| |
| |
|
Acne Information |
|
|
|
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.
MORE RESOURCES:
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Levines Laws For Pitching With Panache Excerpted from "Selling Goodness- The Guerrilla PR Guide To Promoting Your Charity, Nonprofit Organization, Or Fund Raising Event"Whether you are making a pitch over the phone or in person, whether to a newspaper or magazine journalist or a reporter or producer in the electronic media, there are fundamental rules to follow. To some extent, they coincide with universal rules that apply to all human relations-courtesy, honesty, respect, integrity-but some of them are relatively unique to media relations, such as the advantage of having a topic that grabs by the collar and won't let go. PR tips for business Question: Why should your business issue a press release? Answer: because you have something to say, you want to say it in public and a press release encourages the press to say it for you. And because you want to show your business in a favourable light from the outset and begin the longer-term process of building awareness and understanding of your product or service. Media Relations: Ending the Press Release Crutch When most people think of media relations, they think of press releases. To be sure, writing and distributing them is one of the most important parts of the job. Make Front Page News By NOT Inviting The Media Not a single reporter showed up at our news event. And we were THRILLED!Not a single photographer showed up to capture the moment. Publicity: Three Tips on Writing a Press Release Use journalistic styleReporters are busy. Just like you. Media Releases - Helping Grow Your Business Business people often spend time and money trying to find new ways to stand out from the crowd or craving recognition and exposure for their organisation and its achievements.Communicating with your customers and stakeholders has become more demanding, complex and pressure-driven. PR Where it Matters Most What's more crucial to the success of a business, non-profit or association than its most important outside audiences and stakeholders?Nothing.Those stakeholder behaviors directly impact virtually every management and operating activity of the organization. Does the PR Blueprint Work? Managers, please take a minute and read two sentences: People act on their own perception of the facts before them, which leads to predictable behaviors about which something can be done. When we create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action the very people whose behaviors affect the organization the most, the public relations mission is accomplished. Managers and PR Genius The real public relations geniuses might be managers. You know, managers who pursue their objectives by reaching, persuading and moving those outside audiences whose behavior most affect their organizations, to actions those managers desire. There Is No Such Thing as Competition A wise friend of mine has often said, "There is no such thing as competition." I happen to agree with that philosophy. What People Believe Can Bring You Success Just think about it.If I come to believe that you really didn't dump those chemicals in the river, I'll probably stop picketing your business. Talk Back Radio - Tips To Be A Star On-Air! Talkback radio offers a fantastic opportunity to access thousands of people instantly and relay your or your company's messages. An interview opportunity is highly sought after in today's business and to learn ways of working effectively with the media invaluable to any business. Public Relations Productivity Should it be measured in "publicity by the pound," or by how well external audience behaviors help achieve the organization's key objectives?I opt for holding public relations responsible, first, for recognizing that people act on their perception of the facts leading to behaviors about which something can be done. And second, for how well its practitioners create, change or reinforce that opinion by reaching, persuading and moving-to-desired-action those people whose behaviors affect the organization. How To Get Press To Come To You Have you ever noticed how the same people's names always seem to appear in magazines and newspapers articles which quote them as a source of info and advice on their own particular subject, whether it is web functionality and design, cosmetic surgery or investment banking?They don't just get there by accident. They, or their PR Company, have put in a pretty concerted effort to become an expert in their field. Building Credibility Through Bylined Articles As if making sure your company runs smoothly on an operational level isn't responsibility enough, as a business owner, you're probably overseeing all aspects of your company's public relations program, as well.PR can keep a company above water when times are tough and help the business soar during a fair-weather economy. Media Relations: Making Your Story More Newsworthy During my career as the head of media relations for the world's second largest environmental group, I regularly heard a common refrain from the scientists who so desperately wanted press attention for their projects. "But my project is so important," they'd say, expecting that was enough to crack the evening news. Can Newbies Avoid The Pitfalls? Yes indeed! If you are a young person who has decided that a career in public relations will be your Caviar and Champagne in life, here are four situations in which you do not want to find yourself:1. You confuse the basic function of public relations with sub-parts that make up the whole like publicity, crisis management or employee communications. Publicity - How To Get Your Story on Television A press release telling about "Stevie, the Water-Skiing Squirrel" will never get that talented mammal on the TV news.But that same press release, accompanied by video of Stevie jumping over mini-ramps in an inflatable pool, will make the news 99 days out of 100. Public Relations The wind of changes.. 10 Tips to Give Your Press Release The Edge It Needs to Make the News Writing a press (or media) release is quite an art (and a science) but don't let that scare you. Here are 10 tips to point you in the right direction.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |