Publicity: Three Tips on Writing a Press Release

Use journalistic style

Reporters are busy. Just like you.

So when you write anything for the media, be concise and tight.

Short, simple, sentences. Lively. Ridiculously short. Even if they seem to violate those fourth-grade grammar rules about complete sentences.

Save big, sophisticated words for impressing old English teachers at school reunions. To get free publicity from the media, use common words.

It's OK. Trust me. It's how they write. It's what they want. Shows 'em you understand their jobs.

Keep everything short. Not just sentences.

The whole press release should be short ? one page, or two at most. Honest.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, one of this nation's enduring literary masterpieces, is only 278 words. Surely you can entice a reporter's attention with less than 400 words, which is about one page.

Hold the adjectives and the jargon

Be lively and colorful in your writing. But avoid the hype. Adjectives in a release doom you to the trash box. "Unique," "Exceptional," "Remarkable," "Cutting-edge"?. All they say to a reporter is, "toss me." Better: let the facts ? your story ? speak for themselves.

If there's anything reporters hate more than hype, it's jargon. Reporters have even created web sites to vent their frustration about this. Avoid hackneyed words and phrases like "solution" or "best-in-breed." Use plain English. Like Lincoln did.

Ned Steele works with people in professional services who want to build their practice and accelerate their growth. The president of Ned Steele's MediaImpact, he is the author of 102 Publicity Tips To Grow a Business or Practice. To learn more visit http://www.MediaImpact.biz or call 212-243-8383.

---

If Your PR Cant Do This, Bag It!

As a business, non-profit or association manager, why continue a... Read More

The Story The Media Really Wants

If you're like most of my clients, you're probably interested... Read More

Marketing-Minded Financial Planners, Make Your Web Site a Resource for the Media

Reporters, by nature, are curious people.If you can get them... Read More

Are You a PR Chowderhead?

You are if you stand by while your public relations... Read More

When Should You Outsource Your PR Efforts?

1) Do you NEED solid, consistant media exposure...week after week,... Read More

Public Relations: Toast?

Could be, when unit managers in businesses, non-profits and associations... Read More

Public Relations 8 Fix Factors

I say to business, non-profit and association managers, a key... Read More

How To Write A Press Release: The 10 Commandments Of A Great Lead Paragraph

How to write a press release is a major challenge... Read More

A PR Surprise for Managers

For those business, non-profit and association managers committed to PR... Read More

How to Form a Relationship with a Newspaper

How do you make a good relationship with a newspaper... Read More

Public Relations Strategies: Focus PR Campaigns with Media Coverage Analysis

Prior to launching a new public relations campaign, evaluate the... Read More

Media Releases - Helping Grow Your Business

Business people often spend time and money trying to find... Read More

Financial Planners Garner Free Publicity by Making it Easy for the Media

Would you advise clients to buy a stock based on... Read More

How to Stay Composed During Contentious TV Interviews

NOTE: Brad Phillips was a Producer for CNN's The Capital... Read More

Financial Planners Publicity and Marketing - Live By The Calendar

The media live by the calendar. Your story pitch might... Read More

How To Get Press To Come To You

Have you ever noticed how the same people's names always... Read More

Competition in the News Creates Spin

In larger cities with many outlets they are competing for... Read More

Publicity: Three Tips on Writing a Press Release

Use journalistic styleReporters are busy. Just like you.So when you... Read More

How To Get Radio-Active PR For Your Non-Profit Cause: Part Two of Three

FIVE WAYS TO GET ON THE RADIOHere are five basic... Read More

How to Write a Press Release

Why You Should Write Press Releases: A press release is... Read More

What You Dont Know About PR Can Hurt You

And hurt bad if you are a business, non-profit or... Read More

What Kind of PR Makes Sense?

For business, non-profit and association managers, is it publicity that... Read More

PR: Whats the Point?

Here's the point: people act on their own perception of... Read More

Managers and PR: One Thing Is Clear

As a business, non-profit or association manager, you have a... Read More

Making Your Own News

Getting a press release published in a newspaper or magazines... Read More

When Tactics Are Not Enough

Your public relations people are busy. The buzz is all... Read More

Managers: Do You Trust Your PR?

You can if, as a business, non-profit or association manager,... Read More

What People Believe Can Bring You Success

Just think about it.If I come to believe that you... Read More

PR - More Than News Releases

Public relations and news releases are synonymous in the minds... Read More

Press Releases

How do press releases or interest stories have an effect... Read More

Anchor Your Relationships

I heard a speaker recently who was talking about how... Read More

How Managers Hit PR Paydirt

As a business, non-profit or association manager, you'll know it's... Read More

Crisis Management

The Internet may have opened worlds for businesses and consumers,... Read More