Press releases should target either general interest or special interest media. Your targets should include print, broadcast, and internet media. General interest media includes your local newspaper, Time magazine, and some of your local radio and television stations.

Special Interest media includes trade publications and broadcast media that focuses on some niche area of interest. The important thing to remember as you pursue this avenue, is that your press release must be newsworthy, ie…, news, if it is going to be published and generate the traffic to your website that you are seeking. You should also recognize that what’s news to one organization isn’t necessarily news to another.

Your local newspaper, the Little Ville Beacon, may think your having a website on the internet is big news. After all, nobody at the paper has browsed the internet themselves yet and they don’t know anyone else who has a website. So by all means send a press release to the home town newspaper.

Time magazine, on the other hand may not be so impressed. They may not have actually browsed the web, but someone met somebody sometime at a cocktail party in Manhattan who did. So its not news. Yet if you have the right kind of site you might get into Time. How? Well, if it’s a special interest site it might correspond to a special interest section of the publication or be involved in a special event of the time.

For example, the periodical has a section that covers politics and your website is the be all of all times on politics. Or you might get lucky and send them your PR Release on your model railroading website just as they are putting together a special report on how model railroading is taking the nation by storm. Of course, you will not know that, but if you send enough PR releases out you just might get lucky.

You could get on the radio. Does one of your local stations have a talk show that covers computers? Perhaps there’s a local talk show that’s about crafts and hobbies. Your website on clothing and handbags might be an appropriate subject to talk about when you call into the show. Hey, you’re doing a public service here. Don’t be shy.

Special interest media would include Model Railroading Magazine, Net Guide, Computer World, and a variety of programs on public television and radio. The closer the fit of what your website covers and what this particular media covers the more likely you will get coverage.

If a particular media is a super fit for your site, like if there were a publication called clothing and handbags on the Web, you should probably make a special effort and maybe tailor your release to meet their specific needs. You might even call the editor for the department you are targeting to reinforce your message.

Writing the press release should not be too difficult. Keep it brief. About two pages double spaced is about right. Always include some direct quotations as if you were being interviewed.

For example, “Mr. Page stated that his Google Internet Search Engine is the greatest thing since sliced bread.” With some good direct quotes, the reporter can write the story as if he actually bothered to interview you.

Since reporters are very busy people, this extra touch will be very appreciated and your website is more likely to get some press coverage. A well written press release can be used verbatim by some trade publications. The trade publications that have no paid subscribers and a lot of advertisers often don’t have a lot of reporters hanging around looking for something to do. The editor just might pop your entire release, unedited (He’s busy too.), right into the Industry News Column.

Copyright 2006

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as the byline is included and the article is included in it’s entirety. I also ask that you activate any html links found in the article and in the byline.

Abe Cherian is the founder of Multiple Stream Media, a company that helps online businesses find new prospects and clients, who are anxious to grow their business fast, and without spending a fortune in marketing and automation. http://www.freehomebusinesstips.com

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Tag:pr, release, press, press release, media

News releases, also called press releases, are the most important selling tool of publicity. The release must capture the editor’s attention, be precise and easy to read.

A news release can go to just one newspaper or many publications at once. It can be a community notice about an organization’s library sale or an international insight into inflation. The same standard form is used for every type of news, whether an executive promotion in the trade magazines, or a local event such as an author signing books at a neighborhood bookstore.

If you want your notice to get into a special edition of a publication, be aware of the deadlines. Sunday news editions generally have more readers than the daily
editions. Find out when your release must be received at the editor’s desk. Never mix publicity with advertising. If your newspaper features specific businesses in special industry supplements, you may be chosen because you advertise.

But otherwise, editors frown on any releases that merely imitate advertising and are not newsworthy. Don’t embarrass yourself by sending anything that is not worthy of being printed in the publication as news. Not only will your release be thrown away, but you will destroy any chance you had for subsequent releases with that editor.

WRITING THE RELEASE

Keep the news release to one page. Type it clearly on white bond paper, double spaced, and never send it with typographical errors. Since the release might be published exactly as it is received, be sure the copy is professional and worthy of publication.

At the top left, put your name and address and the phone number you can be reached at during business hours. In full capital letters at the right, type, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE or for release on or after a certain date.

Use a headline appropriate to the event or topic, and keep it short – just like newspaper headings. Capitalize the letters and underline the headline.

Start the copy with a dateline, which is the city and date. Then write the rest within a few paragraphs. Include the important information in the standard who, what, when and where. Use good English, but don’t run on with unimportant adjectives or boring information. You can capitalize the first letters of important events such as Public Auction or the name of your new product.

If you have a release to send to many publications at the
same time, have it printed by photo offset so the copy is
clear and looks original.

Include a personal letter to the editor. Be cordial, but keep it short. If your product is convenient to mail, you may include a sample if the editor is amenable.

Watch the publications and clip the printed publicity yourself. Never ask the publication to send you a copy.

Copyright 2006

Abe Cherian is the founder of Multiple Stream Media, a company that helps online businesses find new prospects and clients, who are anxious to grow their business fast, and without spending a fortune in marketing and automation. Click here for tips

If you wish to find a suitable home business or learn how to start your own business from your home visit Free Home Business Tips: Click here for tips

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Tags: pr, work, news, release, news release

Local and/or small media are most likely to be interested in your story and it’s the perfect way to hone your release-writing skills. Try local newspapers, trade journals, industry-specific magazines, websites, radio shows, and television shows. Don’t send your release to just anyone, or you could be accused of spamming.

Always remember to get specific contact information for your press release. A release address to a particular person will receive a lot more attention than a general release sent to the media outlet.

You must send your press release to the right persons in order to increase the chance of having your story published. Look through the chosen newspapers and identify those reporters who cover events or activities that share the same theme as your products or services. You can identify the reporters by the article’s byline.

Familiarize yourself with the editor or reporter’s work. Find out the method she prefers to receive press releases. Don’t automatically send them by email…some will prefer mail or fax. Find out their deadlines.

If you are sending your release by email, never send an attachment. Copy and paste your release into the body of the email. Never send a bulk email and always address emails individually.

For your local media, check the publication or their website for information on how to submit a release. Do a search on popular search engines for websites in your industry that might just be interested in running your story.

Submit your site to a few online newswires and news websites. There are a number of sites that require payment. However, there are a few good free websites as well. A couple of these include PRWeb.com and Free-Press-Release.com.

If your budget permits, you may contact a good press release agency. Such agencies distribute your press release to various industry-specific websites and publications for a fee. However, care should be taken while selecting a PR agency. Some of these may just spam instead of targeting your press releases correctly.

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Tags: press, release, distribution, relation

Just like a financial planning client fears not having enough money for retirement, reporters fear getting their facts wrong in print.

Inaccuracy isn’t tolerated in newspapers or magazines. Look at the outcry after Mitch Albom, bestselling author of Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, mis-stated the location of an interview subject in an article. And this was in a sports column! Imagine the fallout if he’d made a crucial error on the business pages. It’s no wonder reporters are fearful.

This provides an opportunity for you to stay in contact with a reporter after your interview, and maybe even steer the story in the direction that will maximize your publicity and marketing results.

After the interview is over, send the reporter a note or email inviting them to fact-check with you before the article goes to print. You’ll get to correct any obvious errors in your comments or in the article, and perhaps even smooth out any infelicities in your quotes. With a little diplomacy, you may be able to exert some last-minute gentle influence on the story’s drift.

Think of this as a value-added service for your client, the reporter. It shows that you understand their job and will make them more likely to interview you again for their next story.

Ned Steele works with people in professional services who want to build their practice and accelerate their growth.

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Tag:pr, release, product, news, marketing

How do press releases or interest stories have an effect on meeting new potential clients?

Press releases can make the difference between being known and being just the same old service that everyone offers. You need to set yourself apart from all the others. The press needs to have stories about what is happening in your product or service area. They are not looking for the common place activities you provide; they are looking for what is unique about you. After all, the press has to write stories, why not all about you? You have to determine what they are looking for by reading their newspaper and by learning what the editor or producer is looking for.

You will need to write your press releases to their attention. The press release should always be short. They should contain the most important information first, such as who you are and your company name. The first paragraph should contain all the exciting things you want to announce. The remaining 2 paragraphs should give a little more detail but not too much. You want them to write about you and what you are doing. Some newspapers will want to have other information and you will need to provide a press kit for their reading. Just remember that when you send out a press kit, you should only do so if the publication requests it or when they state ahead of time that you need to submit one. A press kit should contain the press release, In any case, please remember, it is YOU who needs to make the news!

A press release is one way that you can make an announcement. There are many other places in the media where you can highlight company. For example, you can place announcements in many places besides newspapers. Announcements can be anything, not just a promotion.

Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people’s attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the “Networking Queen”. Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit this site.

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How to write a press release is a major challenge facing both experienced and aspiring PR professionals.

Press release writing is a learned skill. This article contains press release sample writing, including that all important first paragraph.

“If it bleeds it leads” is a famous saying amongst news editors on why certain stories are on page one or first up in a TV or radio news bulletin.

With so many big news stories breaking recently, such as the Pope’s death and the Navy helicopter crash in Indonesia, how can you make your media release stand out?

Well, the success of a news release being followed up by the media depends on the all important lead or first paragraph.

After the headline, this is the first message an editor or journalist will read and it is one of those critical moments of truth when you either win over or lose the media.

The first paragraph sets the structure for the whole of the media release.

Take this example of a very poorly written opening or lead paragraph that was actually sent out from the office of Northern Territory Opposition spokesman, Richard Lim on March 9, 2005.

Shadow Minister for Employment Education and Training Dr Richard Lim says that private registered training organisations which provided vocational education and training for Territorians are struggling to survive because over the last two years, the Northern Territory Government has a policy of using the Equipment Grants for government providers only, they being the Charles Darwin University and Batchelor of Indigenous Tertiary Institution.

(Source: D.D. McNicoll, The Diary, Media Section, The Australian, Thursday march 17th, 2005, pg 22.)

What is this person trying to say?

As a media and communications specialist working with clients, I find I spend at least half my writing time working on that all important first paragraph. It is were all the value is.

Here are my Ten Commandments for writing a great lead paragraph. A good lead paragraph must:

1. Summarise The Whole Story.

This is the sharp end of your message and the reader must understand what the whole story is about just by reading the first paragraph. The most important and critical information must come first.

2. Answer The Five W’s.

It must answer the who, what, when, where, and why of the story.

3. Grab Your Attention.

Like a good headline, the lead paragraph must grab and hold the attention of the reader.

4. Make Every Word Count.

Aim for brevity and word economy. Less is more. Edit out words to increase impact.

5. Make Sense.

Write for meaning.

6. Be Accurate.

Always stick to the facts and be truthful, no matter how bad the news. Avoid fluff and hype. Remember it has to be newsworthy.

7. Keep To One Sentence.

Simplicity is the key to great lead paragraphs.

8. Provide Context.

If you are introducing an organisation or person for the first time, put this in context by providing descriptive, detailed and meaningful words immediately prior to the company or individual name.

For example:

Thomas Murrell – poor, no one knows who he is!
International business speaker and co-author of Understanding Influence For Leaders At All Levels, Thomas Murrell – better and puts person in context.
Different descriptions can be used, depending on your objectives and the context of the release.

9. Be Precise.

Precision is vital. Out of all the information you could get across what is the most important? This must be communicated in a precise way.

10. Edit, Check and Proofread A Minimum of Three Times.

Nothing will shoot your credibility down like a typo or error in the lead paragraph. First impressions count no matter how good the story is. Professionalism is essential. Get someone else to check and read your release.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.

You can subscribe by visiting this site. You can read more of Tom’s articles by visit his blog here.

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Maybe you’ve seen another financial planner on TV, and thought, “Hey, I’m just as good as she. Why didn’t the press pick me?”

Well, chances are, as you now know, they picked her for at least two good reasons:

1. She is a proficient – though not necessarily top–financial planner, and
2. She did something, somewhere, to get on their radar screen.

Just as you’re going to learn how to do. If you’ll just keep learning about publicity.

Truth is, you can’t just walk into a TV station or magazine office and announce, “Here I am, expert available!” It’s a little more involved than that.

But it’s not so hard that a smart financial planner can’t figure it out. And implement your own little media plan. And use your publicity to build business. And do it without spending a ton of money on some fancy-pants PR firm.

All you have to do is understand how the game works. How media folks think. How they speak. What they need to put together a story… a story that informs their audience, and that features you.

Truth is, you can sort nearly everything you need to know into five convenient buckets. They are:

* Create your own story.
* Learn the media game.
* Connect with the media.
* Excel in the media.
* Get more out of your publicity.

Ned Steele works with people in professional services who want to build their practice and accelerate their growth. The president of Ned Steele’s MediaImpact, he is the author of 102 Publicity Tips To Grow a Business or Practice To learn more visit this site.

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Tags: marketing, consultant, press, release, service