We’ve talked about what a news release is and what it isn’t as well as when to send a release.
Now it’s time to discuss how to write a news release.
There are so many excellent resources on writing press releases that I’m going to refer you to those resources rather than going into great detail on the process of writing a news release.
The only advice I’m going to give you is two items not generally included in press release writing articles:
- You can tag the news release with how the release can be used by journalists. I’ve never heard this advice from anyone but my news-release mentor, George McKenzie. He suggests (and includes in his The Instant Press Release Toolkit
) a category in the upper left corner of the release: feature/human interest story, holiday tie-in, current topic tie-in, evergreen story about {subject}, … The journalist can have a story idea before even reading the release. If that person isn’t interested in the story angle, she may pass it on to someone in another department where it might be a better fit.
- End the release with a call to action. Schedule an interview, visit a Web site, find the book in your local bookstore, etc. Of course, this is not an advertisement: the call to action isn’t shop at my store or buy my book. The call to action is guiding the reader to more information.
For details on writing a press release, read the articles and try the templates below:
Build Buzz With This Book Launch Press Release Template by Jennifer Mattern at All Book Marketing
Free Press Release Template - Basic by Jennifer Mattern at BizAmmo
Free Press Release Template - Online by Jennifer Mattern at BizAmmo
How to Write a Great Press Release: A Sample Press Release Template by Bill Stoller at Publicity Insider
How to Write a Press Release by Jennifer Mattern at BizAmmo
How to Write a Social Media Press Release by Muhammad Saleem at Copyblogger
Press Releases 2 by Helen Ginger at Straight from Hel
The Modern Day Press Release by Lisa Vella at Getting It Write for You
Writing Press Releases Part 1 by Angela at Pearl Writing Services
Writing Press Releases Part 2 - Formatting by Angela at Pearl Writing Services
In the next, and final, installment of the series, we’ll talk about news release distribution.
Technorati Tags: news release, press release
Lillie,
Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful and informative series! I am truly enjoying it and can hardly wait for the last installment! You always give 110%. Thank you for the links as well!
Have a wonderful day!
Lisa
Thank you, Lisa.
A lot of link in one post ;0
Yes, there were so many excellent resources on writing press releases that I couldn’t narrow down the list.
Lillie, although there are several links in this post I am grateful that you shared them. I can’t wait to go and read them all. You’re such a source of inspiration, information, and encouragement.
Thank you,
Michele
Michele,
I see no reason to re-invent the wheel. When there is so much good information available, my readers are better-served if I direct them to what’s already there and share my own insights rather than just repeating information that’s already available - and generally better than I could have said it. I’m glad you find the links helpful.