How to Craft a killer Press Release

Mentions in mainstream media sell products and build reputations. Stories might go viral on Twitter or YouTube but for a lot of people, a story still isn’t real until they’ve read it in a newspaper or seen it on the TV.

The good news is that the media is hungry for good stories. A single morning show might churn through 20 guests in a single broadcast, for example. And just think about how many people, companies, and products are mentioned in a single day’s newspaper. The format demands constant, fresh information. That information has to come from someone. Why not you?

The bad news is you have to know how to present your story before the media will pay attention. Journalists are busy are excited to work with tips from people who make it easy for them to do their jobs, but they’re jaded by the time-wasters they hear from every day.

That’s why companies and serious business people invest thousands in the services of PR agencies. But all those companies are doing is taking information from their client — you — already have and packaging it into the right format. Generally, that means a press release.

Two things you must know about writing a press release

1. Most stories you read in your newspaper started as a press release

2. Most press releases never get read

The media myth

We love — and the media likes to perpetuate — the image of journalists in trench coats and fedoras doing the rounds, cultivating inside sources; buying them drinks in smokey bars; and basically beating the bushes to see what stories they can turn up.

The press release reality

The reality is that journalists are too busy for anything so time-consuming and hit-and-miss. Staff journalists need to turn in a certain number of stories a day or week; freelance journalists need to turn in as many stories as possible to make a living.

Journalists need stories to come to them. That happens when people and businesses know how to write a great press release.

Why most press releases fail

You’ll slap your head in disbelief when I show you in the book the simple reason most press releases fail. How is it that highly paid public relations professionals get something so basic so wrong?

Readers of this book have written great press releases that earned them a great amount of money.

You can do the same for yourself once you understand how to avoid the easiest and commonest mistake in public relations writing, and master your way to success.

The dirty secret of media release

There’s a dirty secret the media doesn’t want you to know. But I’ll tell you what it is and how it’s going to help you in writing and pitching your story.

Be your own public relations professional

In “Learn How to Craft A Killer Press Release” author, Henry Perez have distilled everything he knows about presenting stories to journalists into a plain-English guide that will turn you into your own PR expert.

The book begins with a discussion of what press releases are and then walks you through finding your story, preparing to write, getting your head and subhead down, crafting body copy, adding your boilerplate, and sending the release to media outlets, plus tips and tricks on how to make money offering your services online.

You will also learn the mistakes that lead to most press releases never being read (and how to make sure yours is read), plus an example release to use as sample press release template.

This book is an excellent resource for both new and experienced writers, this comprehensive guide will have you writing compelling press releases in no time!