Press releases are only effective when they get the coverage of major media outlets in that specific industry. To get picked by these top news organizations, your press release needs to be well-crafted and relevant to their readers. A newsworthy press release also helps you build a good reputation with the journalists and the media as well as it proves to be profitable in the future. However, writing a perfect press release is not everyone’s cup of tea. There are numerous factors that you need to be keeping into consideration before you start writing.
Well, here you can check 10 basic yet effective tips for PR writing:
1. Craft a catchy headline
Journalists are busy professionals as they receive hundreds of press releases every day. Therefore, it is normal for them to just go through the headline to decide which one they are going to read and feature. So, it is imperative to make the headline of your PR interesting and short. It must give a hint of what the entire content is about accurately to attract the readers.
2. Make the first paragraph to-the-point
Again, most reporters will only read the first paragraph to get the gist of the whole content. You have to tell them the subject matter of your entire press release in the opening paragraph. Answer the 5Ws (Who, What, Why, When, and How) in it and you are good to go.
3. Add data
Press releases are close to news than traditional advertisements. That is why they are more credible to the audience. You need to include the real numbers and data regarding your brand as proof of your credibility. It will further help you maintain a good image for your brand in the industry. Make sure your press release can create a faith on the niche so that you can draw more leads for your business.
4. Include quotes
Do you know that quotes add credibility to your press release? People will feel more connected with words of assurance from the important figures in your organization. Incorporating a quote or consumer feedback to your PR will help you attract the attention of the readers. You must make a separate paragraph for the quotes so that you can utilize their effect fully. It makes your press release look more reliable than ever!
5. Add contact information
Your audience may also want to check your integrity by going through your website and social media. Therefore, you should provide them will all that detail to make it easier for them. You must add a boilerplate copy at the end of the PR that contains all the contact information like phone number, email address, website link, social media links, and more.
6. Make Your PR short
In earlier days press releases used to be 2 or even 3 pages long. But now people have a shorter attention span. That is why anything over one page is highly undesirable to the media outlets. Make it informative, brief, and compact. Use simple language that is comprehensible for all your readers.
7. Add sub-headings or bullets if needed
Press releases are written in a formal tone. But sometimes the subject matter of the content calls for sub-headings and bullets to increase its readability. If you are giving details on statistics or figures, you can add bullets or sub-headings to make it easier to read.
8. Add multi-media
Adding apt images, videos, and infographics in between the paragraphs of your press release is a smart way to keep your readers hooked. It breaks the monotony of the long text and brings back their interest in your story. Including multi-media also help your content rank higher in the search results of your customers.
9. Proofread
A press release with any kind of grammatical error, spelling mistake, or typo will get rejected by the journalists instantly. It will also ruin your reputation in front of the bigger audience base. They will be hesitant to read your content the next time as well. Hence, double-check your PR thoroughly before you send it out.
10. Lead the readers to more information
You may have a lot to tell your readers about your company and brand, but you are limited to a page and word limit. Add relevant links that can help your clients acquire more details about your company. Well, it will allow your website see excellent traffic if played correctly.
