The news media landscape has undergone profound change over time, yet one enduring tradition remains: press releases. While they may appear outdated at first glance, press releases remain an effective method for businesses’ media outreach strategies.
Journalists receive hundreds of emails and press releases each week; help them recognize its value by eliminating industry jargon and providing relevant data points.
Increases Brand Awareness
Press releases are an effective way of disseminating information about your business to the media and general public, raising brand awareness while simultaneously improving SEO (search engine optimization). Strategic keyword usage combined with backlinks back to your site helps it rank higher in search results; furthermore, press releases can be reused in other content marketing tactics like blogging and social media posts.
An engaging headline is essential in getting press releases read and shared. A captivating headline should entice the reader, with its hook, while also being free from cliches or overly-flavorful language. Proofread all releases for grammar-related errors before sending. Adding an expert or someone involved with the news item as a quote helps humanize it further while adding credibility to your press release – two benefits not easily achieved without this tactic!
Make sure that when submitting a press release, each media outlet’s needs are taken into consideration. Many reporters look for stories that will appeal to readers; reporters may prefer local stories or those related to larger issues.
Body paragraphs in a press release should include quotes from key individuals and facts and figures pertinent to your target audience. Inclusion of an official quote from your CEO, president or owner adds authority and personal flair; be wary of using industry jargon instead opt for more descriptive language easily understood by target readers; read it aloud or have someone outside of the industry read through your press release before sending.
Last but not least, it is key to include your contact information at the end of your press release. This should include your full name, phone number and email address – this makes it easier for journalists to contact you if they have any inquiries or would like an interview. Likewise, be sure to include that you’re available for interviews – also be sure to add that link back to your website at this stage if appropriate.
Increases Traffic to Your Website
Press releases are an effective way to drive more visitors to your website. When picked up by media outlets and websites, press releases generate backlinks that help improve search engine optimization (SEO) while simultaneously increasing visibility of content on your website and increasing visits by potential new readers.
Press releases can help generate more website traffic because they provide an opportunity to reach a wider audience. They are an effective way of spreading the word about any new product, service or event you are promoting and can create excitement surrounding your business, which in turn results in more traffic and sales.
Journalists are always searching for great stories to cover, and press releases are one of their main resources for locating them. A recent Cision State of the Media Report concluded that press releases were one of the primary content types journalists requested from brands.
Your best chance at making sure your press release gets noticed by journalists is to make it SEO-friendly, which means including key terms and phrases as well as linking back to your website. Incorporating multimedia – photos, videos and infographics can increase engagement while prompting more people to share it across social media – into press releases will only enhance its impact.
Make sure your press release is appealing, engaging and contains the five W’s: who, what, when, where and why. Additionally, avoid using technical terms as this won’t be easily understood by general audiences; strong language will create more excitement for readers while conveying that this content is indeed newsworthy.
A well-written press release can serve as an invaluable tool to build brand recognition, generate backlinks, and increase traffic to your website. However, remember that press releases alone won’t solve all your marketing woes; to really increase traffic to your site it should be combined with other efforts like paid social and email.
Increases Leads
Press releases can be an effective way to announce new products, partnerships or any other noteworthy events to your target audience. They provide instantaneous exposure, build trust with them and drive traffic to your website or store – however relying solely on press releases as marketing tools should not be the focus. Press releases should form part of an overall marketing plan incorporating social media, email campaigns and paid advertisements as part of an integrated approach to marketing your business.
When writing a press release, it is crucial that you keep these tips in mind:
Launch with an engaging headline. Your headline should grab readers’ attention and decide whether they continue reading your press release or not. An effective headline should answer two key questions about what makes a story newsworthy or important: what aspect should be highlighted first and why.
Include quotes from customers or partners as part of your announcement to establish trust with readers and engage them more fully with your story. A visual element such as photos or videos has also proven effective; research shows they increase views by 18% for photos, while 55% more people watch videos when included.
Press releases can be an effective way of connecting with journalists and gaining their interest in your company, but it is vitally important that once a reporter has covered your release they follow up. Journalists receive numerous press releases each week and could easily forget yours; so follow up with either a short phone call or email that doesn’t overwhelm the reporter’s schedule.
Notably, it is also essential to remember that press releases do not directly aid SEO; though they may indirectly benefit it by increasing web traffic via related content links, their direct impact is still minimal on search engine rankings. Therefore, other marketing channels can have more of an effectful outcome for search engine rankings such as blog posts.
Increases Sales
According to this BizMole guide, press releases provide the perfect platform for showcasing your products and services, along with providing contact details and an invitation to increase sales. Moreover, social media platforms make sharing press releases an invaluable way of reaching even more potential customers.
Before writing your press release, it is essential to identify its target audience and tailor its language and content to match. This will help ensure your press release doesn’t contain too much technical jargon that would alienate non-technical readers. Effective press releases include a catchy headline, summary paragraph and five W’s (who, what, when, where and why). It should also be easy for non-technical readers to comprehend your message.
Once you understand who your target audience is and have an in-depth knowledge of what news there is to share, writing your press release becomes much simpler. Aim for one page maximum; anything over two will not be fully read as journalists only spend minutes scanning press releases they receive; using bold text, bullet points and pull quotes ensures it can easily be scanned through.
Your best bet for capturing the interest of your audience is including an expert quote in your press release. This will add credibility and help readers comprehend its significance for themselves. Furthermore, including an image is always helpful as studies show people tend to engage more with content which includes imagery.
Press releases are an integral component of any business’s marketing strategy, serving as an invaluable means to reach journalists, investors, and other members of your target audience that you cannot reach using more traditional means. A well-crafted press release can have a major effect on your company’s success; so make sure your next press release has an engaging narrative with an obvious call-to-action – this will generate more leads, drive traffic to your website, and ultimately increase sales!