Knowing how to write a press release for a website can add the exposure and self-promotion for the success of your business. There may be different reasons for writing the press release, for instance, if the business won an award, introduction of new products or services or a sponsored charity event. Your aim with the press release is to effectively connect with the media.

Having the skills of knowing how to write a press release for a website has advantages for your business. If the editors of the website that your writing was submitted to, approve of it, then it may be published. When it is published, it means plenty of free advertising and publicity for your business. Your search engine rankings will improve because of the added links to your website. Press releases also make your business more noticeable to potential customers, keeping it fresh in their minds.

A press release structured for online distribution should always have a main header stating the release instructions. For example: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

After the main header, the headline needs to be formulated. Avoid writing it in all CAPS, as this is not acceptable with many online news services. Leave a few lines open between the header and the headline. The headline should be carefully considered, as this will be the first thing that the potential customer will read. It should catch the attention of the reader and provide a little information. Not too much information that will give away what the press release’s details feature, just enough to entice the customer to read further.

A dateline must be added to the press release. It is usually written along with the city and state/country. It can be placed between the header and headline or directly before the main body of the writing begins.

For the body of the press release, start with an interesting statement, or a shocking fact to further captivate your reader. The first paragraph can be relatively short, and generally answers the questions of who, what, when, where and why. Who is the news about, when or where did it happen, what is the new product etc. The first paragraph is determined as the ‘lead’ because, from here, the person will decide to read on or not. The second paragraph will provide more details and subsequent paragraphs will continue to discuss the company’s news. Shorter paragraphs are generally better read.

Include a boilerplate, that will remain the same on every press release, stating briefly who you are and what you do. Provide contact information with each detail on a separate line.

Knowing how to write a press release for a website is one thing, the other is knowing how to effectively optimize it for search engines. It should be written in a ‘language’ that is easily understood by humans, as well as the ‘machines’ or software that categorize the release. For the ‘machines’, specific keywords should be carefully selected and placed throughout the press release. Make sure your keywords are in all the headings and in the body with a density of around 5%. Your keywords can also contain text links.

Once the press release is completed, it must be promoted. They can be sent by e-mail to website editors or submitted online to press release services, such as BusinessWire or PRWeb. You can also place it on your website. Links leading to the press release should be placed on pages that are already indexed as this will enable the search engines to find it.

Knowing how to write a press release for a website is really quite easy and your business may soar with the extra publicity!

Rod C. Beckwith, co-creator of the Press Equalizer software, has made hundreds of media contacts and distributed thousands of press releases online. If you need high quality press release software then check out his software package.

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Tags: PR, press, release, website

If you want to drive targeted traffic to your website you can create a press release that can send massive traffic. Before your Press Release (PR) can be circulated to your target market, it needs to pass the approval of editors, which means that your press release should be structured so it appears to be newsworthy, rather than a blatant advertisement. he key then is to find a way to promote your product or service and its benefits rather than blatantly sell as you would in a sales letter on your website.

Traditionally, a well-structured PR should not consist of more than a single page as the aim is focus the readers attention in a short read rather than a long description. It will be a good idea to go online and find examples that you can copy to ensure the very best result. Ensure that you address the fundamental aspect of what people are looking for (how it benefits them) will outperform any other kind, so keep it trimmed, comprehensive and highly targeted so that it communicates directly with your customer base.

Here is the basic anatomy of a successful press release:

The introductory part typically includes the words: “For immediate release” and should include a specific date as to when publication is expected. You could use the “For Release Before…” date or “For Release After…” date. Most people use the “For immediate release” option. Headline:

This will be the most important part, so plan to spend a great deal of time on it. You want to grab the reader instantly with it, so they’ll be interested in reading the rest of the release. Try to focus on incorporating power, action driven words within your headline, such as:

· Announcing!

· Secret

· Free

· Discover

· Strategies

· Success

· Shocking

By using emotionally driven words you will engage the reader much more encouraging them to read your press release and check out your website. Emotional words are words that sell so remember that people buy with their emotions first so engaging their wants rather than their needs is an effective strategy in writing a press release as well as delivering the facts of the product or service. Summary: The summary simply offers a snippet of what your PR is all about. It’s like taking your entire press release and describing it in four sentences or less. It should work in a similar way that your title does, in terms of catching their attention and luring them in, so keep it direct and strong. One way to ensure the strength is to read it out aloud and see if you have written to the point summerising succinctly.

Content/Body: The body content of your serves as the information lifeline that provides all of the information needed for your reader to clearly understand your message. Make sure that you cover all the relevant points that need to be covered in the article. The thing to remember is that your press release should be designed in a similar format as a journalistic style news story, so that the most important element is featured first. The reason for this is that you’ve pulled in your readers with the headline, and now you need to keep them there, so they’ll read through the rest of it or read the most important facts before moving on. Imagine that each paragraph leads them onto the next so that you take them on a focused journey into your product or service. The last couple of paragraphs within the body should tie everything together. It reminds your readers about the point of the press release itself, bringing your message to a logical conclusion. At the end of your press release, you want to signify that’s there no more. It would look like this:
###

Resources:

Creation Services: pressequalizer.com pressedge.com/

Writers: custompressrelease.com prnine.com Press-Release-Writing.com contentdone.com contentcustoms.com Distribution Channels: PRWeb.com

URLWire.com PRNewsWire.com Free-Press-Release.com

David Marshall is an Internet Marketer who has been online creating businesses since 2001. David owns and manages 117 different businesses in a number of niches specialising in the internet marketing and Forex niche markets.

David also teaches others to create a business online specialising in providing practical and up to date techniques that ensure the success of his students.

Please visit his latest site that will help anyone create guaranteed website traffic using the latest techniques check this Site.

Get your free internet marketing CD from this Site.

David is based in Hertfordshire, England where he lives with his partner and 5 children

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Tags: press, release, traffic, power, website

If you were to ask a lot of experience business professionals what is the fastest way to get into business, assuming you had a product or service to offer, they will invariably said jump on the web.

Unfortunately it is not that simple. You can’t just put your website up, sit back and watch the orders roll in. You have to actually let people know that you exist, what you have to sell, what you have to offer and of course how to find you.

A website will give you an inexpensive store front that is true, but people need to find your store front. You could dump thousands upon thousands on advertising which may or may not return the result you were looking for, or you could implement the technique I am about to share with you.

Chances are since you are starting your web based business you have very little money to spend on advertising; therefore you need to find creative ways to get the word out about your online business.

Start with your local newspaper and a press release. A press release is a newsworthy article that you have written about your business, what it offers and so on. The keyword there is newsworthy. If your press release sounds like a sales pitch, the editor will pitch it into their trash bin. Pick up today’s paper and read a few articles on businesses in there. Do you see how they made them sound like news? You need to do the same. Just do not forget to work in your web address into the article somewhere so readers know how to get a hold of you.

Once you have a press release perfected, start sending it out to non local newspapers and of course magazines. Remember you are on the World Wide Web, therefore your press release push has to world wide, or at least close to world wide as possible. Each press release should be tailored for the editor that you are sending it to. In other words know who you are sending it to before you send it and add into your release information that would make the editor say, “Hey this is valuable to my readers.”

Also send your release to the correct person. If you sell auto parts find if the publication has an editor that is specific to the auto industry. Every paper lists cars for sale and usually articles on the industry accompany those ads. That is the person your press release needs to get into the hands of.

So far you know what you are supposed to write and who it is to be addressed; now you need to know how that specific editor likes to receive their press releases. There are a variety of ways to send your press release in but only one way the editor likes to receive it. Some like to receive email while others like to get a fax and yet others who still prefer snail mail. Your best bet is to call the editor directly and ask in case you can not find the information on their website.

Now all you have to do is send it in and your virtually cost free advertising on a shoe string budget has begun. Your cost would be maybe some stamps, envelopes, paper, fax charges? This is a small price to pay to getting word out there about your business.

Now get started! The economy desperately needs your business to succeed!

About the Author:
Mr. Tucker is a regular contributor on Pie Junction

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Tags: pr, online, website, blog, traffic

As you learn how to write a press release for a website, there are a number of things you will need to keep in mind. To begin, it is important to realize that people reading your press release will come from all different walks of life. Some may even be reading your press release with the assistance of a language translator. Therefore, as you learn how to write a press release for a website, it is necessary to use words and phrases that are easily understood.

Aside from word usage, it is necessary to make sure that your document is easy to read. If it is necessary to go on oxygen in order to reach the end of the sentence, it is too long. During the process of learning how to create a press release for a website, you may want to use voice recognition software. This will help you listen to your sentences, as well as create a more natural sounding punctuation structure.

Some people feel that they can take liberties with the truth when they are writing on the internet. If you are a marketing specialist, you should realize that accuracy is crucial to successfully learning how to write a press release for a website. Among other things, consider that any inaccuracies in your writing will be carried all over the world. And, as Hillary Clinton has been finding out, people do not appreciate exaggerations when they are trying to make an important decision.

Even though you may specifically want to learn how to write a press release for a website, it is very important not to deviate from the rules of good journalism. In particular, it is important not to create a press release that reads like a sales pitch, or just as bad, a hard luck story. Your writing should convey a sense that something important is happening at your company, and you want everyone to know about it. Your sales pitch belongs on the website, where people can browse and learn more about your products.

Considering the wide array of press release writing and distribution tools, you may be wondering why it is necessary to know how to write a press release for a website. As an example, if currently employed, and not working in sales or marketing, there may be little use for it in your main occupation. In a similar way, if taking part in volunteer organizations during your leisure time, you may still not see much use for press releases.

That said, in today’s brutal economy, no employee is safe from being fired or laid off. In addition, with all of the businesses closing down, finding a new job is also becoming increasingly difficult. Therefore, everyone must be thinking about starting your own business and taking advantage of web based marketing. Without a question, press releases are the best and fastest way to draw potential customers to your website. Unfortunately, having them prepared and distributed can be very expensive. If you know how to write a press release for a website, then it is possible to make, and distribute as many as is necessary to drive, and keep your website at the top of the search engines.

Rod C. Beckwith, co-creator of the Press Equalizer software, has made hundreds of media contacts and distributed thousands of press releases online. If you need to submit press releases online, then check out his software package.

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Tags: pr, website, websites, marketing, agencies

One of your most important goals as a search engine optimizer is to get a lot of backlinks.

Press releases are just another very effective method to get one way links. If you sell an affiliate product you still can write press releases. You just have to think a bit more to come up with a story. That is the reason behind a press release. An article teaches, a press releases shares a story.

You can hire a ghostwriter to write your press releases, which you may want to write one every week or every month. Depends on your situation.

There are also specialized writers or services that only writer press releases. A ghostwriter may be cheaper but he or she may not be highly specialized in writing press releases. A specialized writer provides your press release with more benefits. The better written the more backlinks you can expect to get.

Once your press release is written by you if you learn how to do it, by a ghostwriter or a specialized writer you need to submit it.

There are software and even services to help you distribute your press release. Basically these submit it to press release directories. These are similar to article directories. There are also forums that accepts press releases. These forums unlike others do not have discussions but simple several sub forums with different categories and press releases.

The services submit also to places like newspapers, journalists and media. You get a lot more exposure. Not all services are equal. Some submit to a thousand directories while others do something different. So you need to make a bit of research to find the best deal.

Then stick with it and keep submitting your press releases week after week or month after month. You can even write a press release every day but that requires either a big budget to pay to writers or else a very creative mind.

Remember your press release needs to be written properly otherwise it will not be accepted.

The better written it is, the more backlinks and traffic you get.

So press releases should be used more or less like articles to get a lot of powerful one way links. These are obviously more powerful than links from directories. Backlinks from content
websites are better than those from sites with no content, but just a bunch of links.

So as a search engine optimizer aim to start implementing this strategy to get backlinks and to outrank your competitors. When you need backlinks, now you know what you can do.

Remember also you cannot spin your press release just like some webmasters do with articles. You need to submit the exact press release to all directories or the story looses value, you may ruin everything by spinning.

Spinning is when you pick up an article or come content and re write it in some way or another.

Press releases also provide you with a lot of traffic if it is written very well. It will spread like a virus on the Internet but it depends again how well written it is.

You can also put the press releases on your website. Create a new page, and put all of them on that page. This is content for your site or blog.

Search engine optimization is going to be a ton more fun using brand new seo software, OutRankSmart.

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Tags: pr, website, websites, marketing, agencies

Just about every guest on the very popular business program “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” on CNBC, 10pm ET, cites ONE thing that propelled his or her business. What was it?

The answer is: Publicity, PR! It’s the one common theme that runs through the entire program.

As a publicist I’ve known this for years. I’ve seen media exposure launch everything from new medical procedures to special events and inventions. Why does it work? It works because PR is the bridge that connects large audiences with a single person with The Big Idea. How do you get it? You can do it yourself up to a point or allocate some money for a publicist.

That’s because having The Big Idea is not enough to produce success. The Big Idea must be shared with consumers, buyers, producers, manufacturers, readers, patients, literary critics – whomever is the desired audience. And that’s clear whenever you listen to guests on “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch.”

Hooters Restaurants did not draw diners until the founding partners, a bunch of drinking buddies, convinced a bikini contest winner to pose for a Hooters billboard. At the same time, the partners got media coverage about a sports celebrity who ate regularly at the restaurant. Overnight, the lines for seating began to form at the original Hooters which is now a billion-dollar corporation with restaurants around the world.

Danny Deutsch himself illustrates how PR can transform The Big Idea into the American Dream come true – doing what you love and making millions! Deutsch, also an expert in publicity, transformed his small advertising business into one of America’s top 10 agencies and now heads a $2.8 billion full-service agency serving such clients as Johnson & Johnson, GM, IKEA, and DirecTV. Deutsch continues to use PR to grow his agency by writing books and establishing himself as an expert with his CNBC TV show.

Another guest on “The Big Idea” that warrants mention is Raphael Yakoby who seven years ago was a college dropout without business experience. The only thing he had was The Big Idea and the skills to tell his story. He created the first blue liqueur and ignoring advice that no-one would buy a blue beverage, sold his apartment, moved in with his parents, and grew the business – which he sold in 2003 for $50 million. He used the proceeds to start Muvo for Her, the world’s first sparkling vodka pink liqueur.

The common thread with these Big Idea guests is they were unknown individuals sitting in the backyard sipping iced tea (or a blue slush) when the Big Idea came to them. After mulling the idea over, reducing it to paper, talking with friends and family, each person had to come to the point where they would chase the dream or abandon it. Once the decision was made to pursue their dream and implement The Big Idea, everyone faced the challenge of convincing thousands and millions of complete strangers to trust them enough to buy into this particular Big Idea.

You can eat at any one of thousands of restaurants. Why Hooters? You can drink pink lemonade, why a blue liqueur? Mega corporations have hundreds of excellent PR, marketing and advertising firms to select from. Why Deutsch Inc.? None of the guests on “The Big Idea with Danny Deutsch” spent thousands of dollars on media advertising to entice buyers, diners or investors to choose their product or service over many others. Instead, they relied on publicity as a tool to reach select audiences that represented the niche market that would be interested in their particular Big Idea. Not all were natural publicists, by any means. Most struggled through trial and error, enduring many failures and disappointments before discovering that PR was the key necessary strategic tool. Thus, some took longer than necessary to achieve their dreams because they lacked PR skills and had to acquire them through experimentation, which is difficult and time-consuming. And so everyone with a Big Idea faces a choice – be a self-publicist and delay success or hire a PR firm to achieve your dream much more quickly.

As founder and president of Westwind Communications, I have helped many clients with Big Ideas achieve the American Dream. One inventor had a handy tool-organizing product for the garage or to store mops, brooms and dusters in closets. We organized a publicity campaign that included a New York Times feature article which ultimately resulted in the product being placed in several large retail outlets.

Before laser eye surgery became popular in the U.S. I conducted a publicity campaign for a laser surgeon in Canada to convince the American public that laser surgery was safe, painless and highly successful. People naturally are very fearful of eye injuries or complications and had to be convinced that the laser procedure really was safe. Now laser surgery is a billion-dollar industry and safety is taken for granted by most – because of PR. The highlight of that campaign was one of the first laser eye surgeries ever performed LIVE on FOX-TV.

Another client with a Big Idea was a lady who wanted to rescue thoroughbred horses that, after being retired from racing, were being slaughtered and sold for meat to be eaten in European and Asian restaurants. Her Big Idea was great but her financial means were limited. So publicity was used to gain television and radio interviews to get others to make financial contributions to keep The Big Idea alive. We used hot news pegs, such as the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, and the Michael Vicks case to keep re-telling her story in the mass media. The effort landed dozens of interviews culminating with a feature on ESPN. The bottom line: While the US House of Representatives passed the bill and smaller measures, no federal ban exists. Horse Slaughter is legal in the United States but the public is now aware of this practice due in great part to our efforts and those of others demanding a ban.

A blind author who was upset by the violence in children’s nursery rhymes contacted us. She wanted to recite wholesome poems to grandson Jack and so wrote him a book of non-violent nursery rhymes. Her Big Idea was to have an impact on children’s literature so that grandmothers across the nation could have better choices in bedtime reading for their grandkids. We launched a PR campaign that resulted in this blind poet with a Big Idea being interviewed by numerous media outlets including WCBS-TV in New York.

Several times during my career in PR and marketing, I have met fascinating people with Big Ideas. I have taken great personal satisfaction in using my public relations and marketing skills to help these inspiring American Dreamers achieve their dreams. And so when I listen to guests on “The Big Idea with Danny Deutsch” I know from personal experience that the biggest idea of all is that the key to success is a successful publicity campaign aimed at just the right market.

If you want to find out how a professional publicist can make your Big Idea come to fruition , visit this site

Tags: formula, pr, new, website, official

Luck is the result of being ready for an opportunity when the opportunity presents itself. Often luck appears when we are not ready, thus giving truth to the statement Opportunity knocks once. If you are not ready to answer that knock, you are passed by and opportunity arrives at someone else’s door.

One of my secrets for success for my clients is my media book. Most entrepreneurs have a strong creative spirit and feel that they have many areas of expertise and lack focus. This is actually not true. Focus is critical, don’t get me wrong and what you need is the right focus at the right time.

For example, I have a number clients that have 2 different worlds in which they excel. Lynnette Thredgold is a master violinist. She is also a former wrestler, aka, The Phantom and a former world class bodybuilder. She is passionate about both worlds although it is not a natural fit for both of them to exist together when looking for music gigs or personal appearances. How do we solve this separation of church and state? By creating two separate and distinct biographies in my media book with appropriate pictures.

When I get a lead for a body sculpting article, I use the Phantom’s bio and pictures. If pursuing an article with a music emphasis, I am ready to go. So what is my media book? A word document containing pictures and bios for each area of my clients’ expertise. I can copy and paste into outlook and the reporter or journalist can see my client and their background without going anywhere else.

Journalists are very busy people and often get a bad rap for being difficult to reach. It is your job to make sure they have the information they need to make a quick decision. By standing in their shoes, you might want to look at your bio and see if it passes a journalists test:

1. Does this person have the answers to my questions?

2. Does this person have the expertise I need for my story?

3. Do they have the credential and experience to keep me from looking like a fool?

My media book contains a bio that highlights my clients’ expertise specific to each field of interest, some recognizable media experience and credentials. I then add a sentence or two that states how they have the answers that match the story being written. When a media lead hits my email, I can copy and paste a response, picture and endorsement of my clients’ credentials in the first few minutes that the lead goes out. That insures that my pitch will be one of the first one received and since journalists are usually working under a deadline, timing is everything.

It is easy to create your own ready bio. Create your document in word, insert your picture into a very brief bio. State your name, what you’ve done (think credentials here) not a laundry list of tasks, and a brief statement of what you do today that shows you know your field. Continue to create a separate bio for each area of expertise that you have.

Here’s my brief bio that I adapt for media requests:

Maureen O’Crean, MBA, is an international business strategist and CEO of Maureen O’Crean Consulting. An award winning Internet consultant, her work has been featured on Good Morning America, Entrepreneur Magazine, Cosmopolitan, Grace Magazine, radio and newspapers. This Harvard grad is co-author of I Am Diva, Every Woman’s Guide to Outrageous Living (Warner Books), and publisher of www.distinctivelydiva.com, an international online community of over 18,000 women. Maureen works with individuals to have their dreams come true, focusing on results with her signature media program,My Media Match. Her clients include the famous-#1 New York Times Best Selling Author of Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach (12 time Oprah guest), Colgate-Palmolive. Her media clients reach millions of readers through placements in Entrepreneur Magazine, Star 98.7, The London Observer, Hooters Magazine, EDGE publications, radio, newspapers, trade journals and more.

As you can see, in 133 words, I am able to state my case for success. For women’s issues and magazines, I include my book and online community. For general business articles, I add a statement on my clients’ successes and measurable results. Try it, you can do it too. When opportunity knocks, and it will if you keep pursuing your passions, you’ll answer the door with a smile.

Maureen O’Crean is a Harvard grad and an International Business strategist who supports others to have their dreams come true. An unconventional MBA, she works with authors, speakers, licensed professionals and entrepreneurs in the area of business growth and development. Maureen often uses publicity to put her clients in the public eye for visibility. She is a published author and creator of an online community of over 18,000 women. Recently featured in Entrepreneur Magazine where she profiled a client’s success, Maureen is available for speaking, interviews and consultations on using publicity for practical results. Visit her at this website and this site

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Maureen O\’Crean – EzineArticles Expert Author

Tags: formula, pr, new, website, official

One aspect of PR is publicity. Creating word of mouth interest in your business by getting free editorial coverage of your business in the media.

Publicity stories in the media are very effective but you won’t get one for your website unless you have a new idea, controversial story, sensational aspect to your website, something unusual or completely different. Get the idea? Some story ideas: are you the first to use this technology? Have you made a huge sale through your website? Does your website help or benefit people in any way? Are you running a unique online competition or survey? Have you a heart-warming personal story to tell? My point is that you need to have a point.

Let me give you an example of publicity that was designed specifically to attract people to a particular website.

There’s an online travel company Zuji.com.au and what they did was implement a publicity campaign to drive traffic to their website. It was a simple idea really. They put together on online competition asking people to write in their travel secrets of their favourite destinations throughout the world and they could win a valuable travel prize. They told the media about it and although a simple idea it captured the attention of the travel media.

Consequently the media promoted the competition quite heavily resulting in heaps of visitors to the Zuji website. And of course it involved real people telling their own stories so the human interest element worked. It worked brilliantly for the company. Firstly they were successful in getting lots of free publicity from the competition and they also collected the email addresses of all of the people that visited their website. Plus they captured some really interesting stories and content to put on their site. So an online competition works well but you do need tell the media about it. Once you’ve developed a good newsworthy story you’ll need to contact the relevant journalists who will help you reach your target market. Don’t contact everyone, just the media that are appropriate to you and your product.

Contact them by sending a media release (it of course includes your website address) or just telephone them. Research your target media by checking out the newspapers, magazines and wherever else your competitors are being featured. You can buy media directories.

Don’t forget to let journalists know there is a media room on your website where they can obtain further information.

Another way to publicize your website is to put your domain address everywhere. Anytime you do send out a media release or newsletter or write a letter to a potential client or sponsor an event, not only is it really important to put your name on everything but put your website address there as well. So for instance you might have some fantastic caps or t-shirts designed for your business that you want people to wear that look great and effective and but why not on the back of that cap put your domain name. Every where that you communicate, put your web address. Include on your voice mail, stickers, business cards, your car, caps, t-shirts on everything!

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 at this site.

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Tags: strategy, pr, create, online, website, publicity

Want an easy way to improve the communications at your nonprofit? Take a fresh look at your Website to improve your nonprofit public relations. In fact, have someone else do it, such as a volunteer, an intern, a friend or a board member who has not used the site much before. Better yet, pull together a small group of such “testers” and compile their feedback.

Most nonprofits have had Websites for many years – perhaps a decade or so. That’s a long time. Things change. Web visitors’ expectations change. Technology changes.

For example, today, videos can easily be embedded in your Web page using services from Google Video and YouTube, among others. You needn’t become a video producer; do a little searching and you may find existing videos that would enhance your nonprofit’s Website. In fact, with the exploding popularity of online video, I can almost guarantee it. Recently, for example, my daughter told me about a popular music video dealing with teen car crashes. It was a suitable enhancement to one of our clients’ sites – a teen safe-driving campaign. A few clicks later, this piece of popular culture was embedded as a video on their home page. You can also easily compile your photographs, narrate them in a slideshow, and post it on your home page as a “video.” All the programs to do this are free, and are already on your computer – such as Windows Movie Maker.

A year ago this wouldn’t have been so easy, but as I said, things change – quickly.

You and your staff can review your site yourselves, asking lots of questions. Why is that link there? Why do we still promote such-and-such on our home page? Why is John’s picture still on the bio page, since he retired in June?

But even better, have someone else look at your site. Our summer intern spent time on our site and posed lots of good questions and observations. A Website can easily confuse visitors if the navigation isn’t ultra simple, and an “outsider” can help you find these navigational barriers.

Also, ask yourself how your Website could work harder for you. Are there forms that people ask for regularly that they could download from your site? Do your receptionists get lots of calls with the same types of questions that could be answered on your site? Should you be exchanging links with partner organizations? Are you taking advantage of online fundraising?

One more thing: Consider adding a page to your site that you can change yourself. With a little programming, your Web provider can set up a page that enables you to change the content anytime, anywhere, with no software or technical skill. This means your site will always be current with events, news and updates. And you won’t have to rely on an outside vendor to make every little update. Click here for an example.

Think of your Web site as a garden. Perhaps you are good at adding fresh content, but it also takes pruning and weeding to keep it working properly. The best way to get that done is to get a fresh perspective from a small group of testers.

Steve Cebalt of Bottom Line Public Relations is Founder of the Social Marketing Leadership Roundtable in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He specializes in marketing, advertising and public relations issues of interest to nonprofit communications professionals. Visit this website or this blog.

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Tags: website, communications, nonprofit, technology, video

Website Updates for Nonprofit Communications- Get an Outsider’s Fresh Perspective on Your Website

Want an easy way to improve the communications at your nonprofit? Take a fresh look at your Website to improve your nonprofit public relations. In fact, have someone else do it, such as a volunteer, an intern, a friend or a board member who has not used the site much before. Better yet, pull together a small group of such “testers” and compile their feedback.

Most nonprofits have had Websites for many years – perhaps a decade or so. That’s a long time. Things change. Web visitors’ expectations change. Technology changes.

For example, today, videos can easily be embedded in your Web page using services from Google Video and YouTube, among others. You needn’t become a video producer; do a little searching and you may find existing videos that would enhance your nonprofit’s Website. In fact, with the exploding popularity of online video, I can almost guarantee it. Recently, for example, my daughter told me about a popular music video dealing with teen car crashes. It was a suitable enhancement to one of our clients’ sites – a teen safe-driving campaign. A few clicks later, this piece of popular culture was embedded as a video on their home page. You can also easily compile your photographs, narrate them in a slideshow, and post it on your home page as a “video.” All the programs to do this are free, and are already on your computer – such as Windows Movie Maker.

A year ago this wouldn’t have been so easy, but as I said, things change – quickly.

You and your staff can review your site yourselves, asking lots of questions. Why is that link there? Why do we still promote such-and-such on our home page? Why is John’s picture still on the bio page, since he retired in June?

But even better, have someone else look at your site. Our summer intern spent time on our site and posed lots of good questions and observations. A Website can easily confuse visitors if the navigation isn’t ultra simple, and an “outsider” can help you find these navigational barriers.

Also, ask yourself how your Website could work harder for you. Are there forms that people ask for regularly that they could download from your site? Do your receptionists get lots of calls with the same types of questions that could be answered on your site? Should you be exchanging links with partner organizations? Are you taking advantage of online fundraising?

One more thing: Consider adding a page to your site that you can change yourself. With a little programming, your Web provider can set up a page that enables you to change the content anytime, anywhere, with no software or technical skill. This means your site will always be current with events, news and updates. And you won’t have to rely on an outside vendor to make every little update. Click here for an example.

Think of your Web site as a garden. Perhaps you are good at adding fresh content, but it also takes pruning and weeding to keep it working properly. The best way to get that done is to get a fresh perspective from a small group of testers.

Steve Cebalt of Bottom Line Public Relations is Founder of the Social Marketing Leadership Roundtable in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He specializes in marketing, advertising and public relations issues of interest to nonprofit communications professionals. Fell free to visit this site .

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Tags: website, communications, nonprofit, technology, video

One of the most powerful ways to bring traffic into a website and build links is to use press releases.

If you’re using online methods to distribute your press release, you’ll find that every time you submit on, it will bring in both traffic and links.

Even if your press release doesn’t generate any interest from reporters, it will still help your website.

A great press release can completely change your business and bring in a flood of traffic, links, and even get you on CNBC or Oprah.

Even when given all the benefits of press releases, however, most people will never use them.

They have a list of excuses that include: I don’t have anything newsworthy; My business is different; I don’t know how to write a press release; and this one really befuddles me – because someone might actually call them and want to interview them – they’d have to *gasp* actually talk about their business to someone.

Of course, they’re just that – excuses. Coming up with something newsworthy is relatively easy. Any business can benefit from the use of press releases, they’re even relatively easy to write. For those who are afraid you might actually have to talk to someone, though, I’m not sure what to tell you – a lot of times, no reporters will call, but they might.

Here’s a few tips for successful press releases.

1) Headlines Are Vital

Just like a great headline can make or break a salesletter, the headline of your press release can make or break it. If your headline doesn’t grab someone’s attention, then it doesn’t matter how great the rest of your press release is because nobody’s going to read it. If you need help coming up with headlines, just go to your library and look at the headlines of magazines and newspapers. You’ll find plenty of great headlines within their pages.

2) Not An Advertisement

Remember that your press release is not an advertisement. While you can certainly use them to promote a new product or service in your business, the actual press release should read like it’s being written by a neutral third party. Think of yourself as the reporter writing the story about the product, why it was created, and a little history. Don’t hype up the product, just give them the facts.

3) Quotes

Have you ever noticed how just about every article you read in a newspaper has a quote from one person or multiple people? That’s because quotes make your stories more interesting. Always include a quote from someone in your press release, even if the only person you can quote is yourself.

So next time you’re looking for to get more traffic or links to your website, give the press release a try.

Gary Ruplinger is search engine optimization expert at UltimateTrafficBlueprint.com. Learn more about using press releases and learn how you can hire Gary to do all your link building for you.

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Tags: website, traffict, press release, tips, build

Every company whether large or small should develop a press kit for distribution to media outlets and other news sources. The digital age is here and the greater number of sources that will publish your press releases online the greater your web presence will be in the future, as search engines index these sites and picks up the content. Your press release should contain keywords that you use to promote your product or service to your customers and words that will help you rise to the top of the search engines. Your pr program is another channel for branding your company as well.

Some basic information about your company, products, or services should be contained in your press kit. A press kit allows for easy distribution of company news to media outlets and other news sources. The following is a list of items you should have in your media kit.

Press Kit:

• Catalogs or Brochures

• Management Biographies

• Photos of your products or service

• Testimonials

• Company logos

• News Worthy Press Releases

• Photos of key employees

• Terms & Conditions for proper use of your company logo and/or trademarks

Another good way to build pr for your company is to have a press area on your website. This area should contain press releases from your company so the search engines can index the pages. Content is king! This will help in bringing your website up in the search engine rankings to help bolster favorable public perception about your company. Also, include ways for the media outlets to download copies of your latest press releases and company news (i.e. RSS, simple syndication Feed is Good) A digital press kit is fast and easy. You may want to require a non-formal registration so you can keep track of who is publishing your material. A few simple of tips for creating your press release can increase the publics’ perception about your company.

Tips:

• Always make sure whatever you are writing about in news worthy

• Maximize your product or service keywords through-out the press release

• Always include some response generating mechanism (i.e. special phone number, website landing page, email address, or contact person).

• When writing try to create a picture in your customers’ mind of what it is you are offering.

• Make every press release very exciting.

A good pr program will help your company gain valuable customers’ and gain favorable public perception about your company. 80% of all internet users’ research companies, services, and products on the web before they commit to making a purchase (Source: Marketingsherpa.com) and now is a good time as any to build your public relations programs to bolster your company into favorable standing with the general public.
Ron Johnson, Contact Info.

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Tags: public relations, campaign, company, website, online

I’ve read recently somewhere a user’s assertion that really scared me:

“Press Releases have been devalued a lot by Google, so they’re no magic answer.”

Who cares whether Google values or devalues a press release?

Press releases are not addressed to Google, but to the people! While online press releases might generate positive “secondary effects”, such as inbound links, this is not their main purpose.

You might be surprised to learn that press releases are really powerful online media tools. I am not talking just about immediate results, but also about results that can be seen in time, sometimes weeks, even months, after… “releasing the news”.

I am still amazed that people confuse advertising and publicity. Could it be because in the dictionaries these two terms are synonyms? Then I’ll not write “publicity” anymore, but public relations. Advertisers focus on the “now” and on the direct sales.

Public relations experts focus on the long-term relationships with the industry, clients, media and business partners. Public relations generate “credibility”. Sometimes PR experts present news about a company in the form of relevant press releases.

If online PR officers should focus on keyword optimization to ensure broader exposure, offline things are easier. But offline press releases don’t have such huge chances of coverage as it happens online! From my point of view, using the Web for certain public relations campaigns is far more worth than using offline channels.

Press releases are read by journalists online or offline, and if they decide a story is worth publishing, they might write an article or publish it “as is”.

To make a long story short, an online press releases has the following purposes:

* to give journalists information that is useful and accurate about a product, service, company and even a person;
* to gain public confidence and strengthen public image for a brad, company or product;
* to inform the market of a new or improved product or service.

The purpose of a press release, I have to repeat that till it is clear, is not to make a sale, but to “announce” in a sober, neutral and realistic manner news about products, services and changes. The press release is not a story that should be published word for word. It’s just a tool to grab the attention of the editors.

And that… is something that really doesn’t concern Google!

Mihaela Lica, the founder of Pamil Visions, has professional qualifications in journalism. She worked for the Public Relations Directorate of the Romanian Ministry of Defense for 4 years and since 2002 she lives in Germany and works as a public relations and media consultant.

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Tags: press release, news, website, business, media

In last week’s article, we talked about why your small business needs a press kit. Because they’re not just for the press, I prefer to call them small business information package. To recap, you need a small business information package to augment your business card, which has only limited information about you and your company.

Your small business information package is the printed materials to give or send to prospective clients to tell them who you are, where you are, how to contact you, what you do, how to buy, and why to buy from you instead of your competition.

This week, we’re going to discuss what you should put inside your information package. For all intents and purposes, anything that promotes your company can go inside it. Some of the more common things include:

• Business card

• Small business brochure

• Letter of introduction

• Product or service review

• Price list

• Press releases

• White papers

• Recent articles written by you or about your company

• Biography of key officers

• Flyers, coupons or direct mail pieces

• Information pamphlets

So, let’s talk a bit about each. And let’s start with the big one—your small business brochure. Your small business brochure can stand alone. If you decide not to have a complete small business information package, at the very least, create a tri-fold brochure so you have detailed printed information to give clients.

If your prospective client reads only one thing in your whole information package, it will most likely be your brochure. Why? Because it captures the reader’s attention better than any other item in your information package. Most of your other items will be letters, articles or reviews. They’ll look good, and they’ll all match because they’re on your letterhead, but they won’t jump out at your readers like your full color tri-fold brochure will.

So, you want to make sure it’s the first thing people see when they open the front cover of your information package. If you can capture their interest with your brochure, they’re more likely to read the rest.

The first page of your small business brochure should have your business name and logo, and possibly a photo or some graphics. Make it colorful. Make it interesting. Add a slogan or motto on the front that will make people curious as to what’s inside. You don’t want them to just look at the front cover and put it aside!

Inside, try to introduce yourself and review your product or service briefly. If you can, keep the introduction and review to the length of the first inside page or so. Adding a few graphics or photos throughout the whole brochure, together with informative text helps keep your readers’ interest. And, make good use of your headings, remembering that most readers will scan from left to right, stopping at graphics and headings, and sometimes reading the last paragraph.

Now, this part is important, and is possibly the biggest mistake most small businesses make with their brochure—at least some of the other two inside pages could be better used to show prospective buyers how your product or service can benefit them, rather than to describe your product or service features.

I cannot stress this enough. Too many times small business brochures are used simply to talk about you, your company or your product/service. Most of your readers simply won’t care who you are, what you do or how you do it. What they really care about is how you can benefit them. How you can save them time or resources. How you can make their lives just a little bit easier.

Often, the last outside page of your brochure summarizes the inside pages, or lists products or services in point form. You could even add a price list, if you have one.

The next several items in your small business information package are all written on your letterhead, and the sky’s the limit as to what you can use.

You could put the letter of introduction just behind your brochure, or you could include it outside the information package cover if you’re mailing it. Usually this is just a short, one-page letter introducing yourself and your company, and thanking the recipient for taking the time to look at your information package.

Your product or service review could be long or short, depending on what you’re offering. This is not the place to stress benefits, but simply to list and describe your services or products. You can combine a product or service review with your price list very effectively.

Include any press releases about your company, and articles written by you or about your company. If you don’t have any, don’t worry. You can write some specifically for your information kit. Include announcements of your grand opening, for example, or a new line of products, or your new location. Or write an article about one of your products or services.

White papers are becoming increasingly popular. Are you an expert in a particular area? If you are, you might want to write a white paper to include with your information package. A white paper discusses specific business issues, products, technology or other such topics. It usually summarizes information about the topic, and then suggests a proposal for action, referencing research data to justify the reasons for the action. It explains your topic in terms most people can understand, with the goal of educating consumers and marketing your product or service. White papers help establish the writer as an authority.

The biography of your key officers is basically a resume. Include short one-page biographies of key officers to highlight areas of expertise and level of experience in your industry.

Fliers, coupons and direct mail pieces can also be included in your small business information package. Fliers and coupons emphasize current specials or discounts. Here’s a few tips. When you’re thinking about specials or discounts, try to create a sense of urgency with them by making them time- or quantity-limited. And, consider the 10/10 rule, which theorizes that people are most likely to buy when they see discounts of 10% or $10. Or, better yet, offer something extra free.

Recent direct mail sales letters can also be included. There’s simply too much to say about them to really give justice in this short article, but some things to remember are: to stress benefits, create a sense of urgency, the 10/10 rule and a bolded P.S. including a call to action.

Keep direct mail sales letter simple and relevant. Be enthusiastic, know your product, use your imagination and understand your target audience. Establish trust and credibility. Include testimonials. Give free nuggets of information. And, just like in your brochure, write your direct mail sales letter for how people will read it, scanning left to right, and stopping at graphics and headlines, and the P.S.

Now that you’ve gotten all your information package items written and printed, it’s time to put them all together. You can buy covers in your company colors and have your logo and business name printed on them. Put your business card in the front slot and your information in the inside pockets, making sure your brochure is the first item they’ll see. Then send it out, and sit back and wait for responses you’re sure to get!

Eve Jackson owns Details Small Business Solutions, a company dedicated to helping small business do big business with communication and image consulting. We write business plans and design corporate identity packages, small business information packages and web sites. We’re also copywriters, writing copy for information packages, web sites and direct mail sales letters…

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Tags: public relations, kit, business, blog, website