Ten years ago, people would grab their newspapers even before their breakfast to know the latest news. Today, the majority of the readers have skipped the print media and relied on social media platforms to scan the headlines. People now have more control now on how, when and where they will get their information than before. Does it spell the demise of press releases?

The answer is no. You need to update your mindset and make press release as a PR strategy to connect with the audiences that you are targeting, which should not be limited to reporters.

What Makes a Press Release Stand Out

With a regular supply of newsworthy press release can help your company stand out and build a connection with journalists over time. It is an official announcement that a company issues to the news media.

Most press releases are concise at just a page long; it is enough for the company to provide information to the news outlets so that they can have sufficient material to write about. It may be tempting to embellish the press release with company accomplishments or twist some facts, but this is not how it should be done. A press release format is basic across all types.

How to Write a Press Release?

If you have a story to tell, it is time to get it down into words and write a press release to share with your industry, followers, and community.  At Linking News, a press release distribution service, you can browse through their more than a hundred press release template to match your story in mind and use it to write your press release. You can also see the examples to give you an idea of what a newsworthy press release is.

In the meantime, here are the rules that you need to keep in mind before writing a press copy.

Make the Headline Irresistible

The success of your press release starts with the headline. This is a short line yet very powerful. It should be captivating. You can use action words, in a clear and understandable language. The short headlines always attract the attention of the people and the (media). If it is not interesting, it is not worth the journalist’s attention and time.

Convey the Value of your News to the Press

You have to tell the media upfront why they should care about your story. How do you do that? The first paragraph of the press release is very critical as it should contain what, who, why, when, where and how of the story. They do not have enough time to go through the fluff of your press release. If you do this, your press release can get their attention.

Offer a Tempting Quote

A quote can bring the details to life and adds human interest to the press release. It can also paint a picture on how your news story can affect the community, the industry, and the customer base. Get a quote from leading figures and authority to give the story some gravitas.

Provide a valuable background

This is the purpose of the last paragraph, to strengthen the whole narrative. Do not provide extra information to the story. Your press release should be concise and helpful.

Provide the information in the boilerplate

Make your press release easy to reference. Complete the required information in the boilerplate plus the link to your homepage.

See, traditional press releases can still be valuable by giving it a modern makeover to make it a useful marketing tool.