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A Proper Press Release Format
Got news? The correct press release format gets your message on the wires!
Want a high quality back-link to your website? The proper press release format that includes anchor text achieves this.
You’ve got a website. You need to use every available forum to get your website noticed. One avenue of publicity that’s often neglected is the press release. A well written press release can work wonders in driving traffic to your site. All you need to get your website on the map is a few carefully crafted words in the correct press release format. Let’s take a look at how to format a press release that grabs the attention of the media and thus, your audience.
The press release is much like a newspaper story, in that you are conveying information about your company that’s newsworthy. So what’s newsworthy? Your press release should contain information that draws attention to your organization’s products or services, without a hard sell element. This requires finesse. Use the press release format to your advantage. The formatting requirements are simple, but must be strictly adhered to, if you want the right people to pick it up. Let’s take a step-by-step look at how to write a press release that works.
1. Begin with a simple text file. At the top left, in all caps, type: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Alternatively, if you want your press release to be published in future, type HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL (DATE).
2. On the line immediately following, type your headline. Keep it short and sweet, concisely describing the content. For example, when introducing a new product, a good headline might read as follows:
Flutter.com Announces Ground-breaking Platform That Allows ADD Users to Mini-Micro-Blog in 26 Characters
This headline is the “hook” which should spur the reader to want to know more. Keep it to one line and never use exclamation points in any portion of the press release. Also try to use your target keyword in the headline.
3. On the next line, insert your location and date of the release as follows:
City, State, Country – Month Day, Year
4. Now, insert a line to separate location and date from the body of your story.
Here are the important rules on your content. Your whole story should be no longer than 500 words. Write at least a few paragraphs, consisting of just 3-4 sentences. Your first paragraph should tell the whole story. As applicable, address the “five W’s”: who, what, where, when and why.
Details are contained in the subsequent paragraphs. The most effective press releases captures the reader’s interest in the opening paragraph.
Always use third-person in your press release format. For example, if you’re John Adams, write “According to CEO John Adams, Flutter.com …”, not “I’m John Adams, creator of the …”. Quotes from experts enhance the impact of your press release.
Incorrect spelling and grammar errors may well kill your chances of having your story picked up. Your content must be factual and accurate, while incorporating an angle. Your angle is where you do your promotional work, albeit subtly.
Your last paragraph should reiterate in summary your key points.
Include appropriate contact information.
Finally, don’t forget to sprinkle your target keyword phrase through-out the text. Just don’t overdo it or the search engine and/or your readers will object. If the press release site allows it, use your keyword as anchor text and hyperlink back to your website. If you can’t add links in the body, you’ll need to add your link at the end.
5. The last part of the press release format is easy. Space one line and type, END or ###.
You’re done! Now, get it out on the wires!
Here are some good press-release sites.
Paid Sites But Worth It:
* www.prweb.com
* www.prleap.com
* www.webwire.com
* www.prbuzz.com
Free Sites:
* www.24-7pressrelease.com
* www.free-press-release.com
* www.pr9.net
* www.prcompass.com
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