Press releases are a fundamental part of public relations. These are authentic documents that provide information on products to be released, events scheduled to occur, or other newsworthy developments of interest to the community. Most public relations departments take responsibility for bringing the company’s business to the public’s attention, and one of the instruments they use is the press release with help of a Press Release Writer.
Media people receive an astounding number of press releases every week, so a press release must be well written and enjoyable to get their attention with a Press Release Writer. With this reality, writing press releases for beginners may seem an impossible challenge. Nevertheless, some universal tenets can help beginners write effective press releases and a Press Release Writer.
- Create a good headline that will grab attention.
Just as it would be with articles in magazine articles, books, or promotional pamphlets, the beginning of a press release is of the utmost importance. A powerful headline or an email subject line will grab the attention of journalists who are looking for good stories. It would help if you had a headline that is both accurate and engaging. Writing press releases for beginners means learning this trick as soon as possible.
- Use the first paragraph to go straight to the point.
Editors and reporters are busy people who are always trying to keep up with the latest news. Presume that they will only pay attention to the first paragraph and, based on what it says, they will decide whether the document is worth publishing. The reporters will also immediately determine whether they should cover the event or move on to another press release.
- Include reliable numbers and hard facts.
Supplying a page with a complete imaginative and vivid narrative is easy, but this is not what you want on your press release. Leave the creativity to fiction writers. Instead, make sure to fill your press release with reliable numbers that back the import of your announcement. For example, if you are implying that your product is trending, make sure to support it with figures. Make the argument more compelling by quantifying it.
- Make sure your grammar is flawless.
Proofing your press release is crucial. First, read it aloud since that usually makes errors more noticeable. Then, let other people check it, too, before you send it. In formal writing such as this, a single mistake can prevent an editor from taking your press release seriously.
- Be sure to include quotes on every occasion this is possible.
Relevant statements from authorities or people involved in the company or event add a human component to press releases. A good quote is also a credible information source since it is relatively easy to check if the statement is true.
- Do not forget to include your contact details.
One of the essential tips on writing press releases for beginners is the reminder on contact information. Quite often, people responsible for writing or sending out press releases neglect to include their contact information. When this happens, the press release becomes ineffectual because reporters cannot follow up or obtain the information they need. So, at the top of the press release page, ensure that you put contact details like email address and phone number.
- Keep it short, keep it simple – two pages at the most.
One of the crucial things to remember concerning writing press releases for beginners is to keep things short and sweet. A press release should be limited to two pages at the most. The best length, however, is one page which would run to about 500 words. Be concise and, where this is possible, condense the most important information so that your document is sharp and easy to read.
- Offer access to supplementary information.
The press release is supposed to provide the most important, critical information. However, such does not mean it cannot give relevant links or references for readers who want to know more about the company or the product. One essential link that a press release can provide is the company website. Such makes it possible for the press release to carry out its underlying function of bringing the company to the world’s attention.
Of course, before you can begin writing press releases professionally, you need to go through a process first. For one, you will need a bachelor’s degree in any of the following degree fields: journalism, public relations, English, advertising, or communications. However, you will not readily get started with writing press releases after graduation.
Suppose you graduated with any of the degrees mentioned above. In that case, you will need to establish a career for yourself first before you can become a public relations specialist and start writing press releases. You can try a career as a marketing communications writer, technical writer, proposal writer, or copywriter. Succinctly, you will need to rise through the ranks via various entry-level positions before you can start writing press releases professionally.
You may even need supplementary training to familiarize yourself with specific industry needs since you will be working with different businesses once you start writing. It would help if you have the following skills:
- Ability to meet deadlines
- Ability to work on many projects
- Able to identify priority projects
- Can supervise projects
- Good at public speaking
- People skills
- Proficiency with graphic design software and word processors
- Able to delegate duties
- Customer service skills
What if you only have a certificate issued by the community college where you took some writing courses? If that is the case, perhaps you would be better off buying degrees online. Some employers are more comfortable hiring applicants with degrees to show for, so buying degrees online may be the best option for you.
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One of the skills you need to master as a press release writer is targeting search engines. The following section will explain it further.
Writing Press Releases for SEO
Well-written press releases inform communities about what is happening in a company and help build credibility for it. However, when it comes to writing press releases targeting search engines, it is not enough to write a good copy. There are a few techniques to put into practice when writing press releases for search engine optimization (SEO).
These techniques will help your page, website, advertisement, or press release get a better ranking on search engines. Such is very important since the higher the SEO ranking of a document is, the better its chances for visibility. Below are some recommendations on writing press releases for SEO.
- The first thing that you need to do is make a list of keywords. These are the words or phrases that readers will use to search for your press release. These may include the company name, product name, or other terms relevant to the company you are writing for.
- Choose a few keywords or keyword phrases based on search terms people would use to find your release. You would do well to use Google’s free keyword research tool to find out which words are the most searched for variations of these terms.
- Place the keywords strategically. Without overdoing it, make the first and last paragraph rich in keywords. Then, use your targeted keyword phrases when linking to landing pages and add rich media to your releases. Google and other major search engines favor content with images, video, and audio.
- For better readability, break down the body of your press release into subheadings. Then, use the keywords again in the subheadings.
- When creating press releases for SEO, remember to keep the language of the press release simple. Avoid jargon and use short rather than long, complex sentences. A press release is not a technical paper, so keep the writing fit for the public.
- It is a good idea to use pointers or bullets when writing SEO-friendly press releases. These make articles easier to read.
- Use as many backlinks as you can in the press release to direct readers to the website if they need more information.
Remember that a well-written press release must have embedded links to key web pages on the company’s site. With this strategy, when a press release goes to a distribution service, it can be syndicated and posted on numerous third-party blogs and websites. Those links become a link signal for major search engines. As a result, the company’s website becomes more visible.
Bear in mind that in addition, search engines place an extreme emphasis on the content early in your release. So, the headline, subheadings, and first two paragraphs are the most critical parts of your press release. Therefore, use your targeted keywords whenever you can within this space.
Your headline should be clear and concise. To be indexed in Google, search engines rely on page titles when they create rankings. When you are writing press releases for SEO, this means your headline is the most significant factor in making the document, webpage, or product visible. Therefore, stay within 22 words for your headline and be straightforward.
