Top 10 Tips for Writing Your Best Press
Release Ever
BY SUSAN VALERI
Keep these few crucial details in mind
when writing and submitting your press release to increase your chances
of news coverage:
1. If you are not the news: become the
news. No matter what your release is about, you need to find a way to
tie into the news. Make use of current trends and statistics.
2. Make sure your headline is catchy,
compelling the reader to continue. Research your newspaper to see what
works to help you write one.
3. Use "Who, what, where, when, why,
how" but not in that order. Your first paragraph should state the
problem your product/service/book is trying to solve. This is the "why".
4. Your next few paragraphs should
contain the "what" and "who" that is solving the problem. Your last
paragraph is the "when and "where".
5. Keep it short and sweet. Concise
contact information should be included on the top and bottom of the
release. Provide a link to your website.
6. Do not "advertise" - this is the
news. Keep it fact-based.
7. Use short quotes that evoke an
emotion about the product/service/book.
8. Type ### at the end of your release
to indicate there are no more pages. A release of more than one page is
not recommended.
9. Include a brief history section at
the bottom of your release with details about your company or your bio.
10. Most importantly - research and
send it to the correct editor using the method they prefer to receive
it. Don't just assume that fax is okay. If you are unsure, pick up the
phone and find out.
Susan Valeri is a book and small
business publicist who gets clients in front of their audience. Her
company,
V.A.S. & Associates, obtains maximum visibility for their clients
through personalized and persistent contact with the media. V.A.S.
offers 15 years experience in the U.S. and Canadian book publicity
market.
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