How To Write Press Releases That Gets Published Every-Single-Time.
Are you tired of getting rejected, again and again, for publication? Do you have a great idea for a blog post or press release, but can't seem to get it published? In this post, we'll teach you how to write press releases that will be published on any platform- without fail. Press releases are an excellent tool for self-promotion and one of the most cost effective ways to get yourself in front of your target audience. Now more than ever is the time to take control of your own marketing by taking charge on all fronts. Let's learn how!
The first thing that every writer needs is patience. Writing isn't something that comes naturally every time and it takes practice like anything else. The first time you write a press release, it's going to be horrible. It might not even get published and you might feel discouraged.
The trick is keep writing and editing until it's perfect. Practice makes perfect, as they say. Once you've written down the perfect press release, let's figure out how to get it published- no matter what the subject matter!
Step 1: Find A Reliable Media Outlet Or Blogger To Publish Your Press Release
The first thing to do is find a good platform that publishes your kind of material. Let's say that you run an organic skin care company and you want to promote a new product launch in a few weeks. Look for a health and beauty blog or magazine that features organic skin care products and food and supplements.
Search for article titles that you know of, then do a search on Google for "site:website.com OR site:website.com" to see if they have any press releases already. If they do, send them an email introducing yourself (make sure to be professional) and attach your press release. Be sure to follow the guidelines regarding word-count and format, as some outlets will specify this in the submission guidelines page.
Step 2: Write Your Press Release Piece
The next step is to write your press release. Keep it short and sweet. Make sure that each section is clear and concise- this is an important factor in determining the publication's response time.
Start off with a concise introduction that explains who you are and what you do. Next comes your main body of text which should be about two or three paragraphs in length, followed by a call for action that gives the readers some kind of incentive to take action on your press release.
At the bottom of your press release, include a call to action that encourages your target market to contact you (don't ask them to buy something- most press release won't be published if they do). If you're really desperate and they ask, keep in mind that this is a blogger's or outlet's decision on whether or not to publish your press release. There's nothing wrong with them turning it down. After all, many bloggers and outlets are looking for new content, so it's not like you'll miss out completely.
Step 3: Humanize Your Content By Writing A Story
Writing a press release is like writing an essay. You don't just state the facts of something, you need to explain why that thing is relevant to your target market. You have to be able to explain what it means for your target market and why they need it in their lives. To do this, use real life stories from customers and clients that have been helped or changed by your product or service.
If you're not able to find real-world examples, go ahead and make one up as long as you make it believable enough to interest readers in your product or service. When writing your story, include customer testimonials, benefits and afterthoughts. You can also include in-depth explanations about the product or service that you're selling. Give a ton of useful information about your product so readers are not just limited to seeing the side of your business that's easy to put up on social media.
Step 4: Publish A Press Release On Your Own Platforms
Once you've written a press release, let's publish it! There are tons of ways to publish a press release and we'll cover all of them in other posts on this blog. If you don't have your own blog and business website, you'll want to create one. There are lots of ways to get traffic to your site, but the easiest way to get started is by ranking a few pages on Google for your target market keywords.
If you want to rank a page for "organic skin care products," you'll need organic skin care articles and content (in addition to press releases), so it's best if your main hub for organic skin wellness products is your own site. Make sure that all of the content is relevant and up-to-date. Try to publish a few press releases every week, so your site stays fresh in the eyes of Google.
Step 5: Submit Your Press Release To Publication Sites
Now that you have a website, it's time to start publishing your press releases. If you can't get your own site ranked on Google, there are still some websites that will publish your press release for free. Just search for "free press release submission sites" or "press release submission sites" on Google and go from there. Some of these websites allow you to submit as many as you want for free (or for a small fee). You might want to consider getting them all up on submission sites just in case one doesn't work out or gets taken down. Just make sure to keep a record of where your press releases are published and which ones actually get published.
Step 6: Reach Out To Blogger/Outlet Sites With Contact Information
Once you get a publication site to publish your press release, contact them and ask for permission for them to write an article about you. There's no need to be pushy about this. Be friendly and be honest about the type of content that you're offering and how much time it will take for the article author to write it up from your press release. Most bloggers or outlet sites won't publish your press release unless they're confident that they'll have time to work on it.
From here, it's time to reach out to bloggers and outlet sites on social media. Don't be running around being desperate and asking them for a submission. Just send a message on the platform of your choice (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn) to see if they accept press releases at all. If they do, ask them if you can follow them or submit your press release to their sites. Most will say yes, but some might not even respond or think that you're desperate enough to send them an unsolicited email/tweet. If that happens, don't take it personally or get discouraged. Just keep reaching out every few weeks until you find an outlet or blogger that will accept your press release.
Conclusion
Reaching out to blogger and outlet sites is tough. It's a slow process, but you can make it easier if you keep persistence in mind. Just stay patient, work on your content and try to get press releases published as often as possible.