Written by If you observe them closely, most press releases look nearly the same, says at least one Toronto Marketing Company. Journalists and even bloggers are people who constantly receive dozens, if not hundreds, of press releases every day. Writing a press release has been simplified using templates and they can now also be distributed online for little to no cost. Because of this, you may find it a challenge to make your press release stand out from the rest. Below are 5 tips to help you write press releases that stand out.
1. Keep Your Press Release Brief
Communicate your message in 300 to 400 words. Whether you’re sending out your press release via fax or online, make sure that your press release is only one page long.
2. The Headline Should Be Your News
Make sure that your press release headline is newsworthy. Of course, you should craft a catchy headline to grab the attention of journalists and bloggers, but you should also make sure that they can immediately tell what your news angle is just by reading the headline.
3. Your Press Release Must Answer the 5Ws
In the first paragraph alone, your press release must answer the 5Ws: Who, What, When, Where and How. Make it easy for journalists and bloggers find the answers quickly and easily.
4. Provide Media Contact Information
Make it easy for journalists and bloggers to contact you for more information if they would like to write a story based on your press release. Include a contact name of the contact person, e-mail address, phone number, fax number and mailing address in every press release you end out.
5. Avoid Using Advertising Language
Resist the temptation to add first person quotes, testimonials or any hype in your press release. Avoid using adjectives too because they will make your press release look advertorial than informational.
All in all, make sure that your press release has all the information that journalists and bloggers need. The more quickly and easily they can have all pertinent information, the better your chances are that your press release won’t be ignored.
