If you want a good example of how to embed video into your press release, take a look at this release from Marketwire, one of the Big Three press release distribution services. It features a two-minute cartoon that ties into the company’s “Retire Your Old Newswire” campaign. I like the fact that it piggybacks onto the 100th anniversary of the press… Read More
Press Releases
Big magazines want your briefs
Aching to get into a major magazine like Time, Cosmopolitan or AARP? The easiest way is to start writing short items, or briefs, on timely, controversial or fun topics, then submit them to magazines on your media list. When editors are creating a particular issue of the magazine and place a story onto a page,… Read More
How to write a social media press release
Blogger and PR pro Brian Solis has an interesting commentary about social media press releases and how they differ from the traditional press releases that litter the landscape. Social media press release are written specifically for blogs, digital stories, RSS feeds, wikis and other social networks that generate conversation online. Solis offers a tidy summary of the SMPRs and… Read More
PRWeb ends free service
PRWeb has discontinued its free press release distribution service which is probably just as well, because these freebie sites are usually worthless because your release isn’t distributed anywhere. It’s simply parked at a website. That means you have to pay at least $80 to have your release distributed by PRWeb—a service that pushes your releases into… Read More
Media bias: The ugly truth
It’s amazing how clearly you can see things in hindsight. Like media bias, for instance. During the 22 years I worked as a newspaper reporter and editor, if you had told me the media were biased, I’d have wanted to arm-wrestle you. But here we are, 12 years later. In the column I wrote for Bulldog Reporter… Read More
Ban these phrases from press releases
Slap me if you ever hear me uttering the phrase “thinking outside the box.” I’m adding it to David Meerman Scott’s list of most offensive and overly used words and phrases in press releases. (I interviewed David several months ago on “The New Rules of Press Releases: How to Write Them to Attracty Buyers, Not only Journalists.”) His list of… Read More
Press releases that include an incomplete tips list will send readers to your website
Web marketing expert Larry Chase has a dandy tip on how to lead people who are reading your press release online directly to your website: “I sometimes offer 3 out of 10 tips or trends within my press release and a live link thereafter for readers to jump to my site where they can read… Read More
Unsolicited press releases considered spam—but not by me
If you send an unsolicited press release, will journalists consider it spam? Most probably won’t. But there’s an interesting conversation about this topic at the Poynter Online blog. Amy Gahran, who calls herself a conversational media consultant and content strategist, says she flags unsolicited press releases as spam. I commented and said I love getting bad pitches and unsolicited… Read More
Press releases with a video clip come alive
An online press release that includes a video clip can be incredibly powerful. Readers simply click on the video link and watch a short video of you extolling the benefits of your product or service. Here are other ways you can use video: —Readers can watch you demonstrate a new product. —They can see you interviewing a customer who… Read More
Press release writing workshop Oct. 31 in West Bend, Wisconsin
If you live in Greater Milwaukee, join me on October 31 for my first-ever workshop on how to write powerful press releases. It will be held at the University of Wisconsin in Washington County as part of its series called “Adding to Your Organization’s Toolbox—Media and Public Relations.” I’ll present that session over a brown-bag… Read More