Avoiding the Most Common Mistakes in a Press Release
New York (USA), April 25, 2011
Journalists spend few seconds over your press release to decide on its worthiness. You have to capture their attention within these few seconds through an effective press release. Avoiding the most common mistakes in a press release can bring forth a powerful press release.
1. Targeting Business Audience
Press release should target to attract attention of a journalist. Journalists seek your press release to fill a news requirement. If you write to appeal to business audience, it would not be in sync with requirements of newspapers and other publications.
2. Refrain from Advertisement Copy
Press release should not be an advertisement for your products. It should only contain newsworthy information. Journalists will not sell your products through your press release. You should only provide essential and important information of your product.
3. Unsuitable Headlines
Headline of a press release should be focused and targeted on the fact. If your headline is unable to grab attention of the journalist, he would not proceed into the press release. Proclaim newsworthiness of your product in your headline to make it effective.
4. Length
Press release should be short and concise. It should deliver precise information without exaggerated vocabulary. Press release should ideally be within 200 to 500 words. It should be a crypt summary of all-important facts and information.
5. Content
Although press release should be crypt, it should have rich content. It should answer all question words within the first paragraph. Headline and first paragraph should deliver the gist of information while following paragraphs can dwell on further important and pertinent information.
6. Contact Information
If your press release does not have any contact information, journalists would be unable to seek any further information. Ideally contact information and company logo should appear at the top and bottom.
7. Format
Press release should be in appropriate format. It should be in normal case letters. Matter should not be in uppercase letters. Only ‘FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE’ appearing at the top of press release should be in capitals.