. It is worth researching your target press to get a feel for the types of stories that will be of interest, as well as the profile of the readership -age, demographics etc.

Building your press list – You’ll probably be familiar with many of the publications that are relevant. There are also a number of sources to help you add to your listing. The Guardian Media Directory is a useful reference guide – it lists the contact details for 10,000 individuals and companies in the UK press and media – including digital television, magazines and regional newspapers. There are also many online listings. As part of your list building you should check out the most relevant person to contact/send information to at your target publications, as well as their deadlines.

Issuing press releases that have punch – a press release is a useful way to get your messages across. If you do write a press release then it must answer six questions: Who? What? Why? Where? When? How? You need to present it in a way that makes it as easy as possible for the journalist to use your story. There are some basic rules it is worth abiding by:

* Get your story into the first paragraph
* Avoid jargon and keeping to the facts
* Use statistics to back up your story where possible
* Avoid using hyped up language ‘it’s the best ever’, ‘this fantastic product’ – journalists want facts
* Include contact details at the bottom of the release and ensure that you are available for follow-up calls.

Supporting the press release – Give some thought to how you can support any press release or approach you make to a journalist. Offering an interview, case study, third party quote or photograph are all worth considering. Your research will give you a good idea of what will be appropriate.

If you can provide journalists with news that gives them exactly what they want then you stand a good chance of getting attention and securing interview opportunities. By researching your target press, and packaging your news and ideas to suit, you put yourself in the best position to get press interest and boost your profile.

Using PR to build your profile and protect your reputation can help you influence the audiences that are important to you – I invite you to access more free articles, tips and information on this, and other subjects related to public relations, by visiting this website

Debbie Leven – Profile Matters Ltd PR Consultants UK

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Tags: strategy, coverage, journalist, press, news

There is no doubt that the more you write press releases and speak to journalists the more ‘in tune’ you will become about what is needed to secure coverage. Unfortunately, some organisations, particularly small businesses, try to do their own PR but then become disillusioned when they don’t get results. The more you write and issue press releases the better you will become.

You don’t need to be an expert to achieve press and media coverage for your organisation, but you do need to be aware of the obvious mistakes and how to avoid them. Mistakes such as:

Having no news – the number one turn off for any journalist will be that their time has been wasted with a press release that has no news content. It’s important to ensure that your contact with any journalist is meaningful – that there is a reason for you contacting them and that they will get something out of it.

Missing the deadline – journalists will work to different deadlines depending on the type of media and frequency of broadcast/publication. You need to know the important deadlines and whether there are other opportunities should you miss the deadline that is up and coming.

Blatant promotion – even if you have a news story overly promoting your organisation could put a huge turn off for a journalist. Remember, they are interested in the story – the news value that the story has.

Too much information – it can be tempting to outline every single piece of information in the press release. This is a waste of time – journalists want the news upfront. The aim of the press release is to get the journalist interested in the story so that they contact you for more information.

Not being prepared – if you are not available to answer questions from journalists after the issue of the press release then you will miss out on opportunities. There is no excuse for not being available or not having much of the information you need to handle any enquiries.

Certainly, there are many other aspects you need to take into account but if you can address the points presented here then that will help to set you in the right direction.

Using PR to build your profile and protect your reputation can help you influence the audiences that are important to you – I invite you to access more free articles, tips and information on this, and other subjects related to public relations, by visiting this site

Debbie Leven – Profile Matters Ltd PR Consultants UK

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Tags: coverage, press, press release, pr, public relations

Entrepreneurs and business people can sometimes feel out of their depth when thinking about doing their own publicity. Everyone knows that one way of getting your news into the press and media is to write and issue a press release.

The press release is an important tool and can be highly cost effective. Once you have written, issued, and followed-up the press release then your time commitments are only in proportion to how successful the story is. Of course, there is no guarantee of coverage once you have spoken to a journalist but understanding how journalists think and work puts you in a pretty good position to make the most of those opportunities.

Writing an effective press release takes time and skill – you only really have the first paragraph to capture the attention of the journalist. The key, however, for any press release is that there is real news value in it. That does not mean that something has to have just happened to be news. There are many tools you can use to ‘create’ news that will interest the press and media.

If you are stuck for your news angle then think about what your customers and prospects would be interested in, what value and expertise you provide. What expertise do you bring, what is it that you know about your area of expertise that your customers don’t?

You may need to be creative to identify your news angle – challenging thinking and being controversial is a useful way to spark debate and discussion. You are an expert and you need to convince the press and media, as well as your key target audiences, of that.

Remember, neither journalists nor the readers, listeners or viewers are interested in stories that are just advertisements for your company. Using a press release just to promote your company will not help you to develop relationships with the press and media or build your reputation. News is called ‘news’ for a reason – you need to ensure that your press release lives up to that.

Using PR to build your profile and protect your reputation can help you influence the audiences that are important to you – I invite you to access more free articles, tips and information on this, and other subjects related to public relations, by visiting this site.

Debbie Leven – Profile Matters Ltd PR Consultants UK

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Tags: pr, publicity, news, coverage, press

Visualize having tons of orders and requests for your products, services, or cause. Imagine receiving calls for interviews for radio, television, podcasts, blogs, newspapers, and even magazines. And envision using free publicity to achieve all of this! Free publicity is the one way to get a call from the Queen herself, you know Queen “O” Oprah Winfrey! Which just a mention of products, books, causes, or services on the Oprah Winfrey Show can typically skyrocket a business into instant fame. Top television talk shows like the Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The View, etc are often very attracted to popular local storylines first. Learn the top ten ways how-to use press releases to get free publicity and you could line your business up to receive a phone call from “O” or The View, too.

I’ve always been a big proponent of press releases. They’re short, simple, and to the point. But lately I’ve been asking myself if they’re relevant in a world where journalists are bombarded with releases and there are thousands of releases online at any given point online.

I decided, yes, they are relevant. Here’s why.

1. Press releases boost SEO. Anything that helps move your business up that legendary search engine list is worth doing (short of paid placement). News is fleeting, but press releases will help move and stay up in rankings, especially if you put them out regularly.
2. Press releases make it seem like you’re important. There’s no real secret to writing and distributing press releases (look for my upcoming ebook on how to do it yourself), but people seem mystified by the process. So if your business has releases out, it seems like you’re moving and shaking. Even if you’re not.
3. You gain exposure in new places with press releases. While it does seem impossible that a journalist will find your release among the millions and write a story, it is possible. It’s even more likely that a website related to your industry will pull in feeds from major distributors like PRWeb and your release will end up there. New exposure=new clients.

With all that said, I always feel the need to include a disclaimer. I do not believe in writing press releases for no good reason. I have worked with companies that sent out releases of products that weren’t even new! They were just rehashed info sent out each week. Save this for an email promotion or direct mail. Your news release should be just that: news.

Here are some examples of newsworthy events:

* grand opening of business
* launch of new website
* secured new client or major contract
* won award or recognition
* upcoming presentation or speaking engagement
* donation to charity
* noteworthy promotion

To keep a string of releases going, send a release before the event, during, and after to maximize coverage. If you don’t have anything newsworthy to report, make something! Marketing is an ongoing effort, and if you’re doing enough of it,you should always have a press release topic available.

Susan Payton is Managing Partner of Egg Marketing & Public Relations. She assists small businesses with marketing strategy and corporate communications. She is also the author of 101 Entrepreneur Tips, a handy guide that helps entrepreneurs make repeat customers, close the sale, and delegate work. For more information on Susan and Egg Marketing, visit this Website. Get free shoestring marketing advice on Susan’s blog, visit here

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Tags: public relations, technology, press, world, press release

Getting your news out there in the public domain takes time and effort. You need to create or mould your news story but you also need to ensure that your news is targeted at the right press and media. For smaller organisations that may not have access to a PR department, consultant or agency then the task can seem daunting.

If you want to build a list yourself then where do you start? Thankfully there are many resources you can tap into and, with the rise of the internet, there are even more opportunities to build a list relatively cheaply to get your PR off to a flying start. Firstly, think about your audience – that is the key.

Focus on the people, organisations etc you want to target with your PR efforts – who do you want to get your news to? What publications do they read, where do they get their news and information, what programmes do they watch and listen to? If you don’t know, then simply ask your customers or prospects. There will also, of course, be publications and programmes that you may not be aware of.

The resources below should help you on your way to building your list – identifying the right publications and programmes and getting up-to-date contact details:

* The Newspaper Society has a searchable online database of Britain’s regional and local newspapers
* The Guardian Media Directory – a useful desk reference guide for contacts in, and related to, the press and media
* http://www.mediauk.com/ is a useful alphabetical search tool for newspapers, magazines, television and radio if you have a good idea of what you are looking for
* For links to sites of national and regional UK newspapers publishing online, plus news portals, magazines and TV / Radio news sites: http://www.wrx.zen.co.uk/alltnews.htm
* The Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook or the Writer’s Handbook are also useful reference tools. You can usually find one or other of these in the reference section of reasonably-sized book shop or in the library. They include press and media listings bit also a range of other information and articles
* You can buy Willings Press Guide for advertising and editorial contacts – use a search engine to find their listing online. Three guides are available: United Kingdom; Western Europe (excluding the United Kingdom); and World (excluding the United Kingdom and Western Europe).
* There are also a number of tools and services that are much more expensive but useful if you are taking your PR to the next level or have a big budget. Use a search engine and types in ‘media disk’ to look at some of the other tools available.

The work is not finished once you have got your list. More research is needed – you need to get a named contact and to check that they are in fact the person you should send your news or ideas to. In addition, it’s useful to check how they like to be contacted and what deadlines they work to. All this is useful information to help you in being targeted with your approaches – getting your news to the right people.

Using PR to build your profile and protect your reputation can help you influence the audiences that are important to you – I invite you to access more free articles, tips and information on this, and other subjects related to public relations, by visiting this site

Debbie Leven – Profile Matters Ltd PR Consultants UK

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Tags: pr, news, media, press, release

Have you ever wondered how some people seem to get into the press and media time and again? It’s particularly noticeable when there is a big news story that you follow through the day. You might listen to the radio in the morning, pick up a newspaper, catch up with the news online then watch television later on. On occasions you’ll see the same person being interviewed and providing comment each time.

* It gives you great exposure in the press and media – journalists notice who is being interviewed for a story
* If you get this opportunity, and do a good job, then the chances are that you will get asked back
* It positions you as an expert and that helps to build your reputation in the public domain
* It helps to build your reputation amongst your peers and in your industry
* It can encourage approaches from other interested parties – potential customers, those interested in collaborating in some way
* It makes you more desirable on the speaker circuit – you’re in demand
* By appearing in the press and media, and being the expert that journalists call on, you will open up many more opportunities.

Achieving this expert status is not something that is as out of reach as many people think. The trouble is that many people don’t know where to start. If you have hired a PR consultant or agency then they will be doing the hard work for you. But, you can also do it yourself. There is no doubt that it does take time but once you’ve made yourself an expert and are in the position that journalists call on your for comment then you just need to make yourself available. You don’t need to create news to get publicity – you’ll be getting it form other people’s stories.

There are a number of ways you can make yourself an expert. There are databases that journalists use to access experts for comment on stories. They also have their own contacts books – your task is to give them the ideas and stories they want so that they come back to you as a reliable source in the future.

Using PR to build your profile and protect your reputation can help you influence the audiences that are important to you – I invite you to access more free articles, tips and information on this, and other subjects related to public relations, by visiting this site

Debbie Leven – Profile Matters Ltd PR Consultants UK

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Tags: publicity, pr, journalists, press, coverage

1.) Your topic should be worthy enough to be considered news, or else it’ll only be regarded as spam and ignored without getting a second glance.

2.) Your headline should be strong enough to get people to take notice because a lot depends on it. It sets the tone of the whole press release.

3.) The opening paragraph should live up to the hype generated by your headline. This keeps the readers riveted right from the start, and hopefully to the end.

4.) Give only the facts. You can make the writing interesting, but remember, this isn’t a literary piece. Your press release must be engaging enough, but keep it strictly informative.

5.) Practice good grammar and spelling. Make sure that sentences are well-structured with all proper punctuations in place. Also, don’t overlook the spelling mistakes. Typos make you look sloppy, disorganized, uneducated, and unprofessional.

6.) Answer the what, when, where, why, and how questions. Give the necessary details so that readers can get a clear picture of the message you convey. Double check contact details so you can be sure they’re correct.

7.) Action verbs take precedence over adverbs and adjectives. In press releases, flowery words have no place. Just get to the point with words that convey the proper mood.

8.) Credit all your sources. Quotes, facts, and figures should be properly credited if you don’t want anyone questioning your press release’s authenticity.

9.) Finally, include a short paragraph about your company/website at the end of the press release. This gives readers the necessary background information on what you are representing.

To take a look at more articles just like this one, click here G Allan Roberts has been a marketing professional for 15 years and has helped clients achieve marketing success both online and offline.

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Tag: journalists, media, media relations, news, press

One of the best ways to get free publicity and build expertise is to garner media attention. Although it takes time and work to get noticed by reporters, the foundation of a good publicity campaign is the press release. If you want build a relationship with media professionals, many times a press release is your way in.

You can become famous. Maybe you don’t want be famous but at least you can learn to make your product or service well known. Of course that will in turn help the bottom line and you might become rich and famous! Is that what you want – your 15 minutes of fame? Your opportunity to shine in the spotlight.

So how do we get that opportunity? Why not tell everyone who you are, what you do and how you make a difference. The way of doing that is through public relations and it is simply communicating who you are and what you do, it’s having “relationships” with your “public”.

One way of letting people know who you are is through publicity. Getting that free editorial coverage in press, on radio and television is what we all want. It’s our way of letting people know about our product or service or how terrific we are. But most of us don’t like blowing our own trumpet. But without promotion something terrible happens – nothing!

If you are an independent business owner you have a lot of things to juggle, a lot of hats to wear, that of lawyer, accountant, manager, entrepreneur, technician and of course marketing expert and under that umbrella comes PR, promotion and publicity. So let’s get rights down to the basics – the publicist. That’s what you need to be. You need to write a media release, send it out to the media and ring them up. Talk to the media about who you are and what your product is.

You need to sing your own praises or at least that of your own business. Publicity is very effective. They say it is seven times more effective than advertising.

No point writing that fancy media release with the dynamic headline, strong opening and all the elements of who, what, when, where and why – that’s all very well but you also need to follow through. Find out the name of the person you want to send that media release to and phone them up. Find out whether they want to receive the media release by fax or email – build a relationship. Get that message out and then follow through.

The first step is to go and buy the magazines. Have a look in the front for the name of the editor. Their phone number is usually there – it’s that simple. Then write and send your media release or perhaps even an article. Pick up the phone and promote your story idea to the media.

If your story is interesting it may be published in the newspaper or magazine and then you will reap the rewards of people contacting you and wanting to know more about you. It’s not that hard really. You can do it. So I hope to see your name on the front page someday – on your way to fame and fortune.

Sue Currie, the director of Shine Communications Consultancy and author of Apprentice to Business Ace – your inside-out guide to personal branding, is a business educator and speaker on personal branding through image and media. To learn more about how you can achieve recognition, enhance your image and shine, sign up for free monthly tips here

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Tag: media relations, pr, positive, coverage, press’

One of the best ways to get your business, website, products and services noticed is by issuing a press release.

You’d think with all the communication going on these days that we’d be getting tired of reading more material – but it seems in this “information era” we can’t get enough knowledge whether it’s through online sites such as the one you are currently logged into or through books and magazines. So how can we tap into this valuable resource? Learn how you can build some buzz for your business through the Power of the Press.

Many people assume that to get publicity they need to know how to write press releases, organise press conferences or spend huge marketing budgets with PR consultants and agencies. Public Relations can be much simpler than that. If you have access to a telephone or email then you are half way there.

Have you got a story?

The first thing you need to think about when writing a press release is the ‘news’ value. Does your story merit a press release and have you got the right angle to appeal to journalists? If not then don’t waste your time or risk damaging your reputation with journalists. So, identify whether your ‘news’ has the key elements that a journalist will look for in a story i.e. human interest. Think about the audience you are aiming at and what will be of interest to them.

What should go into a press release?

The challenge is to answer the following questions about your news:

* Who? – Who are the key players? Who does your news affect/bring benefit to?
* What? – What is it that is new/different?
* Why? – Why is this important/news?
* Where? – Where is this happening? Is geography/location relevant?
* When? – What is the timing of this, does this add significance?
* How? – How did this come about?

Writing down the answers to these questions can be helpful – it’s then a matter of putting them together in short punchy sentences. You need to get the essence of your story in the first paragraph. Editors edit from the bottom of a press release up. So, it is essential to ensure that your ‘news’ is up front – it’s better to get your first paragraph printed than no paragraph at all.

How do I structure and present the release?

Once you have decided that you have a story to tell you need to draft your release abiding by very clear rules designed to make it as easy as possible for journalists to use your material:

* Highlight at the top of the release the issue date – an embargo should only be used if necessary
* Give your release a title
* Use double spacing with wide margins – to help the journalist in making notes
* Write as few paragraphs as possible to get your points across with a maximum of two pages
* Signal the end of the press release with the word ‘Ends’ – in bold
* After ‘Ends’ you should write ‘For further information, please contact:’ and list the contact details of someone who is available to give more information about the story
* You should include any additional background information in ‘Notes to editors’ underneath the contact information.

The test of success is whether the story can be understood in its entirety if only the first paragraph was reproduced in print. The second paragraph expands on information in the first, giving a bit more detail. Often, the third paragraph provides a quote. The fourth paragraph would then outline final information such as referencing to websites and ordering etc, other products in development etc, general information about the organisation.

What type of writing style should I use?

The release should be factual in tone, short and concise with sentences that are a maximum of 25 words in length. It’s useful to research and analyze any publications you are targeting. If you can match their style then you have a better chance of your press release being used, as long as it is newsworthy. For issuing to broadcast journalists the same rules apply in terms of writing and presentation.

This article gives you a good idea of some of the issues you need to think about when writing a press release, there are also others. You also need to give thought to who you issue the release to and how, when to follow-up with journalists, whether photographs are appropriate and how to handle follow-up calls from journalists and requests for interviews – each of these have particular rules that you should follow.

Using PR to build your profile and protect your reputation can help you influence the audiences that are important to you – I invite you to access more free articles, tips and information on this, and other subjects related to public relations, by visiting this Website

Debbie Leven – Profile Matters Ltd PR Consultants UK

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Tag: public relations, entry level, press release, press, news, newsworthy

I think it’s a real shame how so many business owners agonize over the proper format of a press release. What’s important about a document that is supposed to be both informative and persuasive is the content, not the layout.

Should it have some semblance of order? Absolutely. But that should not be the author’s first priority, particularly when the great majority of them end up in one of two places: The recycling bin or an editor’s deleted items folder.

It’s not that assigning editors don’t want news or that press releases aren’t effective. They can be very effective when done right. But most are formatted in such a way that’s counterintuitive to the sender’s end goal. I can’t tell you how many press releases I’ve come across that had more information about the company’s founder or sponsors, than the event or service they were trying to promote.

That leads me to my list. Here are five things I hate about press releases.

1. They are too long.

2. They bury the lead, or put the most crucial information in the middle of the document.

3. They provide too many details.

4. They don’t provide context or tell me why the event/subject is significant.

5. They can be too formal.

If you’re guilty of even “one” of the above, you could be your own worst enemy. So before you send out your next press release, keep those five items in mind, and ask yourself what changes you can make to avoid the dreaded recycle bin and deleted items folder, at all costs.

Angela Connor has 15 years of experience in print, broadcast and online media. She has has been the driving force behind local television news coverage in major markets, including Cleveland, Tampa, West Palm Beach and Miami/Fort Lauderdale. She is currently the Managing Editor for User-Generated Content at CBC New Media/WRAL.com. Angela enjoys providing business owners with information that will help them gain a better understanding of the needs of local media, and increase their chances of getting coverage.

You can visit her blog here

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Tag: PR, press, release, relation