1 – If you want to get noticed by editors, take some time to read back issues of their publications so that you have an idea of the kind of stories they cover.. And, from time to time, help out an editor with their work by suggesting story ideas that does not involve you but would be of great interest to their target audience.

Looking for a new way to promote your organization and establish credibility among your audiences? Perhaps you need to find a ghost.

No, I’m not suggesting you tag along with Scooby-Doo and Shaggy to a creepy tropical island (besides, we already know that the caretaker is the guilty party). Nor do I think your global headquarters would benefit from an exorcism.

What I’m talking about is the marketing value in ghostwritten articles. If you’re not familiar with the term, a ghostwriter is a professional writer who develops articles that carry somebody else’s byline – such as yours. Many of the articles that are “authored” by top corporate executives are actually written on their behalf by ghostwriters.

Perhaps your engineer has developed a process that eliminates one of the most common nightmares in your customers’ industry. Maybe your sales manager has a unique understanding of one of your key markets. Or it could be that your CEO has spotted threats in a proposed piece of legislation. All of those are great opportunities for developing and submitting articles.

Publishing such articles can be a very powerful marketing tool. Prospects who won’t sit still for a quick sales call will read through an entire article and absorb more information than your best salesperson could deliver. Savvy organizations distribute reprints of articles to their customers, prospects, and industry thought leaders. It’s not unusual for published authors to be invited to speak to trade groups or at industry conferences.

However, most companies face obstacles to getting articles written and published. Your engineer may be a brilliant woman, but you have trouble reading her memos without a dictionary. Every minute that your sales manager spends at the keyboard takes his eyes away from the sales force. And it’s easier to land a space on President Bush’s appointment calendar than to get ten minutes of quality time with your CEO.

All of those are excellent reasons for working with a ghostwriter. Even if the executive or employee in question writes well, writing probably isn’t the most effective use of his or her time. In addition, many editors would rather work through a seasoned ghostwriter. Their goal is to publish content that will be interesting and useful to their readers, and a good ghostwriter will present the information in a more meaningful and engaging way. Busy editors know that a ghostwritten story will require less polishing than one submitted by a non-writer.

Some people think that there’s something inherently unethical or dishonest about ghostwriting. But an effective ghostwriter captures what you know and presents it in a way that reflects your attitude and personality. For example, I’ll typically interview the “author” in person or by phone to better understand the gist of the article, gather the facts, and listen for subtleties in the way he or she explains the points. Those subtleties find their way into the article as phrases or tones that make it sound as though the “author” had written them.

The next time you pick up a trade magazine or scroll through an online publication like this one, glance at the articles from folks in your industry. Could similar articles have been written by your executives or employees? Could your organization be basking in the good impressions and expert status those articles are creating?

Maybe it’s time you teamed up with a ghost of your own.

Scott Flood creates effective copy for companies and other organizations. To learn more, visit this site ©2008 Scott Flood All rights reserved.

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Tags: pr, marketing, promote, public relations, write

Press Releases can help your business acquire publicity through the media. Having media attention affords your business believability. Here are a few tips to promote your press release’s attraction.

Correct Format: There is a format that press releases require to conform to. Make sure your yours is written in the correct formatting, as you will want it to look as professional as possible. It is also a good idea to re-read the press release for grammar, punctuation and Writing before you send it in for submission.

Keep It To The Point: Your press release should be no longer than two pages. Media companies take in lots of press releases and don’t have time to understand a ten page report.

Keeping your writing clear and brief allow you to fit in the crucial facts without going over the two page limit. As you decide what selective information to admit; answer the following questions: who, what, why, where, when, and how.

What Is The Reader Going To Acquire: Give your press releases a call to action. Include something that is going to prompt readers to go to your event, visit your website, attend your grand opening, etc. Publishing a blatant advertisement will be apparent. All media outlets will not publish blatant advertisements.

Comprise the features and benefits of what you are advertising, and give info on what it will do for your target market. If you are advertising a new drink blender and simply stating that
it is comes in 8 colours and takes up less space than previous models isn’t sufficient.

However, writing the facts as “the new model comes in eight colours and takes up less space, allowing our customers to have the full 5 speed blending power of our larger model, but also save precious counter space” lets the reader know the new benefits of the new
model.

Blair Becker wants to help out all internet marketers to learn traffic generating tips for their website(s). You can find more information about these tips at this site and this site

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Tags: press release, tips, strategy, write, news

Press release writing is a very effective advertising and promotional method. You can publish any aspect of your business or latest product launch through press release. There are rules however when writing a press release. You should take note that editors are very strict and choosy when it comes to press releases. The following are 7 basic tips to press release writing:

1. When writing a press release, stick to one subject. It is more effective to feature a single subject rather than peppering your write up with numerous topics.

2. You must remember that press releases are news. Be objective in presenting your article. Don’t use hype words or unnecessary adjectives. Write directly and to the point.

3. Be factual. Your press release must have concrete and verifiable information. You are writing a news story and not an opinion article. Keep your opinions to yourself. Just present the facts.

4. Create an angle for your subject. Effective press releases are those that have a very interesting angle. It should appeal to human concerns. Generalized information should be avoided. Your readers must get hard and specific information.

5. Make sure that you write news worthy articles. Editors are very keen on this. They generally publish press release that will surely pique the interest of the reading public. You must also write up to date press releases. Remember, this is news and it should tackle current events.

6. Keep your lead paragraph below 50 words. It should be very short but can capture the essence of what you’re writing about. Readers usually scan a page. If you can catch their attention, then your press release is effective.

7. You must include addresses and telephone numbers of contact persons who released the news. In this way online or offline editors can communicate with you if they have specific questions regarding your release.

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: basic, press release, tips, write, advertising

Press releases are news announcements, whether through online publications or through traditional media. You can use it as a promotions and advertising tool. To be effective however, you should write it in news format. Publications editors don’t like press releases that sound like an ad copy or business flyers. These editors want news and if your release is too skewed on advertising, expect it to land in the front pages of the trash can. The best press release writing is the seamless integration of hard news, human interest story, and advertising. Here are 3 tips to effective press release writing:

1. Be sure to have something news worthy to write. If you want to advertise your new online company through press release, don’t write purely about it. Write something unique about it like new methods, incredible earnings, and so on. For example, an editor will publish a release with this headline: New ABZ Company Discovers New Method to Earn Millions, rather than a luck luster item like: Introducing the New ABZ Company.

2. Create a slant to your press release. A news slant is the unique and very specific angle of your press release. Don’t write generalizations for this is not news worthy. What is news worthy and of human interest is the angle. In the first example, the angle is about new method of earning millions. If you’re a reader, you’ll definitely read the article.

3. Follow the traditional 4 W’s and 1 H format in writing a news report. Press releases are news items therefore you should follow the rule in news writing. You must also follow the inverted triangle format in listing important information. Your most important information should be at the top while those with lesser importance should be placed below. This is important because editors are constrained for publication space. They usually cut items below your head paragraph. If this happens, your lead information can be retained.

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: pr, begin, press release, write, tips

Press release writing for the web is very similar to press release writing in traditional media (newspapers and magazines) in the sense that all the necessary elements of writing an article are there.

The only difference with press release writing for the web is the vastness of reach-that’s literally beyond the circulation scope of any offline publication-which literally translates to tough competition. There is, thus, the need to write a very catchy article to keep eyes and attention to your business’ activities or new services.

For one who doesn’t have the experience of writing press release articles, the web offers plenty of articles on how to do begin with this type of article writing. Here are some of the best press releases writing practices in use:

1. Relevance – In writing a press release article, the first thing that comes to mind should be the benefit of the information you are giving to the reader. Your goal is to bring across to the reader the relevance of the article for them. In some cases, press release articles follow a formula that consists of: benefit-details-contact that’s written in an entertaining format-one that doesn’t simply narrate the post- or pre-event activities of you company.

2. Compelling – Always write the first sentences of your article in a manner that will compel people to read the article until the end. It should be something that would really hook them on but is not exaggerated or superfluous in the use of verbs or adjectives like a hard-selling advertisement. Remember to use action words in the beginning of your call- to-action sentence as all effective communication requires a two-way action (the giving and taking).

3. Factual and Complete – Stick to your facts and make them clearly understood by the reader. Sometimes, we focus too much on the “bring-on” of the article, it already makes up 90% of the content-leaving only a few lines to write about the very topic (e.g. Product launching) and purpose (e.g. Invite attendees) of the article. Always keep all your data intact and correct to avoid confusing readers and misleading them.

4. Simplify – Don’t use jargon and slang when writing your press release. Keep your words straightforward and simple as this shows professionalism. After all, you are writing about your business here and you’re credibility is at stake. Besides, it is easier to understand and remember an article when it is using layman’s terms.

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: press release, communication, write, news, newsworthy

Press release writing is one of the oldest marketing strategies that is still being used by most businessmen because its efficient and cost-effective, yet still has the ability to bring in more profit and revenue to most companies. Press releases, unlike other marketing copies, are deemed credible and useful by most online users. It is for this reason that press release writing has the ability to reach more people compare to other marketing strategies. Here are some of the innovative ways that you can use in order to advance in press release writing:

a. Develop the interest on your initial statement – in the introductory paragraph! Create interest by writing down the name of the company, it’s expertise, and the awards or recognition it has received. Followed by your news (product launching, offerings, promotions) right immediately. Including the information about your business can greatly help in establishing your credibility to your target readers. Directly stating what you are offering on the first paragraph on the other hand, can hold your readers interest to continue reading your piece. A good example of a press release introductory paragraph is “Company ABC, the global leader in mobile content delivery, has announced it plans to offer free SMS service to the East Coast”

b. On your succeeding paragraphs, you can talk about the product that you offer. You can bridge in the good and positive features that the product has, emphasizing on how the product is capable of resolving some of the more noted issues and problems that majority of consuming public have. This is one of the best ways on how you can encourage other people to witness more about the product that you are offering.

c. It is to be remembered, that in general, you should create a press release that is compacted and summarized. In sort, it really has to be short in size. Do not overly verbose your thoughts as this becomes more of a public speech rather than a press release material.

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: press release, write, advance, news, newsworthy

Recommending that you stop writing press releases and start writing news releases is not a play on words. It is sound advice.

In common parlance, “press release” and “news release” mean the same thing. However, the terminology people use often betrays a fundamental difference in how they put this information together and how well it is accepted by the media.

Early in my career, I was editor of a daily newspaper and later a writer with The Wall Street Journal. One of my jobs was to screen submissions to decide which ones we would print and which ones we would print and we would throw away.

Approximately 80 – 85% of submissions failed the first screening, a life or death decision usually made within 60 seconds or less. On the other hand, the vast majority of those that survived this first screening also survived the second one and were ultimately published.

What made the difference? Basically, it was in how the author of the document viewed the material being submitted.

• Losers. Information a company or organisation wanted to see printed for its own benefit.

• Winners. Information a company or organisation wanted to see printed for its own benefit and the benefit of our readers.

In both cases, the submitter had something to gain if we published the release, i.e. positive publicity. However, in the first case, the focus was on only how the submitter would benefit from publication. In the second, it was on both how the submitter and our readers would benefit.

A Concrete Example

If all this sounds a bit theoretical, here is an example to make it more concrete.

After leaving The Wall Street Journal, I was an account executive with a major international press relations agency. One of my subordinates presented me with a typically self-serving press release he wanted to distribute on behalf of his client.

The headline was something like: Egotistical Industries gains major new contract. The first paragraph said something like:

Tom Bighead today announced that Egotistical Industries has won a $350,000 contract to supply window sealants for the new sports centre currently under construction in Baden-Baden, Germany. Egotistical Industries was founded in 1989 by Mr. Bighead and his brother George, and is now considered to be the leading company in its field. Last year the company’s sales were . . . .”

In the fifth paragraph, if anyone would read that far, we learned that the sealant the company would supply had the property of not freezing in cold weather, so work on the sports centre could be carried out in December, rather than waiting for warmer weather in March or April.

This of course was the true story. If you are a reader of a professional construction magazine, you couldn’t care less that Egotistical Industries has a new contract. By contrast, you could be vitally interested in knowing that you could possibly gain three months on your construction schedule by using Egotistical’s product.

More importantly, editors of professional construction magazines would view the release this way.

Remember: Editors are vitally concerned about what their readers want to read, because if they lose readership, they lose their jobs. The real target of your release must be the editors. They are the gatekeepers. If they value the release, it gets published; if they don’t, it doesn’t.

We therefore rewrote the information into a news release with the headline: Windows in Baden-Baden Sports Centre will be sealed in the dead of winter, saving the contractor approximately $30,000 in labour costs. The first paragraph, and as many additional paragraphs as necessary, elaborated on this very attractive theme. The background information about the company came at the end of the release where it justifiably belonged.

The Short Road to Nowhere

Here’s another example. As a marketing communication consultant, I was asked by a client to write a release announcing an important new service. I was told to limit the release to 400 words. “Why 400 words?” I asked. “Well, it’s our policy to keep our releases short. Journalists like that.”

The problem was, I couldn’t find a way of saying everything that needed to be said in only 400 words. The client was insistent. I finally produced something at 400 words which the client felt was exactly what was wanted. But when the release was issued, no one published it.

The client called a few newspapers and magazines to find out why. The answer was, they just didn’t see anything that would be of interest to their readers. I then called a couple of these newspapers and magazines and asked, “Do you think you readers would be interested in X.” “Yes, why didn’t you put that in the release?”

Well, I had. But under the stricture of the 400-word limit, it had become so severely condensed as to be cryptic. It was there-if you knew what to look for. The function of an effective release is to give information, not challenge journalists to find it.

I rewrote the release. This time it came out to 650 words and was widely published. Why? Because it had been transformed from a press release, i.e. what the client wanted to say, into a news release-what journalists believed their readers wanted and needed to know.

Each time you start tapping at the keyboard, keep uppermost in mind the aspects that make a release a “news release”.

• First, a release gets published only if editors feel that it offers something their readers want and need to know. So make certain that it does.

• Second, there is no “correct” length for a news release. To paraphrase a sexist joke (I apologise, but it is just too pertinent), a news release should be like a miniskirt: short enough to be interesting, and long enough to cover the subject.

Philip Yaffe is a former reporter/feature writer with The Wall Street Journal and a marketing communication consultant. He currently teaches a course in good writing and good speaking in Brussels, Belgium. In the “I” of the Storm: the Simple Secrets of Writing & Speaking (Almost) like A professional, his recently published book, is available from Story Publishers in Ghent, Belgium and Amazon.

Now semi-retired, he teaches courses in persuasive communication in Brussels, Belgium. Because his clients use English as a second or third language, his approach to writing and public speaking is somewhat different from other communication coaches. He is the author of In the “I” of the Storm: the Simple Secrets of Writing & Speaking (Almost) like a Professional.

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Tags: pr, write, news, press release, newsworthy

Crafting an effective press release is not an easy task. Many people make the mistake of concluding that creating a useful release takes very little to accomplish. Unfortunately, because of this way of thinking, the contents of most press releases sent along to media outlets never see the light of day.

There are some important tips and pointers that need to be remembered if you wish to craft and create an attention-grabbing release that will end up in a published article in a newspaper or magazine or aired on television or radio

Concise, Direct Headlines

Oftentimes a release will be prepared that lacks even a basic headline. At the other extreme are those press releases that are so convoluted and confusing that they immediately will be pitched in to the garbage can without ever being read.

After crafting the body of the press release — which will be discussed in further detail later in this article — the pr writer needs to take the time to develop a concise and direct headline for the release. The headline needs to be written in such a manner so that a reader actually will want to take the time to read the remainder of the press release. Truly, the headline on a press release is rather like a first impression. Make a bad first impression, and no one will want to hear from a person any longer.

Do The Work

While brevity is important in a press release, it is necessary that sufficient information is conveyed so that a writer or reporter easily will be able to fashion a story for print or broadcast from the information provided in the release itself. Reporters on all levels of the media are busy people. If you can provide to a reporter an easy to read, easy to understand, interesting release that does not require him or her to spend a great deal of time developing a story, chances are greatly increased that the content of the release will end up published or broadcast.

A successful press release is one that has been edited and re-edited. All unnecessary information is removed. Additionally, the language used in the press release is clear and concise, not muddled, botched and confused.

Contacts

As hard as it is to imagine, many press releases are sent out without useful contact information. A press release must contain specific information as to who is to be contacted if a media outlet has a question regarding the content of a press release or requires additional information. In some instances, after receiving a release a media outlet will want to undertake a more in depth interview.

The contact information must include the name of a person who understands and has completely knowledge of what is contained in the release. Contact information should include a phone number and an email address.

Summary

By closely following some of the basic pointers set forth in this article, a person will be well on the road to crafting and creating effective, intelligent press releases. In the end, by ensuring a press release is properly pulled together, a person or business will have a far better chance of ensuring that a news organization covers the announcement or event described in a given release.

Tanner Larsson is a window cleaning expert and the author of ‘Streak Free Profits’ He also publishes the Window Cleaning Success newsletter. A free ezine dedicated to helping you start, run and grow your window cleaning business. Learn more at this site

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Tags: public relations, write, press release, attention

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

Have you come to experience a press release advertisement on the net where it seemingly has a forceful magnet that it pulls you towards reading and checking the entire press release material and eventually goaded to purchase or buy a product from them? Well, if you have not had a similar experience, then you may have not come across such a powerful press release material. But for majority of people who have had similar experience, what could have led them to believe the press release material? Below are some of the elements of a forceful press release material.

a. Write a compacted but meaningful press release material. Press releases should by nature be very short and compacted. This avoids the potential of being just trashed away should it becomes boring due to the lengthy material that you have produced. As a cardinal rule, you need to make sure that you develop a short press release because you want to capture the attention of your potential clients to forego on reading it and not b lured by boredom and disinterest.

b. Begin your press release with a bang. The opening statement of your press release material usually on a single liner statement must be able to discuss the product information or the potential benefits that the product is promising. This is usually proven effective in capturing and catching the attention of the readers to forego with reading the rest of the material.

c. Make a clear statement of your promises and be sure to have this realized. Do not make any false statements on your press release. Do not tend to be overly exaggerating with your promised features as your potential readers may see them differently. Stick with what is factual and valid, lay aside all possible doubts and have these realizable.

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: pr, media, write, press release, article

Ebook writing is a simple process, but that does not mean it is an easy one. Writing requires planning and organization before the writing process can begin. If you spend some time thinking about what you are going to write and who your readers and audience will be, more people will want to read your ebook and the process of writing it will be more enjoyable for you as an author.

The first step in writing an article, ebook, or even a traditional book is to decide what you would like to write about. Think about what you are passionate about and what you know well. This could be something that you have had much experience in, such as your career or a hobby that is very special to you. Whatever you decide upon, begin to make notes and to do further research so that you will know as much as possible before you begin to write.

Making an outline will then be the next logical step in your ebook writing process. Decide what the main ideas are that you wish to convey to your readers and list them in a logical order. Next, make notes that describe each of these main ideas in more detail. These will become your chapters. Give this area a lot of time and thought so that you will be able to visualize what your ebook will be about in great detail and who the likely audience for your ebook will be. If you have a list of people that are interested in your topic, ask them what they would like for you to include in your ebook.

Find out how to get your ebook written NOW by visiting here, where you will receive free tips and a Special Report on writing and marketing your articles and ebooks.

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Tags: media, organization, write, plan, media relations

Did you know that publicity is supposedly seven times more effective than advertising? And it is free – that is if you do it yourself. If you know the elements of writing a good media release to capture the attention of journalists, you can cash in on no cost editorial coverage. Here’s a few tips to help you write a media release.

The Beginning

The first and most important thing is to have something interesting to say. Consider your USP – just like in sales. It’s your unique selling proposition. After all publicity is “selling”. You are selling a story idea to the media. I like to call it the unique shining point. It really needs to stand out, shine, be compelling – not an advertisement, not a boring product plug.

Another element that will really hook the journalist in is to consider the ESP the emotional selling point. Often it is the human element in the story that will capture the reader’s attention therefore the attention of the media. Think about what your story is. What is your background? Have you overcome any obstacles to get where you are today? Any achievements or milestones? Where is the human interest?

What’s more compelling? An announcement about a wedding limousine service, or the 30th anniversary both in marriage and business of the couple who run the service? This is a story I helped someone uncover in a seminar I conducted. The couple later went on to get a full page color photo and editorial story in a wedding supplement in their local paper – for free, just by working out the human element of interest to readers.

WIFM

What’s in it for me? Or what is in it for them. How does your product or service help others? You media release needs to state that key element. How will the reader benefit?

It’s uninteresting to just say, “Jones & Smith Accountants today announced the launch of their revolutionary new accountancy software package… Better to state – small businesses now have a better way to measure, monitor and manage the costs involved in running their business, thanks to Jones & Smith’s new online measurement & analysis accounting system.

The Heading

Write a catchy headline with a short, punchy phrase. Observe how headings are written in newspapers and magazines. You need to grab the reader’s attention. Of course that is if you are planning to post your media release snail mail with your product sample or full media kit. But most releases these days are emailed. However, the same principles apply. Use a compelling subject heading or the journalist will simply hit delete. Make it provocative.

The Content

Have a bright opening; start with your strongest point first. Instead of the conventional “today announced that” lead, you should make your release stand out from the crowd with a strong, compelling lead paragraph. As editors and journalists get so many releases every day, you only have seconds to grab their attention. The first paragraph is where your important information goes but it needs to be written in an exciting, creative, interesting way.

Consider the 5 W’s – Who, What, When, Where, Why; This is an easy formula to remember when writing your release but it is still not enough without some “zing” or compelling elements to “hook” the reader in.

Again – how does it help? Remember the benefit to the reader and perhaps include some “how to” tips on whatever your product or service is.

Use memorable quotes; either of you or someone well-known who can endorse your product. Quotes are often used by the media as they make the story more “real” or personal. A good quote can include why you’ve started this business or developed your product or how it helps your target audience.

The Format

Title it “Media Release” and always include the date. Include your contact details of telephone, mobile, email and website address. Use letterhead and keep the content to one page – any more and you will lose the journalists’ attention. When using email, cut and paste into the body of the email – don’t send an attachment.

The Contact

Send your release to the appropriate person – be sure to do your research. Check that the “food editor” is still just that and not now the “finance editor”. Find out the name of the person and their direct email.

Always follow up with a phone call or email and keep your media liaison consistent. If you provide good information you are not a nuisance, you are providing a service. Journalists and editors need our information to fill their newspapers, magazines and radio shows.

Supply a creative photo or suggest a photo opportunity that will add to the impact of having your information publicized.

Gaining publicity in the media will help you become known as an expert in your business field; it will enhance your image and reputation and help you to grow your business.

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: media relations, write, release, media, report

For many people the internet is the first resource they go to when they want to find a solution to a problem. From how to lose weight to choosing the right keywords for optimising their website. Everyone is looking for solutions. You have expertise that you can share through written articles and that provides great scope for promoting yourself and your organisation.

There are an increasing number of websites that provide information, expertise and know-how for target groups. They are under great pressure to keep their content fresh. So, they are prime candidates for you to approach to offer up articles that would be of interest to their readers. Chances are that if you produce some good quality articles then they will ask you to do more. That gives you scope for communicating directly with the audiences that matter to you.

Sometimes people can feel uncomfortable with the idea of writing articles but, like most things, the more you do it the more comfortable you will be. For the value it can provide in raising your profile, as well as encouraging readers to visit your website, it is worth having a go.

If you do decide for give article writing a go then there are quite a few things you need to take into account, including:

The subject of the article – if you are struggling with this then just think about the types of questions you get asked by your clients or topical issues in your industry. What are the burning issues that customers care facing? Also, review the publication or site to see what is being debated

What content to include – there is an art in structuring an article but if you focus on the questions that need to be answered then that will help to keep you on track.

The style and format of the article will depend on the style guidelines that the publication or site has. But, before writing the article, you need to pitch the idea to the right journalist – how you do that is key to getting your foot in the door.

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: http://www.smallbusinesspr.net

Debbie Leven – Profile Matters Ltd PR Consultants UK

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Tag: public relations, write, article, news, media

Writing a press release is the perfect method for informing the world about the latest news and updates of your business. A press release has to be written in the right manner in order for it to be a success. Listed in this article are 5 steps you should take when writing a press release.

1. The first step that you should consider when writing a press release deals with the format of the press release. The logo of your company should be near the top of the press release, as well as your address and phone number.

2. The second thing you need to take into account when writing a press release is the title. The title of the press release should be very catchy in order to capture the attention of the reader. The title is usually the first thing that a reader or journalist notices when they are reading news stories. This is why your title must be compelling when writing a press release.

3. When writing a press release, the starting paragraphs of your press release has to capture the reader’s attention as well, in order to keep them interested. But a key rule of thumb is to keep the initial paragraphs short, yet compelling when writing a press release.

4. When writing a press release, the story should be informative as well as provide actual and factual information. The press release must not be misleading in any way. When writing a press release, you should not write it as if you are writing an ad. It is not like other forms of advertising where you specifically promote a product or service in the ad. You must write an actual news story with an unbiased representation of your business.

5. Keep in mind that, when writing a press release, you must not make it extremely long. A very lengthy press release will gradually get boring and lose a reader’s attention. So a key to writing a press release that will be successful is to keep it brief and informative.

Melvin Perry is an internet entrepreneur that specializes in building large email lists within a matter of weeks. He currently teaches marketers via free step by step videos how to earn thousands monthly through the list building model. You can snatch these videos at no cost by visiting FREE Internet Marketing Videos

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Tag: public relations, write, press release, news

One thing that many people seem to forget is that for a press release to be effective, it needs to provide real news. Despite the overuse of the press release as a marketing tool, it’s still one of the most cost-effective ways to get your messages to influencers: web content producers, editors, reporters, and radio and TV producers.

Imagine you are watching the six o’clock news on your favorite TV channel. The news celebrity says, “XYZ Corporation today announced it will be releasing its first product, a high-speed, left-handed smoke shifter.”

How fast can you punch up another channel on your remote?

That’s not news. Thousands of companies release new products every day. What’s different about the XYZ smoke shifter? The fact is, you have little chance of getting a story like that covered anywhere, unless you follow some basic rules.

Sell It In the Headline

Leading off as rule number one: write a killer headline. In fact, the headline should be able to tell enough of the story to get an editor to read the whole release. At influential trade journals and consumer publications, an editor sometimes receives more than a thousand releases each week. That editor is going to spend a fleeting moment scanning each headline. Just as you would, if you were faced with the same task.

The headline has to resonate with a benefit. For example, “Smoke Shifter Spells Relief for Southpaws” demonstrates a benefit in the headline. Another might read, “New Product Eliminates Deadly Smoke Faster to Save Lives.” Again, a benefit speaks volumes about the contents of the release.

Formatting the Release

Press releases follow a fairly standard format convention. Your contact information should be at the top left of the release. Immediately following the contact information, include the line For Immediate Release. This lets the editor know that the information is time-sensitive. If you want the story to run on a later date, then I recommend sending the release at a date closer to that date.

The headline follows. Make it bold and use a standard font, like Arial or Times Roman. You can make it a little larger than the body text, say, 14 points. Sometimes, it’s appropriate to include a smaller subheading that gives more information. Start your story with the location, in all caps.

Here’s an example of the beginning of a standard release:

Contact:

Jane Doe

XYZ Corporation

555-787-0021

jdoe@xyz.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

XYZ SMOKE SHIFTER PROMISES TO SAVE FIREFIGHTER’S LIVES

New Jersey Company Provides Leading-Edge Solution to Fight Deadly Killer

WYCLIFF, NEW JERSEY-Test results released today show conclusively that as much as 98% of all deadly particulate matter in industrial waste fires is effectively removed from the air within ten minutes by the XYZ Smoke Shifter. As many as 1000 firefighters and civilians are victims of smoke inhalation in industrial fires, each year.

“We’ve seen the results and we’re ecstatic about the possibilities,” says Wycliff, New Jersey Fire Chief John Doe. “We’ve been using a prototype of the Smoke Shifter for about 3 months now and it’s an impressive piece of equipment.” XYZ pioneered the use of smoke shifters in…”

Include Quotes and Keep It Short

Include a third-party quote, if possible. As with any kind of testimonial, a quote adds credibility to the release. At the end of the release, include a brief description of your company.

Keep the release to one page. If the editor wants additional information, she’ll call you or send an email. Make sure you call her back as soon as you hear from her.

In some cases, editors will use well-written releases as is with just a bit of editing to make the release match their publication’s style standards. That’s why it’s so important to follow the pyramid approach: the most important facts come first in the article. Less important facts belong lower in the story.

Editors are as rushed and overworked as the rest of us. If you can save them time by providing a well-written release with a quotable quote and correct contact information, you will improve your chances of seeing your release in print.

Submitting Your Release

One of the most comprehensive lists of news contacts is offered by the Gebbie Press. You can send a release directly, targeting the specific outlets you’re interested in. Or, you can also pay to have your release sent to thousands of outlets using any of a number of services like PRWeb.

Focus on Niche Outlets

If your product or service serves a niche market, you can achieve more effective results by contacting trade journals and web sites directly. For example, if you know of any web sites devoted to firefighters, fire prevention, industrial safety, or public safety, contact them about your smoke shifter product using the contact information you find on their website or on the masthead of a copy of the publication. Because these sites and publications are geared specifically to your niche, you will find it more cost-effective to target them directly, rather than sending out a blanket release to thousands of unrelated outlets.

Publish the Release on Your Own Site

Be sure to construct a News or Press archive on your own web site. You can keep copies of your press releases there, in addition to links to actual articles or mentions on other sites. Visitors often like to review the press releases on a company’s site to see just how credible the company is. The presence of press releases adds yet more credibility, even if they did not result in any press.

If you write a concise, benefits-laden release, and target it to specific markets, you’re bound to find somebody who will consider it newsworthy for their readers. Remember, though, once it’s out there, you can’t take it back, so make sure you get your facts straight.

For more than 25 years, Mark Smallwood has worked as a writer, marketer, small business owner, and software industry manager and executive. You can read Mark’s regular blog at this site on real world issues facing solo entrepreneurs and small businesses.

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Tags: public relations, strategy, press release, write, article, news

Here are some press release writing tips to write a good press release. A well written press release will get you a lot of free publicity. However, reporters and journalist receive hundreds of press releases everyday and you need to ensure that you write a good press release to get their

A well-written press release can go a very long way – it can get your website free traffic, free inbound links, and long-term publicity. If you want editors to even consider carrying your story, then you should NEVER rush when writing it. Even the smallest mistake can take your online release from the inbox to the trash bin. The best thing to do is hire a professional who has been writing press releases for years. If you do not have the budget or do not trust others to represent your online business, though, you should at least keep these things in mind:

1. Editors are trained to sort out embellished press releases, so be as accurate as you can be. Even free news distribution sites sometimes verify dubious claims before approving a release for publication, so be sure you can support your claims with facts. If you are launching a new online store and you only have 400 items for sale, for example, do not write a press release that says you have thousands in inventory. Not only will news distribution sites reject your story – your site may also earn the reputation for misrepresenting its content, hurting your business in the long run.

2. Check your grammar. Editors read through hundreds (if not thousands) of press releases every day. Make their life easier and improve your chances of getting published by checking your grammar. Your press release must read well, must be written in the active voice, and must be free of misspelled words (use your spell checker!).

3. Write a compelling title. Make sure that your title is newsworthy and written in the present progressive. WRONG TITLE: “A new software will be launched by Company X.” CORRECT TITLE: Company X set to release new software (or better yet, name the software). In short, your title must give the reader the main point of your press release. In press release writing, there is little room for creativity – editors are looking for straightforward statements. Give that to them and your press release should be approved.

4. Your first paragraph (called your ‘lead’) must be especially flawless. If the lead reads well, the press release is as good as published. It should contain the four W’s and one H: what, where, who, why, and how. Remember that press releases are not like feature stories – there is no place for ambiguity. Your lead should be a complete summary of your whole release. An average reasonable person can get the gist of your entire report even if he only reads the lead.

5. Leave contact details. The editor may want to contact you for distribution issues, to ask if they could shorten your article, to request for an image to go with the report, etc. Also, people who come across your press release may want to know more about the product you wrote about or may be interested in doing business with you. So do not forget to put your name, your company’s name, your URL and your email in your press release, usually at the bottom part (mark it ‘contact details’). If you want to, you may even leave your business address and phone number. Be sure at least an email you intend to use for a long time, so that even if you switch phone numbers or move to a new office, you can still be reached.

Johnathan Spencer is an experienced marketer who has written several very powerful press releases. He works as a press release writer for GhostWriterExpress, which provides article, press release and ebook writing services.

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Tags: pr, write, press release, press, publicity

In baseball, it’s said that you know an umpire is top-notch when you never notice his presence. If he’s doing his job, he won’t call attention to himself in any way. It’s much the same for the writer of a press release. When the recipient of a release focuses only on its content — and not on its creation — the writer has succeeded. With that in mind, here’s The 10 Commandments of Press Releases:

1. Thou Shalt Be Professional. No goofy fonts, rainbow paper or silly gimmicks. Even lighthearted press releases represent a communication between one professional and another.

2. Thou Shalt Not Be Promotional. If you can’t get enough objective distance from your company to write a press release that’s not filled with hype and puffery, hire someone to write it for you.

3. Thou Shalt Not Be Boring. Even the driest subject matter allows for some sparks of creativity. Journalists like knowing that there’s a human being communicating with them, not some corporate robot.

4. Thou Shalt Be Brief. Learn to cut out extraneous words. Keep your sentences short. Include only the points necessary to sell the story. The well-crafted one page press release is a thing of beauty.

5. Thou Shalt Know Thy Recipient. A features or lifestyle editor is a very different creature from a city desk editor. If you’re promoting the opening of a new winery, the food and wine editor may be interested in all the details about what kind of aging process and wine press you’re using. The city desk editor just wants to know when the grand opening is and what’s going to happen there.

6. Thou Shalt Use The Proper Tense. When writing a hard news release — a contract signing, a stock split, a major announcement, etc.) use the past tense (Acme Industries has changed its name to AcmeCo, the company announced today…) When writing a soft news release — a trend story, a personal profile, etc. — use the present tense (Jane Smith is one of the best marathon runners over 40. She’s also blind. Thanks to new technology from AcmeCo, Jane is able to…).

7. Thou Shalt Think Visually. A press release is more than words — it’s a visual document that will first be assessed by how it looks.

I’m referring to more than font size or letterhead. I’m talking about the actual layout of the words. Whether received by mail, fax or e-mail, a journalist — often unconsciously — will make decisions about whether to read the release based on how the release is laid out. Big blocks of text and long paragraphs are daunting and uninviting. Short paragraphs and sentences make for a much more visually inviting look.

When writing a non-hard news release, I often use a simple formula — the lead paragraph should be one or two sentences at most. The next paragraph should be very, very short.

Like this.

8. Thou Shalt Tell A Story. How to arrange the facts of a hard news release is pretty much cut and dried. The old “who, what, when, where and how” lead and “inverted pyramid” concepts still hold. (Rather than engage you in a course in basic newswriting, I’ll direct you to a really good discussion of what the inverted pyramid is.

So let’s focus on a soft news release. The trend story, the feel- good company story, the “gee-whiz, I didn’t know anyone was doing that!” release. The difference between these releases and the hard news release is simply a mirror of the difference between a feature story in, say, the entertainment section of your newspaper and the breaking news report on page one. The hard news story is about cold, hard facts (A mudslide closed portions of Interstate 70 last night, causing massive delays). A feature article about the guy who spends all day looking at seismograph readouts trying to predict where the next mudslide will occur will be very different. It’s likely to be in present tense, it won’t load all the facts upfront and it will be designed to draw the reader deep into the text. It is, in short, all about storytelling.

Here’s the formula I use for these kinds of releases. I call it the 3S approach — Situation/Surprise/Support.

The first paragraph sets up the situation. The second paragraph reveals the surprise. The third paragraph supports the claim made in the second paragraph.

One very typical 3S is discussing a common problem in the first paragraph (For centuries, people have accepted memory loss as an inevitable result of aging.) The “surprise” paragraph announces the solution to the problem (But one local man says he’s ready to prove the medical establishment wrong.) The “support” paragraph then tells the story. (John Smith, an Anytown entrepreneur, says he’s found the key to retaining a strong memory function far into old age. His “Memory Maker” software is based on ancient Chinese texts that were used more than 2000 years ago to…)

Another 3S — let’s revisit our mudslide watching friend. How would you start his story using this method?

While John Smith’s colleagues at the National Atmospheric Center are watching the skies for signs of lightning and tornadoes, his attention is focused elsewhere.

John Smith is listening to the mud.

As the Chief Mudslide Analyst at the NAC, Smith spends his days glued to a seismograph, eyes and ears peeled for the telltale signs on an impending slide.

Along with the 3S in action, I also followed the 7th Commandment. That really short second paragraph is a visual grabber, and will keep the journalist reading right into the meat of the release.

9. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness. This may seem an obvious point, but it always bears repeating.

Tell the truth.

Don’t inflate, don’t confabulate, don’t exaggerate. Don’t twist facts, don’t make up numbers, don’t make unsubstantiated claims. Any decent journalist will be able to see right through this. If you’re lucky, you’re release will just get tossed out. If you’re unlucky, you’ll be exposed.

It’s a chance not at all worth taking. Make sure every release you write is honest and on the level.

10. Thou Shalt Know Thy Limitations. Not everyone can write a press release. A good feature release, in particular, isn’t an easy thing to craft. If you just don’t feel like you have the chops to get the job done, hire a professional.

One last tip: right before you start writing your release, spend an hour or two reading your daily paper, paying special attention to stories similar in feel to yours. Immerse yourself in how the pros do it and you’ll be in the right frame of mind to tackle the job!

Bill Stoller, the “Publicity Insider”, has spent two decades as one of America’s top publicists. Now, through his website, eZine and subscription newsletter, Free Publicity: The Newsletter for PR-Hungry Businesses, he’s sharing — for the very first time — his secrets of scoring big publicity. For free articles, killer publicity tips and much, much more, visit Bill’s exclusive new site.

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Tags: commandments, tips, public relations, write, press release

Writing a press release really isn’t that difficult, if you know what you’re doing. Press releases all follow a certain format and once you have the format down all you have to do is come up with interesting copy. But, like I said, first you must learn the basic format.

Note: Always write a hard copy press release on your company letterhead or letterhead from the company you are writing about.

PRESS RELEASE! FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

This should be entirely in capital letters and centered if hard copy or in the upper left margin if sent electronically.

Contact Information

This is where you place the name of whom the editor should contact for more information regarding the release, as well as an appropriate phone number, fax number, and email address.

Headline

A good headline is essential in order to capture an editor’s interest and make him want to read more.

Dateline

Place the name of the city the press release is issued from and the date the release is being written.

Lead Paragraph

Begin the lead paragraph with a strong hook to draw the reader in and make him want to read more. This paragraph will briefly – in two or three sentences – give the reader all the vital information in a way interesting enough to make him want to print your story, even if he weren’t to read another word (remember, editors are extremely busy and if you don’t hook them now chances are you won’t).

Make sure you’ve covered the 5 Ws you learned in basic journalism:

•Who

•What

•When

•Where

•Why

Body

This is where you flesh out your release, that is, fill it in with more detail. A common approach is to use the inverted pyramid technique of giving the information in a most to least important structure. This is also the place to put in a quote or two if you have them.

Company Information

Also known as the Company Boilerplate, this area is where you get to reveal a little about the company or give a brief company history. This can also be about a company product or service that is relevant to the press release.

Contact Information

Use this area to provide the public with the contact information you want them to use; name and phone number of contact person or business, web address, mailing address, etc.

The End

In a storybook these words would inform the reader that the story is over but in a press release the end is signaled a little more professionally. After the very last sentence in your press release simply put three #s, like so:
###

Remember, none of the sections need to be very long. In fact, a short press release is more likely to be read by a busy editor than a lengthy one. Just make sure you have included all the information needed and that it’s crafted as tightly and professionally as you can make it and then send it off.

Kendy Sproul is a freelance writer and owner of The Creative Quill, where she specializes in copywriting and ghostwriting. For more articles and information please visit Kendy at TheCreativeQuill

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Writing a press release is not a very simple task if you do not understand the basic frame work of writing a press release. A press release needs to be written properly, the selection of words needs to be good; it has to be concise and informative. While writing a press release it is important that you remember your target market and its nature. The way you write your press release will be affected by the profile of your target market segment.

The press release is good only if it has the information it is supposed to convey to the reader. It can be considered to be well written only if it has the desired information stated clearly. The content needs to be rich and it also needs to be carefully worded. A press release does not need to have very complex sentences. It needs to be simple enough to be read and understood by the general public.

Many companies prepare lots of press releases. The trick they use is that they prepare many slightly different versions of the same press releases. This is something really good as now the same press release can be sent to different smaller segment of the target audience. Not every one can write a good and effective press release. If you need any help in this regard you can browse through the internet. Many websites will be able to give you a clear guide line about how a press release should be written. You can also hire a professional press release writer to do this job for you

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to generating massive traffic ‘Triple Your Traffic Fast’

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Download a free article marketing guide here: Secrets of Article Writing

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Raymond Nesa is an experienced web marketer specializing in article marketing, traffic generation, and list building.

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Tags: press, write, press release, strategy, tips

Press release may be defined as an article that is written to highlight any newsworthy event or happening of the company that is written in journalistic style. Although writing a press release is quite easy, there are some basic rules that are to be followed when a press release is to be written.

The first basic rule to write a press release is to decide your story. The theme of the press release should be decided with great caution. Whatever be your story make sure that your press release gives all the answers of why, what, where, who and where.

The next basic rule of writing a press release is to write your press release clearly. The language used in the press release should be impressive but simple for the readers to understand. Provide newsworthy information to your readers. Do not make it a method of advertising for your company.

Another basic rule for writing a press release is to make the content of your press release interesting for the readers. The content should have the ability to grip the reader and convince him to read the entire press release.

Giving suitable importance to the title of the press release is also very important. The title of the press release is the first thing that a reader comes across.

The next basic rule of writing a press release is to make your press releases to the point and brief. Long press releases are quite boring for the reader.

Another basic rule for writing a press release is to properly format your press releases. Make your press releases are grammatically correct.

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

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Do you want to learn how to build a massive list fast? Click here: Email List Building

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Tags: public relatons, write, skills, press, press release

A resume is the single-most important document a job seeker can have. It’s the key professional passport that’s required for entry into a new position and sometimes a new career.However, resumes by themselves are lifeless without the accompaniment of a well-crafted cover letter. An apt term, cover letter, because it’s designed to do more than physically cover the resume in mailed form; it’s to cover those aspects of a job seeker’s background that the resume will detail.

The cover letter is most effective when it introduces the job seeker to the reader. Like a sort of written handshake, the cover letter introduces the person, his credentials and desired direction for the future.

By presenting the person, the cover letter includes factual personal information such as name, address (usually home), business, cell and home telephone numbers and a personal email address (sometimes a business email address is listed).

I recommend a personal or home email address because they generally change less frequently than the business address. Also, by providing a home email address, the job seeker is giving the headhunter or potential employer a way to contact him privately and sometimes at a later date.

Conveys personality
A good cover letter will also reveal a snippet of information regarding the personality and possibly character of the writer. Depending on the writing style chosen by the candidate – formal, cookie-cutter, informal, friendly, chatty, conversational – the reader is able to gain some insight into the author of the letter. This preliminary process often helps narrow the list of those who may be pre-screened via phone or invited for in-person interviews.

The credentials portion of the letter is also a window into the mind of the writer. By emphasizing and highlighting select parts of his background, the job seeker is signaling the reader to look more closely at certain parts of his resume. It also should indicate in what direction the job seeker is heading. This helps the headhunter/employer to see how the job seeker perceives himself in relation to his peers.

The uninitiated might think that a person’s experience and credentials are nothing more than a bunch of facts and dates in chronological order. It’s the cover letter that summarizes and crystallizes what the writer feels about the most relevant parts of his background. Determining how a job seeker perceives himself, and the skills he brings to bear, is an integral part of the headhunter’s job. We have to make sure that the candidates’ perception of themselves will match ultimately with how they present themselves to our client.

Lastly, the direction in which a job seeker wants to go is critical to the entire job search process. The more clearly one expresses his aims, hopes, goals and direction, the smoother the process. A cover letter is the best place to state that direction.

One cannot speak about cover letters without emphasizing the need to use the spell and grammar check. Solid writing, good grammar and correct spelling and punctuation are the bedrocks of communication.

A most unusual approach
And from the folder labeled unusual cover letters and correspondence comes the following group that I’ve saved for just this type of occasion:

A cover letter typed neatly on the back of a postcard entitled: Where do I fit in the job market?

A one-page letter with an inset color photo of the candidate holding a basketball captioned: Pete Smith, World’s Worst Basketball Player. The headline reads: He could never hit the J, but there are no Js in PR. The letter continues with references to his PR experience and analogies to basketball.

What’s Halloween without a letter on bright orange paper titled: There’ll be no tricks, only treats, if you can help me find a job!

Memorable stunts include one candidate who telegrammed a client following an interview: I have a great idea for your campaign. Hire me and I’ll tell you what it is, AND another who sent a client a thank-you in the form of a wheel of Brie. Accompanying that was a note that began, I just wanted to thank the big cheese himself…

Jane Doe Up for Grabs screams another letter. It then goes on to describe how this freelancer promises to dress in professional attire (including pantyhose); how her cats went nuts with her credit cards and how she yearns for the normal life of a full-time job.

And finally, one helpful soul who visited Spring Associates’ website wrote: In order to be taken seriously as the leading PR Executive Search firm, proof read you (sic) home page. There is a misspelled word Associates in the first paragraph. Thanks. And thank you!

These letters may not have gotten the writers the intended result – a job, but they certainly gave me a chuckle and got my attention. Do they really work? You be the judge.

Spring Associates, Inc. is arguably the most imitated search firm in public relations. Dennis Spring created his firm in 1980. In addition to executive search services, the company also handles communications audits, mergers and acquisitions, client/agency reviews and PR agency selection searches.

Spring Associates was the FIRST to compile and publish The Official PR Salary & Bonus Report. Considered by many as the industry standard for accurate and reliable salary, bonus and PR agency hourly billing rates. The Report has been published annually since 1996. Feel free to visit this site

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Tags: public relations, write, cover letter, resume, jobs

Writing a press release is an art form and that is why many PR professionals charge over $100 and often over $500 to write a 300 – 500 word press release. Here, we will go through, step by step, what PR experts such as myself do, to help get the most publicity for our clients.

As far as basic formatting is concerned, one should make sure that they start their press release in this format, “City, State, Date – Start Press Release Here”. Three pound signs (###) should be included at the end of the press release to mark that the press release is over. The length of the press release is also a major factor that should be carefully considered. In this case, shorter is not always worse and a concise 200 word press release that includes all of the required information would be sufficient and in often cases, more likely to be picked up than a long press release that is stretched out and restates the same information in different words over and over again. If there is a major newsbreak with the company, then the press release should be somewhere between 300-500 words long. You do not want to write a press release that reaches or exceeds 700 or more words because at this rate you are going to far in depth and while that is good for informational articles, a writer for a major news company gets hundreds of press releases daily and if you are lucky enough for a major media company to even look at your press release and consider it for an article, you do not want to go on and on and stretch the press release out as much as possible because that greatly reduces the chances of that writer choosing your press release for a story.

As far as the content of the press release is concerned, you should have 5-7 paragraphs in your press release. The first paragraph should be short and include basic information such as the “who, what, where, when, and why”. The last paragraph should contain information about the company, similar to what would be written on an “About Us” web page. For the bulk of the content of the press release, you should include at least one or two quotes and two to four paragraphs about the newsworthy event and include all information you would want presented in an article about your press release.

In future articles, we will write, post, and analyze good press releases to give you an example of what a quality press release looks like.

Falco Pangkey is the owner and writer of this website. He writes about getting online and offline Free Publicity. To view more work by Falco, you can visit Public relations articles

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Tags: public relations, tools, press, write, news