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The 7 Deadly Sins of News Releases

A news release is often your only chance to make a great first impression.

Newspapers, magazines and trade publications receive them by the truckload. That means sloppy, inaccurate, pointless releases are the first to hit the newsroom wastebasket. To make sure yours isn't one of them, avoid these 7 Deadly Sins:

1. Providing insufficient or wrong information on your news releases, particularly telephone numbers. Releases must be complete, accurate and specific. (Note: A news release is the same as a press release.)

2. Writing too long. They should be no longer than a page.

3. Sending it too late. Mail or fax it to local media at least two weeks before an event, preferably three or four. Major magazines work four to six months ahead of time.

4. Sending a release with no news value. News is what happens that is different. If it isn't different, it isn't news.

5. Blatant commercialism. Avoid hackneyed words and phrases such as spectacular, incredible, the only one of its kind, breakthrough, cutting-edge, unique and state-of-the-art.

6. Omitting a contact name and phone number. At the top of the first page in the left corner, let editors know who they can call if they have questions. Include day, evening and cell phone numbers.

7. Calling after you send a release. Questions like "Did you get my news release?" or "Do you know when it will be printed?" will brand you as a pest. Don't follow up with a phone call to see if the media got your release, unless you are absolutely sure that someone will check for you. Most reporters and editors don't have time. If you do follow up, make sure you have a reason to call. Suggest a particular angle to your story, or ask the media people if they need any other information.


Need More Help with News Releases?

Special Report #39: How to Write Eye-Catching Headlines for Your News Releases and Articles gives you dozens of ideas on how to create sizzling headlines for your press releases, just like the professional copywriters do.

The Do-it-Yourself Press Release Makeover: How to Turn a So-so Press Release Into a Wildly Successful One shows you the most common mistakes you can make when writing a press release--and explains how to avoid them. Joan Stewart interviews author Marcia Yudkin who explains how she writes compelling, attention-grabbing news releases that result in media coverage.

How to Write Killer News Releases That Stop Reporters in Their Tracks shows you how to write news releases that don't end up in the newsroom wastebasket. Joan Stewart interviews publicity expert Paul Hartunian, who shares the secrets of how to capture the attention of busy reporters and editors--and do it on no more than one page.

Fail-Proof Ways to Follow Up After Sending a News Release or Pitch Letter explains in step-by-step detail how to follow up after you send a news release. Joan Stewart interviews author Jill Lublin who tell you how to contact the media after you send a release, and how to entice them with a few other nuggets of information that aren't in the news release.



Direct comments or questions about this article, including requests for reprint rights, to:

Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
Phone: 262-284-7451
JStewart@PublicityHound.com

How to Write a Press Release for Buyers, Not Just for Journalists

Gone are the days, finally, when the success of a press release you've written is determined by how many journalists deem the releases worthy of their time and attention.

Houston publicist Sharon Dotson, president of Bayou City Public Relations, knows that better than anybody.

Sharon says a press release she wrote for her client, Disc Inc., a Houston data conversion and recovery company, explained how the company duplicates CD and DVD labels that print as beautifully as silkscreen, but in small quantities. But apparently that isn't an interesting enough story for the local daily newspaper or business journal. Not even the local business magazines.

So is Sharon in trouble with the client? No way.

When people search the Internet using the keywords "CDs and DVD labels," the search engines are finding the release online and bringing plenty of new customers to the company's doorstep. That's because Sharon used that phrase in the headline, in the first paragraph and throughout the release.

"Before I started doing the press releases for Disc Inc., their website wasn't on the first page of Google for anything," Sharon said. "Not true anymore. The press releases are now on the first page for relevant keywords."

"How to write a press release" rules have changed

In the old days, we wrote press releases only for journalists. Today, smart PR people write press releases to attract buyers, not only journalists, and post them online.

Buyers who find your press release online can click on the link within the release that leads them to your website. And they can buy products and services you offer, even if a newspaper hasn't published the press release.

And if the media eventually cover the story?

As Sharon says: "Well, that's just gravy."

Here's how the rules for writing press releases have changed:

--We no longer write press releases only when we have "legitimate" news that we think is worthy of media attention.

--We no longer have to use the "who, what, when, where and why" formula high in the press release.

--We no longer have to write short press releases.

--No longer do we have to consider a press release a failure if it gets no media attention. If it brings people into our sales funnel, we can proclaim the release a success.

--Under the new rules, we don't measure the success of our releases by the number of clippings it has generated but by whether the press release has been able to change people's behavior.


Free tutorial and sample press releases show you how

My free email course called "89 Ways to Write Powerful Press Releases" shows you how to write direct-to-consumer press releases for the Internet--press releases that even the media will love.

Every day for 89 days in a row, I’ll give you one lesson, delivered via email, on how to write and distribute a press release. Each day, I’ll also give you one opportunity to write a release. For example, if you’re rolling out a new product, that’s one opportunity. Each day’s lesson will take you just a few minutes to read. You'll also see lots of sample press releases, including sample press releases that were rewritten and improved.

By the time you’re done, you’ll learn everything you need to start writing releases not only for journalists, but for the end user. And I’ll show you how to use your press releases to change people’s behavior. That is, to encourage people to do whatever you want them to do: buy tickets to your event, make a donation, test-drive your new product, see your catalog at your website, visit you at a trade show, or whatever.

You’ll see sample press releases for books, sample press releases for events, sample press releases for products, sample press releases for services, sample press releases for causes, and sample press releases for issues, and lots more. And you’ll get tips from some of the very best publicists, PR practitioners and Publicity Hounds on the planet. In fact, Sharon's release about the CDs and DVD labels is one of the sample press releases featured in the course.

You can start the tutorial at any time, and you can opt out of it at any time. Each week, I’ll concentrate on one specific aspect of press releases. The sample press releases are sprinkled throughout the course.


Spread the word about this press release writing course

Bloggers and ezine publishers should tell their readers about this course. If you work for a trade association, let your members know about this course. Companies can share this with their public relations departments. If you have a publicist or a PR agency that does your publicity, be sure to let them know about my tutorial. Be sure you show them the sample press releases and the "before" and "after" makeovers.

I’ve had a blast creating the press release course, and I can hardly wait to share it with you. Sign up for the free course here.



Direct comments or questions about this article, including requests for reprint rights, to:

Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound
3434 County KK
Port Washington, WI 53074
Phone: 262-284-7451
Email