Tags |
|
|
Links |
|
|
Casual Articles - Press Release Primer - Are You Ready to Grab Some Attention?
How To Start Your Own Non-Profit Organization
Want to start a non-profit organization and not sure where to start? This is and can be a long, involved process and takes some time and consideration, least of which is to decide whether to go non-profit or for-profit, as (as ludicrous as it may seem) there are less regulations behind a for-profit than a non-profit.There are a few requirements that you will need to consider and these are as follows: Determine that you really need to start a non-profit. There is more regulation and administration work involved in a non-profit organization than a for-profit.You will be asked to define your charitable purpose and will have regulatio
confidence.
Want to start a non-profit organization and not sure where to start? This is and can be a long, involved process and takes some time and consideration, least of which is to decide whether to go non-profit or for-profit, as (as ludicrous as it may seem) there are less regulations behind a for-profit than a non-profit.There are a few requirements that you will need to consider and these are as follows: Determine that you really need to start a non-profit. There is more regulation and administration work involved in a non-profit organization than a for-profit.You will be asked to define your charitable purpose and will have regulatio
Grammar and spelling should be checked and rechecked. Read it; edit and re-read; print it out; read again; email to friends for corrections; give yourself many chances to catch mistakes. Then don't rush to publish. Reading something again after a nights sleep is always an eye opener for me. Something about my focus during the writing process tunes out errors that jump off the page the next day. This is why an extra set of eyes, or waiting t
Survival of the Fastest?
With cell phones, PDA’s and instant messaging we continue to seek devices and software that will allow us to accomplish multiple tasks efficiently and effectively. Survival of the swiftest has been the business mantra for some time.Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? The hare is swift, and when the race begins he feels he can easily put a great deal of distance between himself and the tortoise. Thinking his speed will allow him to overtake the tortoise at will, the hare decides to eat and rest. Though the tortoise is slower, his pace is steady. He never stops or slows. Due to the hare’s reliance upon speed, and his lack of focus on the g
Press releases have the potential to create incredible exposure. Looking beyond the linking benefits, a well written press release may land you in newspapers, TV, and radio. I write quick content daily for websites. When a good subject doesn't come to mind, I turn to a news search engine for inspiration. Quite often the top results are press releases or news articles feeding from those press releases. Some of these releases inspire me; others are empty promotion with nothing of interest to me or my site visitors. Here are some tips on the making of a great press release.
With cell phones, PDA’s and instant messaging we continue to seek devices and software that will allow us to accomplish multiple tasks efficiently and effectively. Survival of the swiftest has been the business mantra for some time.Remember the story of the tortoise and the hare? The hare is swift, and when the race begins he feels he can easily put a great deal of distance between himself and the tortoise. Thinking his speed will allow him to overtake the tortoise at will, the hare decides to eat and rest. Though the tortoise is slower, his pace is steady. He never stops or slows. Due to the hare’s reliance upon speed, and his lack of focus on the g
Know your reader.
Balance between writing for the target audience (newspaper reader, radio listener, web surfer) and writing for an editor, reporter or journalist who may take up your subject or even reprint the story. Hooking both the media and the end consumer will result in a snowball of PR. Remember, a journalist scanning a PR source will make decisions based on the first few words of each article. Pack the opening with the hot topic points.
Style
A strong headline and intro is critical. It absolutely must capture the eye of someone skimming press releases and inspire further reading. Hit them with the news first. You can explain how and where it comes from later.
Keep it brief, accurate and readable. The media isn't looking for full blown articles to copy, but may have use of some filler content or extra information within a report, column or website. Don't exaggerate. If your PR is a success you will be getting phone calls and emails asking questions. It is possible to build or destroy credibility based on your accuracy. You may become a source for different reporters as you build on your record of knowledge and accuracy. If you use outside stats and facts, include the source. The press release should create confidence.
Grammar and spelling should be checked and rechecked. Read it; edit and re-read; print it out; read again; email to friends for corrections; give yourself many chances to catch mistakes. Then don't rush to publish. Reading something again after a nights sleep is always an eye opener for me. Something about my focus during the writing process tunes out errors that jump off the page the next day. This is why an extra set of eyes, or waiting ti
Marketing a Private Practice: Mistake #1: Trying to Be All Things To All People
When healing professionals market their practice, they often attempt to cover all bases by trying to appeal to all types of people with all sorts of problems. Often this stems from a fear that if you don’t attract everyone you won’t fill your private practice.While there are successful generalists out there, in the current competitive market it is wise to target your marketing efforts to a specific population(s) you want to work with.Why is this the case? In the first place, people like to hire those who they view as being experts because there is an expectation that they will then get the best service possible. Think of what you do when hiring some
th nothing of interest to me or my site visitors. Here are some tips on the making of a great press release.
When healing professionals market their practice, they often attempt to cover all bases by trying to appeal to all types of people with all sorts of problems. Often this stems from a fear that if you don’t attract everyone you won’t fill your private practice.While there are successful generalists out there, in the current competitive market it is wise to target your marketing efforts to a specific population(s) you want to work with.Why is this the case? In the first place, people like to hire those who they view as being experts because there is an expectation that they will then get the best service possible. Think of what you do when hiring some
Know your reader.
Balance between writing for the target audience (newspaper reader, radio listener, web surfer) and writing for an editor, reporter or journalist who may take up your subject or even reprint the story. Hooking both the media and the end consumer will result in a snowball of PR. Remember, a journalist scanning a PR source will make decisions based on the first few words of each article. Pack the opening with the hot topic points.
Style
A strong headline and intro is critical. It absolutely must capture the eye of someone skimming press releases and inspire further reading. Hit them with the news first. You can explain how and where it comes from later.
Keep it brief, accurate and readable. The media isn't looking for full blown articles to copy, but may have use of some filler content or extra information within a report, column or website. Don't exaggerate. If your PR is a success you will be getting phone calls and emails asking questions. It is possible to build or destroy credibility based on your accuracy. You may become a source for different reporters as you build on your record of knowledge and accuracy. If you use outside stats and facts, include the source. The press release should create confidence.
Grammar and spelling should be checked and rechecked. Read it; edit and re-read; print it out; read again; email to friends for corrections; give yourself many chances to catch mistakes. Then don't rush to publish. Reading something again after a nights sleep is always an eye opener for me. Something about my focus during the writing process tunes out errors that jump off the page the next day. This is why an extra set of eyes, or waiting t
Build Brand Value BIG Time
Ask your self this question, In which business are we really in? And stay far from the dark world of commodities...I am astonished!!! I just witness how in three days a clan of marketers – brand managers, advertisers, researchers - drove a brand into the huge world of commodities, these people approach the brand building process as a conjunction of ideas- do not matter if the ideas were good or bad- and were clearly afraid to innovate and challenge the rules of their game.If you are planning to maintain your brand as far as you can from the dark world of commodities, why not innovate by reconsider the category in which you compete and create your ow
will make decisions based on the first few words of each article. Pack the opening with the hot topic points.
Ask your self this question, In which business are we really in? And stay far from the dark world of commodities...I am astonished!!! I just witness how in three days a clan of marketers – brand managers, advertisers, researchers - drove a brand into the huge world of commodities, these people approach the brand building process as a conjunction of ideas- do not matter if the ideas were good or bad- and were clearly afraid to innovate and challenge the rules of their game.If you are planning to maintain your brand as far as you can from the dark world of commodities, why not innovate by reconsider the category in which you compete and create your ow
Style
A strong headline and intro is critical. It absolutely must capture the eye of someone skimming press releases and inspire further reading. Hit them with the news first. You can explain how and where it comes from later.
Keep it brief, accurate and readable. The media isn't looking for full blown articles to copy, but may have use of some filler content or extra information within a report, column or website. Don't exaggerate. If your PR is a success you will be getting phone calls and emails asking questions. It is possible to build or destroy credibility based on your accuracy. You may become a source for different reporters as you build on your record of knowledge and accuracy. If you use outside stats and facts, include the source. The press release should create confidence.
Grammar and spelling should be checked and rechecked. Read it; edit and re-read; print it out; read again; email to friends for corrections; give yourself many chances to catch mistakes. Then don't rush to publish. Reading something again after a nights sleep is always an eye opener for me. Something about my focus during the writing process tunes out errors that jump off the page the next day. This is why an extra set of eyes, or waiting t
The Truth?
The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple. Oscar Wilde The truth. So alluring. So promising. If we only knew the truth, everything else would just fall into place. Sadly, the "truth" of a relationship, situation or event is always hard to come by. The fact is that no matter what the relationship, situation or event, what you see is never what you get --WYSINWYG for short. No matter how new your software, fast your computer, good your analysis or frequent your focus groups, you will always operate on partial information. You’ll never fully know the "truth." But there is real power in WYSINWYG. It
y, but may have use of some filler content or extra information within a report, column or website. Don't exaggerate. If your PR is a success you will be getting phone calls and emails asking questions. It is possible to build or destroy credibility based on your accuracy. You may become a source for different reporters as you build on your record of knowledge and accuracy. If you use outside stats and facts, include the source. The press release should create confidence.
The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple. Oscar Wilde The truth. So alluring. So promising. If we only knew the truth, everything else would just fall into place. Sadly, the "truth" of a relationship, situation or event is always hard to come by. The fact is that no matter what the relationship, situation or event, what you see is never what you get --WYSINWYG for short. No matter how new your software, fast your computer, good your analysis or frequent your focus groups, you will always operate on partial information. You’ll never fully know the "truth." But there is real power in WYSINWYG. It
Grammar and spelling should be checked and rechecked. Read it; edit and re-read; print it out; read again; email to friends for corrections; give yourself many chances to catch mistakes. Then don't rush to publish. Reading something again after a nights sleep is always an eye opener for me. Something about my focus during the writing process tunes out errors that jump off the page the next day. This is why an extra set of eyes, or waiting t
Workplace Conflict - The Five W's for Intervention
"I deal with problems all the time. That's my job. But this one is messy. I don't know how to handle it and if we don't do something quick it's going to get ugly!"Jocelyn (not her real name), VP of Human Resources in a mid-size manufacturing company, was worried about a situation in one of their plants. It wasn't the first time. She had been called into the plant several times over the past year. But this was bigger.One of the managers was in the process of removing two employees from their positions. Jocelyn had been working with the manager to make sure he followed proper procedure and had documentation to back up his claims. Then yesterday she re
confidence.
"I deal with problems all the time. That's my job. But this one is messy. I don't know how to handle it and if we don't do something quick it's going to get ugly!"Jocelyn (not her real name), VP of Human Resources in a mid-size manufacturing company, was worried about a situation in one of their plants. It wasn't the first time. She had been called into the plant several times over the past year. But this was bigger.One of the managers was in the process of removing two employees from their positions. Jocelyn had been working with the manager to make sure he followed proper procedure and had documentation to back up his claims. Then yesterday she re
Grammar and spelling should be checked and rechecked. Read it; edit and re-read; print it out; read again; email to friends for corrections; give yourself many chances to catch mistakes. Then don't rush to publish. Reading something again after a nights sleep is always an eye opener for me. Something about my focus during the writing process tunes out errors that jump off the page the next day. This is why an extra set of eyes, or waiting till your eyes are taking a fresh look can make a big difference in the writing quality. Printing a copy to read also helps you see it differently.
Attach images if the PR publisher allows it. If you have image rights or public domain images to publish then this is one more way to make your content usable by others. Permission regarding quotes is important as well within a press release since the exposure can be significant.
Anatomy of a Typical Press Release
- Headline
- Headlines should have a hook. Make people wonder where they stand or curious about an outcome. For example, "Are you a lunatic? Research may surprise you!"
- Summary
- Some PR publishers allow a summary after the Headline. This is a second chance to grab attention. Make it strong and to the point.
- Date Instructions - capitals are often used
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
- FOR RELEASE BEFORE __/__/__
- FOR RELEASE AFTER __/__/__
- Contact Information
- Make it as easy as possible to be contacted. You don't want to even appear to be hiding. Reporters may work odd hours, so use a phone number you can answer day and night.
- Body
- Resist the temptation to tell it all.
- Hit the high points in a few paragraphs under 350 words.
- Make the reader want to visit your site or call your company for more details.
- Pack the best parts in the beginning, inverted pyramid style. This makes it easy if an editor needs to shorten it.
- About Us
- If you feel the need to include a couple sentences about the company, this
HTTP = HTML link (for blogs, profiles,phorums):
<a href="http://www.casualarticles.com/article/33765/casualarticles-Press-Release-Primer--Are-You-Ready-to-Grab-Some-Attention.html">Press Release Primer - Are You Ready to Grab Some Attention?</a>
BB link (for phorums):
[url=http://www.casualarticles.com/article/33765/casualarticles-Press-Release-Primer--Are-You-Ready-to-Grab-Some-Attention.html]Press Release Primer - Are You Ready to Grab Some Attention?[/url]
Related Articles:
How To Look Professional For An Interview
Seven Characteristics Of A True Entrepreneur
Managers: PR, Do You Really Understand It?
Bookmark it:
|