Writing Information

Writing Press Releases That Get Noticed


Among the various foolproof methods used to boost traffic to your site (ezine advertising, and search engine submitting, to name a couple) one method seems to be forgotten about by many new Internet marketers. That method is writing press releases.

Press releases are a way to get your business exposed to more and more would be customers. They are written as a news article and submitted to editors who would then print them or follow up with you for a story.

An example of a successful press release can be found at http://www.allprobizops.com/successrelease.html Take a moment to read through that article and then take a closer look.

You'll find that this press release, just like any good news article, answers some basic questions for the reader. Not only that, there is a specific formula involved in constructing the piece.

Here are the questions:

Who?will bring or brought about the event?

What?is going to happen or has happened?

Where?will or did this take place?

When?will or did the event occur?

Why?will or did it occur?

How?will or did it happen?

Now, here is the formula. If you plan to write a great press release you must know and understand how to build it:

First is the headline. Choose the words carefully to convey several things at once to the reader. They must be brief and to the point. You say what the news is about in ten words or less.

The words of your headline must be exciting and dynamic. Don't be afraid to make a bold claim your headline, say for example, "Thousands of People Reap Thousands in New Internet Business." Just be sure - very sure - you back this up with proven facts in your article.

The next component in the formula is the opening. This is where, in no more than two sentences, you capsulate your information - tell what the article is going to be about in bite size. Answer the "who, what, when, where, why, and how" questions as briefly as possible. Save details for later.

Analyze this part of your press release carefully. To be successful the article must be able to peak the readers' attention at this point. In other words, if they read nothing further, they have all the information they need to take action.

Now, shape the third element, the body. Elaborate on your opening. Add descriptions and benefits, quotes and testimonials. Be sure all of your quotes begin and end with quotation marks and give credit and credentials to the persons you quote.

For instance, instead of ending a quote with, "says Barbara Smith," end it with "says Barbara Smith, six figure online entrepreneur and highly praised lecturer on small business on the World Wide Web. Isn't the second way much more powerful and convincing (provided of course, it's true)? That's giving credit AND credentials.

Finally, close your press release with a short call to action. Use a sentence to summarize, then tell your readers how they may get more information. Don't go for the jugular here, though; wait for a follow up contact to make your final sale. But do use action producing words like "get" and "now" ("Get more information "now" by phoning [your name] at [your phone number]).

A few final words are important now. Let me combine them with an exercise to help you remember the five "w's" and one "h" of successful news writing. Make sure you thoroughly consider these questions as you plan and write your release:

Who?will benefit from reading your press release?

What?do you want them to know?

When?is your information available?

Where?can they find more information?

Why?is your information valuable in the lives of your readers?

How?is your information unique? It's going to be submerged in a sea of press releases your intended publisher will have to review.

These are the best means I know to get your press release published once it's submitted to an editor.

P.S. More on this topic can be found by reading Dr. Randall Hansen's Guide to Writing Successful Press Releases at http://www.stetson.edu/~rhansen/prguide.html.

P.P.S. Directories to find places to submit your press release can be found near the end of the same web page.

About The Author

Brian Moore publishes 'BizOps Secrets', a complete ezine resource for online success. Subscribe and receive a free 5 line classified ad. AllPro BizOps, Proven Business Secrets That Work Online. http://www.allprobizops.com


MORE RESOURCES:

WELT ONLINE

Ukraine PM says agrees on EU gas transit monitors
Reuters - 5 hours ago
... of gas volumes supplied by Russia to European countries," the government said in the statement. (Writing by Sabina Zawadzki, editing by Robin Paxton)
Video: Ukraine has shut all gas pipelines to Europe - Gazprom RussiaToday
Gazprom: Yushchenko should work instead of writing letters Kyiv Post (subscription)
Russia orders Gazprom to stop Ukraine gas flow Reuters
Reuters - Reuters
all 4,663 news articles


Writing Lags in Law Schools
Inside Higher Ed, DC - 11 hours ago
“Despite near universal agreement on the value of these skills and competencies, legal writing, for example, is typically featured primarily in the first ...
Law school study links laptop computer use, student engagement Indiana University
all 2 news articles


BBC News

McCollum is over Franken's dirty writing, wants to work with him ...
Minneapolis City Pages, MN - Jan 6, 2009
Betty McCollum is officially over any concerns about Al Franken's dirty porno writing and can't wait another moment to start working alongside the former ...
Video: Coleman Sues Over Minn. Senate Recount Result AssociatedPress
Endless Vote Recounting Tests Minnesota Niceness New York Times
Franken already a 2:1 favorite to win re-election in 2014 Minnesota Independent
MinnPost.com
all 3,375 news articles


USDA Rural Development grant writing workshops
Reno Gazette Journal, NV - 9 hours ago
By Zeeta Augello • USDA Public Information Officer • January 7, 2009 business enterprises, (a private business which will provide or save 50 or less jobs ...


Woman sentenced for writing more than $77000 in bad checks
West Central Tribune, MN - 13 hours ago
... charges of issuing dishonored checks for writing more than $77000 in bad checks for two vehicles, a motorcycle, a snowmobile and an all-terrain vehicle. ...


NewsTalk 94.3

Fitch jailed for writing checks on closed business account
NewsTalk 94.3, Kentucky - 23 hours ago
PADUCAH, KY - Paducah business owner is charged with writing more than $12000 worth of checks on a closed account. 27-year-old Brandon Fitch of Paducah was ...


Manhattan Public Library holding art and writing contest for MLK ...
KTKA.com, KS - 49 minutes ago
Write down your experience or the story of someone you know and submit it to the annual Manhattan Community Martin Luther King Jr. Art and Writing Contest. ...


Paola poet attempts to capture the story of Kansas in writing
Miami County Republic, KS - 5 hours ago
After Washburn, he earned an master of fine arts degree in creative writing from Wichita State University. He currently is an assistant professor of English ...


UMKC Launches Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and the ...
PitchEngine (press release), WY - 21 hours ago
One of the few interdisciplinary MFA programs in the US, the MFA in Creative Writing and the Media Arts is poised to attract literary talent to the region. ...


PR Web (press release)

PR LEADS Adds Writing Services for Press Releases and Articles for ...
PR Web (press release), WA - 11 hours ago
PR LEADS expands its service offerings to include writing services for press releases and articles. The service is designed to let entrepreneurs get ...

Writing - Google News

home | site map
© 2006