What is the format of a press release?

A press release contains your business logo, a headline, a lead paragraph summarizing the announcement, and a newsworthy angle. Your press release will have three to four paragraphs of text within the body, hyperlinks, social media links, quotes, and multimedia.

What are the 5 parts of a press release?

Consider these five components when drafting your release and you’ll set yourself up for success.
  • Relevant timing. …
  • Compelling headline. …
  • Informative lead paragraph. …
  • Supporting quotes. …
  • Clear call to action.

How do you write a 2020 press release?

Kick off your release with a bold and blunt headline.
  1. Be concise – try to keep your headline to 5-8 words.
  2. Focus on your audience, not your company or product.
  3. Use an exciting verb.
  4. Skip adjectives and adverbs.

What is press release with example?

A press release is an official (written or recorded) statement that a company makes to the news media, and beyond. We are talking about the same thing whether we call it a “press announcement,” a “press release,” or a “news release.”

What does a good press release include?

A good press release should take a factual tone and be short and concise, giving the journalist the essence of the story. They will get in touch if they want more information. If you get the news content right and write to the publication’s style, you give yourself a good chance of getting your story across.

Are press releases still relevant 2021?

In short, yes, press releases still work, though how they work and what makes them effective has shifted. Press releases used to be the most straightforward (and costly) way to let the media know what you were up to (i.e., what product, service, cause or event you were using to make an impact in the world).

What 5 basic questions should a news release answer?

Throughout my tenure in the PR profession, I have developed five basic questions that every practitioner must answer when drafting and editing press releases:
  • What are we announcing? …
  • Who is the target audience? …
  • What are the impacts or benefits? …
  • When and where is it available? …
  • Who will be the spokesperson?

What does a press release email look like?

The main part of the email body should include one or two paragraphs containing the so-called “meat”—the essence; the key details and info that should win the journalists’ attention. Next, after your standard email ending (“Regards, John Smith”), paste your press release text into a clearly separated section.

How do you introduce a press release in an email?

The most effective way to do this is to write a brief “covering letter” press release email. You can then copy-and-paste the press release to the bottom of the email. This is preferable to adding it as an attachment or link, as people can be wary when it comes to opening files from an unknown email.

How do you address a press release?

Type “FOR PRESS RELEASE” in the center of the page under the subject line.
…
Incorporate your organization’s letterhead in your press release.
  1. Name of the organization.
  2. Mailing address line 1.
  3. Mailing address line 2.
  4. City, State, Zip.
  5. Main telephone number.
  6. Website address.

Should a press release be a PDF?

The PDF is the king of “static”

Most companies that have a news- or pressroom on their website make their press releases available to journalists. In fact, it is best practice to do so. However, when a newsroom contains releases in only PDF, the PR department will lose on conversion, engagement, and measurement.

What’s the best time to send a press release?

between 10 am and 2 pm
The best time to send a press release is between 10 am and 2 pm—this is when editors open about one-third of all the emails they’ve received. Early mornings are less effective: open rates drop to 20.5% between 6 and 10 am.

How long should a press release be?

about 300 to 400 words
Be concise

The ideal length of a press release is about an A4 side or about 300 to 400 words (the length of a short news item). That’s just three or four short paragraphs and a couple of of quotes.

Do journalists read press releases?

A recent study found that 70% of reporters spend less than a minute reading each press release they receive. This is pretty damning and doesn’t exactly fill us with confidence. In addition, the same study also revealed that only 28% of quotes featured in press releases are actually used.

How much does it cost to get a press release?

Distributing your press release locally or to most states will cost $350. Targeting your top markets or regionally will bring the price up to $575, and sending your press release nationally will cost around $805.

Do you email a press release as an attachment?

Never Send a Press Release as an Attachment

So forget the attachments. Instead, simply copy your text and paste it into the body of your email message. It’s also best to stick with “plain text” and stay away from special text formatting in your message.

What do journalists do with press releases?

That’s where press releases come in. Concisely written and targeted, press releases draw media attention to newsworthy events. Mainly used by public relations specialists, press releases are written to gain free publicity and contain enough information required to write a compelling news story.

Where do journalists get press releases?

That’s because the story originates from a wire service. News agencies like Reuters, Bloomberg, and the Associated Press (AP) hire journalists to write original articles that are published on the wire and picked up by a variety of subscribing news outlets.