The Wrong Time To Write A Press Release
What's the wrong time to write a press release? Anytime, really. The thing is, the appropriate time for a press release is when you have something to say. If you don't, then there isn't much point in writing one in the first place.
But there are still times where others might tell you that it's not good timing for a press release and that it should be pushed back. Sometimes they might even have a valid reason like wanting to change your focus or to wait until after an event or product release has happened so that people will be more interested in what you're releasing and thus give it more publicity. They may even have a good reason not to take your press release now and have another one released after the event, product or promotion has happened.
Okay, so what's a good reason to delay a press release? There are two forms of reasons. Either it'll help you with an upcoming launch or they don't want it to hurt you in the long-run. While there's no right or wrong answers to these questions I'd say that it's important that if you do decide to delay your press release, you should at least do so in the right way so that it won't affect the kind of publicity and public awareness that it can generate.
For starters, if you delay your press release because you're waiting to do something else and your decision is a part of a bigger plan, then it can lead to disasters if the delay is so long that people forget about the original announcement. Sometimes it's better to put out the press release right away than to wait too long and lose your audience's attention.
Another thing to consider is that even when you're planning on putting out another press release after an upcoming event, product or promotion has been released, what you have to say or have available as news at that time may not be relevant anymore because the time that has passed may have caused other issues or topics in the industry or public interest to materialize.
So the question remains, if you shouldn't write a press release for any old thing just because someone tells you to, when should you write one if not in response to another factor? Anytime that there's something that you want to make public and have people get to know about it. However, don't just think about what you want to say, think about when it needs to be said as well. Know your message and audience and consider whether there is a time frame that is best suited for everyone involved instead of just yourself.
And if someone else says that your timing is wrong then take a step back and think what they're trying to do or say. Is it out of panic? Are they trying to change your focus? That's something that you have to consider and evaluate as well when you get their message.
So when should you write a press release and what is the best time to say something in it? It all depends on what kind of news you want people to hear. If there is a new product release or an event that the public needs to know about, then make sure that the public knows it in time so that they don't let down or forget about it. If there's some news about an important event happening in the industry then make sure that everyone gets the news because waiting for too long can also make people forget about your announcement and losing their attention as well.
And lastly, if you're thinking about putting out a press release because it's not really timely, then ask yourself why you're doing it and what your main focus is. Whether it be for something that will happen in the future or because you want people to know something right away then make sure that there's a valid reason for doing so as well as making sure that the right timing is in place when you get ready to publish your press release.
By following these tips I think that you'll be able to write a better press release and one where timing becomes less of an issue because people will be focused on what your message has to say instead of just how quickly or slowly you got it out there.
For more information about writing a press release and how to do it the right way, check out this article [HERE].
IT'S TIME TO WRITE YOUR PRESS RELEASE
Date: 11/21/2011
It's time to write your press release. And you've probably already been putting off doing so because of the fear of not knowing what to say or that something will come up that you'll want to change. It's a good thing because no one likes to write a press release that does little for its purpose or is completely useless or outdated.
But in all seriousness, it's always a good idea to write your press release because it gives you an opportunity to inform the public about something that isn't already common knowledge. For example, if you're going to be releasing information about a new product or service that you offer then releasing a press release is a great way to let the public know right away.
Also, this is a fantastic way to build up goodwill and hassles. The more people who know of your organization or product then the better the chances that they'll at least be able to remember where they've heard of you and why so many people are talking about your business. Even if you're not announcing a specific company announcement or product launch, having a press release to talk about something that's important to your company or organization can be just as effective in letting the public know what you have to say.
So don't be afraid of writing up something. However, while there's nothing wrong with trying to write a press release just because, there are better reasons than others and ones that may help you in the long run. So before you begin thinking about what to say and what your message should be, let's first talk about why and when you should write a press release.
WHEN SHOULD I WRITE A PRESS RELEASE
There are many occasions that call for writing a press release. The most obvious is when you're going to be launching a new product or service, building a new business or making an improvement to your existing one. For example, if you have a new storefront opening and need the public to know about it then let them know through press releases and getting their attention before the `big day' comes. This is also a fantastic way to gain word of mouth advertising as well since everyone who hears your news will then spread it out more as they tell their friends and family members about it.
However, if you're in a business where you may not be using new products or services all the time or putting out new and improved models of your existing ones then what do you write about? Well there are still plenty of things that can be covered in a press release. For example, maybe you're about to launch something new but are just now getting ready to announce it. In these situations you can have a great deal of news (or newsworthy material) that would let the public know what's going on without even having to explicitly say anything much at all.
Conclusion: While there's a huge push for businesses to share news when they come up with it, you don't always have to wait until there's something new to talk about. If you have something that the public needs to know about then publish an announcement so they'll get ready and excited for the things that are coming their way.
LOOKING AT THE BIGGER PICTURE AND WHY PEOPLE CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING
Let's get down to the important stuff: what should you write about? Well, before anything else you need to consider what your message should be saying.