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Free Website Content - Getting Press Coverage
Press Releases
By Sharon Housley
Press exposure can significantly impact a
small businesses' success. Press releases are not just for
big businesses; many small businesses find press releases
to be an inexpensive way to gain exposure and attention.
It is not uncommon for reporters from magazines, newspapers
or blogs to scan press releases as a means to locate content.
Here are some tips to enhance the exposure
and quality of your press releases:
1. Relevant
First and foremost, it is important to decide what information
should be included in your press release. Information that
is newsworthy and relevant will have the best chances of
gaining the attention of an editor. The press release should
be sent to related publications: a pet magazine is not going
to print a press release about the latest compression utility,
but it might print a release about software that manages
records of a pets shots.
2. Customize
Giving your press release a personalized touch, especially
for bloggers and online journalists, can be helpful in gaining
attention. Spending an extra few moments to personalize
a press release could be just what is needed to make it
stand out from hundreds of other press releases. While it
is impractical to customize all of the press releases sent,
it might make sense to personalize the releases for key
publications or media outlets.
3. Summarize
By creating a succinct summary of the announcement,
editors will not need to reword, or condense a lengthy release.
The first paragraph or two should clearly state the announcement,
so that an editor's space is limited, they can simply use
the summary in their publication.
4. Swag is Good
The press loves freebies, and by offering them, there
is a chance potential customers will keep your name in their
mind. Feel free to send branded goodies to the editors as
a special thank you for any exposure that you receive.
5. Thank You
If you are interviewed or receive an especially complimentary
review be sure to thank your press contact. As strange as
it might sound rarely are the editors thanked for the coverage
they provide. Extending a heartfelt thank you, could mean
an editor remembers your company when the next press release
is sent.
6. Honesty
The more truthful the release the more likely that it
will get ink. Avoid using superfluous adjectives that inflate
the use your product or service. Keep your press release
factual.
7. Keywords
Be sure to use keywords and keyword phrases in the press
release so that it will be easily located by reporters looking
for specific material.
8. Demand Attention
Carefully select the title for of your press release
so that it attracts attention. The title should contain
key points related to the announcement. A good title is
critical. If the title does not gain the interest of the
editor, it will not matter what the body of the release
says.
Keep in mind that it is unlikely you will
see instant results from the print media. Print media has
a long cycle and you might not see coverage for months.
In short, press releases are great way to
gain attention. The cost of sending a press release is minuscule
when compared to the potential exposure that may result.
A well-written press piece can garner significant press
coverage and exposure.
Building relationships with the media is a
long process and takes considerable time and patience. Editors
have to deal with deadline pressures and locating appropriate
filler content should the need arise, befriending the reporters
will go a long way toward press coverage.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and
podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll
http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
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This article may be used freely in opt-in
publications and websites, provided that the resource box
is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of
the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly
appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
Additional articles available for publication available
at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
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