by Kim Stearns

Press releases act as a simple way for those working in the media (e.g. bloggers, reporters, journalists, podcasters) to fill their newspaper pages or blog sites with news-worthy information. Press releases can be distributed in a variety of formats; the most effective of which is sending it directly to any media contacts you may already have, such as editors of school newspapers. Other avenues for distributing press releases include newswires and
free press release distribution sites, both of which allow bloggers and reporters to find your press release through search engines.

Just as important as the channels you distribute your press release on is the format in which your release is presented. There are plenty of resources out there for properly formatting your release. All of them include these few core components:

1. Make sure to mark your release with “NEWS RELEASE” along the top. This will help to distinguish from the hundreds of other emails your media contacts receive daily
2. Provide specific contact information at the very top of your release including email and phone number should they need more information
3. Make your headline stand out!
4. Keep your release to one page, and end your release with the standard “-30-” this will indicate there are no more pages to your release

The most important thing to remember when creating a press release is that these reporters and bloggers receive hundreds, if not thousands, press releases per day. Your challenge as a PR or marketing professional is to ensure that your press release gets noticed and published. The best way to make this happen is to write about something unique and give your press release an intriguing title. Simply stating facts and quotes is easy, but digging and telling a true story about your newsworthy item is what will give these important media contacts something valuable to write about.

Editor’s Note: We encourage local PBL chapters to create press releases when they have exciting news to share with the local community.

_______________________________________________________________

Kim Stearns is a former Phi Beta Lambda member. She is currently the Marketing Director at Forty Agency in Phoenix and is also the President/Founder of Commpose.

Linked In: http://www.linkedin.com/in/kimstearns
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kimstearns

Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stylianosm / CC BY 2.0