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[W220]Web Site Press Release

by Scott Lindsay, Sco

News distribution portals and services are used by thousands of journalists all around the world. If your press release has it all, you'll probably see it published in thousands of other locations: online or offline. All in all: a good press release will attract immediate attention to your business and website. Unlike articles, that bring you visitors a long time after their first release, press releases have a shorter life. That's why it is so important to write them well.

A well-written online press release has another important advantage: it will increase the number of one way links to your website, thus your search engine ranking. So, although the traffic boost will not last long, you gain by having your press release archived in an online searchable database.

Write Well

Editors will not just publish anything. Your press release needs to respect a few important guidelines.

1. The layout is very important. Your first paragraph should always answer the following five questions: “who?”, “what?”, “when?”, “where?”, “why?”. Limit your press release to one or two pages and always end your press release with a conclusion.

2. Always write the content from the view of the public. Highlight customer benefits, not your own. Know your audience and "think" your audience.

3. Always use proper grammar and spelling. Avoid other silly mistakes such as wrong date, misspelled names, etc.

4. Last but not least, always sign your press release and provide contact information. There is no such thing as an anonymous press release.

Your press release has to be newsworthy. What you might consider great may have little or no importance for your readers. A press release is not a sales brochure it's an announcement. It publicizes an event, a new, extraordinary product or a service. It does not repeat the contents of your website and it does not tell stories that have been told.

Submit Well

Once you have a quality press release you need a quality submission service to reach a broad audience. You need to know that you'll get what you are paying for. PR Newswire is great, reliable and has great coverage. Their fees are fair and accessible. Since this is not an article advertising PR Newswire, I'll include other options too: Eworldwire, PR Web, Submit Express and so on. Just type “press release submission” in any search engine and you'll find plenty of press release submission services, some of them even free.

You should really take care how you write your press release, especially when you pay for submission. For best results I suggest you hire a professional writer. Note that the press submission services listed above do provide press release writing services. But: don't pay for a press release writing service UNLESS your press release is newsworthy for your potential clients.

Fame will bring your business into the forefront of your target audience faster than any advertising campaign can hope to do. It solidifies you as an expert and creates a deep, abiding confidence in the consumer. It makes you a shining star with infinite possibilities. So what are the steps you ask? Well paste a gold star to your forehead and let's get started.

1. Press Releases:
Increase awareness through a press release. Yes, I know, press releases have become quite the popular little tool around cyberspace with releases being blasted hither and there, but are they working? Probably not. Blasting your press release will bring blasted little results. Instead, thoughtfully put together a very dynamic one-page press release and target publications that would be most interested in you and your business. Don't drone out the details; make that press release sing your praises. Then send it to a real live editor and follow up with a phone call. In other words, let the press release be the invitation to your follow up phone call. Begin making connections with the media. Be polite, be excited, and be patient.

2. Create A Press Kit:
A Press kit is basically an exaggerated press release turned into a package. It's more complex, tells more about you and your company, and is all pulled together into a nice neat folder. Of all the questions I receive, first is, what is a press kit? Simply, it is a folder of information about you or your business. It should contain:
A. An Introduction Letter
B. One or Two Press Releases
C. A Fact Sheet
(This contains the facts about you or your business.)
D. Bio Sheet
(Which is a biography of you and your accomplishments.)
E. Copies of Published Articles
F. Company Literature
G. A Business Card
Send your press kit when an editor, publisher, or producer wants to know more about you.

3. Newsletters Offline.
Don't forget that a whole world exists offline. Locate newsletters or smaller print publications offline and submit articles. This can be a very dynamic way to increase your exposure as well as add to your press kit. You can locate newsletters in your subject area by visiting the local university library reference section. Ask for a directory of trade newsletters and do your research. Once you have been published, it's easier to step up to the larger publications. Fame starts small and then snowballs onto itself.

4. Speak Up!
Yep, that's right. Start giving speeches on your area of expertise. Start locally at civic clubs and local educational programs. Then find the local talk radio shows and make your case to the producer. It's surprising how many talk radio shows are actively looking for new speakers. Once you have achieved Talk Radio, the opportunities will start coming to you.

5. Publicity Pitches:
Put together several dynamic article ideas. Just the ideas, not the actual article. This is called a Publicity Pitch. Take those ideas and then pitch them to editors of targeted publications. This can work very well as it saves Editors time and puts the outline right into their hands. As a past Editor I know how well this works. Editors love ideas, especially ideas that are completely outlined and correct for their readership. This means don't send pet article ideas to cooking magazines. Send pet articles ideas to pet publications. Seems like a no brainer, huh? But you'd be amazed at what editors see that don't apply to their own publication.

Fame comes from planning and persistence. It has its rejections, but if you can learn not to take it personally, it will eventually work. Remember, once you start, keep going. Once you stop, you have to start all over.

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About Author

Both Scott Lindsay & Anne Baugh are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Scott Lindsay has sinced written about articles on various topics from Payday Loans, Computers and The Internet and Mens Health. . Scott Lindsay's top article generates over 1830000 views. to your Favourites.

Anne Baugh has sinced written about articles on various topics from Adsense, Small Business and SEO Search Engine Optimization. Anne Marie Baugh is a noted publicist for cyber-stars such as Rick Beneteau, John Harricharan, Larry Scott and more. She also owns and operates Write-Promotion, an online business that works hands-on with businesses looking for promotional avenues to cybe. Anne Baugh's top article generates over 3600 views. to your Favourites.