Zach and I are back and rested after a much needed Spring Break.
This week's exciting installment about "content" will delve into the very heart and soul of the public relations industry - and the press release. Press (or news) releases are one of the oldest, most common and most effective forms of PR practice. The thing we've noticed among our classmates is a general sense of fear when it comes to being assigned a press release writing project. The only cure for this, of course, is practice. However, the "content" of any press release is what makes or breaks it.
Tips for crafting great press release content:
- Remember that your goal is to inform, not sell or promote. This actually takes some of the pressure off the writer.
- Be sure your news is actually newsworthy. Be certain that you have a real subject to write about. A new offer? An event? A new product or service? Relevance is key.
- Start strong. Remember to engage the reader within the lead paragraph - the crucial first few sentences must make an impression.
- End strong. Press releases don't have to be long to be super effective. Write well and give all the necessary information in a clear, concise manner.
Beyond these few simple tips, we can only say PRACTICE, practice and then practice some more. That's how we learn best.
If you're a beginning writer, click here for a link to the basic contents of the press release.
-Austin and Zach
No comments:
Post a Comment