25 Great Reasons To Send a Press Release

I’m often asked, when should you send a media release to the press? My response is always the same. If it’s newsworthy and if it’s useful to the reader send it out.

When determining the need to send out a press release, there are many things to consider. There are no hard and fast rules, but as a media relations professional I’ve sent out thousands of press releases over the last several years and the most important thing the remember is to make sure that the release will be of interest to the reader of the publication you are targeting and is newsworthy. If it doesn’t meet these two criteria, you’re just wasting both your own time as well as the editor’s time.

A well-crafted press release can accomplish a lot of things for your company. It can be used to present information to the public, your shareholders, your customers and your competitors about your activities.

To help you decided whether something is newsworthy, I news release ideas|ideas for press releases}|developed this list of 25 ideas for media releases. This list is not a list of every newsworthy item, but should help you see what kind of stories are warrant writing a press release. Feel free to use it to get ideas flowing for your own business. Depending upon your business model some of these tips may not apply to your business.

1. Announce a new product. – When businesses fill a need in the marketplace it’s newsworthy.


2. Opening a new company – Yes, even small businesses are news. If it is strange enough it could be national news, but every business opening is local news.
   
3. Tie your business in with a time of the year. – This is a great opportunity to get a message out. Whether fire hazard safety around the holidays, or the sheer volume of hot dogs sold on Independence Day, you can likely relate your business to a yearly event.
   
4. Receiving special regcognition or achievements. – Nothing sounds as good as success, so don’t be bashful. Announce your success to the world.
   
5. Forming a new alliance or partnership – Whether your partnering with an industry leader or signing a new agreement with a supplier, it creates credibility.
   
6. Report the results of your own study, along with an analysis – The study provides fresh material for the media and the analysis provides the news angle you need to work yourself into the story.
   
7. Frame your release with a current news event. – This method allows you to put your own spin on existing news and explain how your organization or the community is effected.
   
8. Commission a survey and report the results. – The media love public opinion polls. You can leverage your self as the expert in your field this way.
   
9. Utilize a national survey to your benefit. – If your business is effected by to a new survey you should use that to your advantage.
   
10. Co-op an event with the media. – It shows your involvement in your particular industry.
    
11. Announcing a new hire – This works especially well if the individual is well-known in his or her industry.
    
12. Involvement in community events and activities – People love to hear how companies support their local community.
    
13. Schedule a speaking engagement – Giving a speech for a civic, philanthropic, or other organization is a great way to position yourself as an expert.
    
14. Recognition by an industry association – Peer reviewed acceptance looks great and shows your dedication to best practices.
    
15. Awarding recognition to others – Honoring those outside your business, through awards such as “Agent of the Year” or “Teacher of the Month” you will attract positive publicity for both parties.
    
16. Commemorating a significant milestone – Whether you just broke the one million sales mark or have been in business for 10 years, it’s a reason to celebrate.
    
17. Awarding a scholarship – Scholarships bring opportunity to individuals who might not otherwise have the chance to go to school, which is why it always brings good PR along with it.|Announcing a contest or promotion – Who doesn’t want to win something or get something for free?}
    
18. Host a seminar, class, or workshop – This is another great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field while educating the public with your message.
    
19. Opening of a new location, office or plant – Although it isn’t major news, it helps position your business as moving upwards.
    
20. Other Media Appearances – Recent spotlights in magazines or in television programs can demonstrate your credibility to other media outlets, so you should let them know about it.
    
21. Major Policy Changes – Can demonstrate your companies acceptance of new ideas or willingness to change with the times.
    
22. Retirement of Longtime Employees – Retaining employees says a lot about the quality of a business and it’s business practices, so you should let the public know about it.
    
23. Innovative use for your products – If your product helped someone out of a major bind, it’s might be newsworthy. If they discovered new creative ways to use your product it allows you to feature the product in a new light.
    
24. Reports on financial earnings – Releasing financial information about your company can demonstrate it’s strength, an attractive attribute to investors.
    
25. Your upcoming public appearances – Whether it’s an industry tradeshow or the county fair, your customers want to know where you’ll be.

• Are we getting the publicity we deserve?


• Would additional media coverage increase the amount of business to our company?


• Are we utilizing an effective PR strategy that brings media coverage year round?


• Does our competition an unfair amount of media coverage?


• Have we prepared a press kit to give to journalists and interviewers with the necessary items? Are we able to keep this up-to-date?


• Do we have the staff to handle media requests and effectively communicate our message with the media?

Article Source: http://www.mycontentbuilder.com

These reasons to write a press release were written by search engine optimization specialist, Wes Upchurch and distributed using the PressDr's article submission service.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated