How to Write a Press Release

How to Write a Press Release

Writing a press release is, not too different from writing any other document. We are going to discuss the content of your press release and how it should be formatted. Certain rules must be followed to ensure that you are including all the necessary information.

In addition, it must be laid out in a manner that will not negatively affect the reader's interpretation.

Press Release Topic?

What is my story?

In order to write a press release, you must determine the subject of your story. It can be about an event that affects your industry, or it can be about a change in your company that will affect your customer base. Whatever you choose to be your story, you must remember to cover the basics. Your press release must always tell who, what, where, when, and why.

Is my story news?

A mistake that is often made in the development of a press release is the misunderstanding that a press release is an advertisement. It must be understood that, even though a press release can assist your company in acquiring customers, it should not be your focus. The primary purpose of your press release is to deliver a newsworthy story about your company to the reader.

Writing a Press Release

Once you have answered the important questions, it is time to begin writing. Like any other paper, you should always start off with your thesis. Your thesis is the purpose for why you are writing the press release. Make sure that you express this thought in a manner that is of interest to your prospective reader. Readers are very picky; if they do not see relevance in your press release immediately, they will discard it.

The layout for your press release:

First, open with a strong headline to grab the reader's attention. The headline along with your opening paragraph should tell a gripping story. This is essential to keeping the reader's interest as they read through the detail section of the release that follows.

Second, stick to the facts. Make it interesting, but avoid embellishments. Also, when giving the details of your press release, be sure to illustrate the story to your reader. Use real life examples that they will be able to relate to or visualize.

Next, select an appropriate angle for your press release. By this I mean, try to make it relevant. Keep in mind what's going on with social issues and current events and sculpt your press release accordingly. This will make your story even more attractive and worthwhile to potential readers.

Finally, be concise and grammatically correct. Avoid adding extra fluff words that distract from the true meaning of your press release. Don't include clichés and jargon that may not be understood by the general reader. Make sure that you have permission to use any quotes or inside information. This will prevent there being any conflicts that may result in your press release being pulled. Be sure to check you release for punctuation and grammatical errors. Take a look at some other press releases to make sure that you have followed the proper format.