What Should Not Be Included In A Press Release?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  • First Press Release Mistake: Your Story Isn’t Newsworthy. …
  • Second Press Release Mistake: Your Headline Sucks. …
  • Third Press Release Mistake: You’re Beating Around The Bush. …
  • Fourth Press Release Mistake: Your Quotes Don’t Come Off As Authentic.
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Can press releases have pictures?

Although

images are great to include in your press release

, don’t get carried away and make it all photos. … If you’re writing a press about something visual such as the release of a new mobile phone, you’re going to want to include a lot of high-quality and eye-catching photos that journalists can get excited about.

What should a press release include?

  • Choose the angle that matters for your target audience.
  • Understand the press release structure.
  • Start with a well-thought-out headline.
  • Pay attention to a lead paragraph.
  • Cover the essentials in a few body paragraphs.
  • Consider adding quotes.
  • Include contact details.

Can you include a video in a press release?

A video press release can come in many different forms. Formal press release services like

PR Newswire

promote their video and multimedia press release services where they embed you video directly into the release or attach it to the side so anyone viewing the release can explore it as well.

What is the difference between a media release and a press release?

Social media releases are billed as a

release for your customers rather than the media

. … Press releases are written to give journalists facts and information so that they can quickly write their own story in any way they want using the facts we provide.

Can you use bullets in a press release?

Use bullet points

In most press releases, bullet points serve

as easy reference points for media

. Readers’ eyes are drawn to bullet points, and they should highlight the most important elements of the information you’re presenting.

What are the do’s and don’ts of press release?

  • Keep it short and sweet. …
  • Keep SEO in mind. …
  • Use hyperlinks. …
  • Proofread (and proofread again). …
  • Send a release out on Friday or before a holiday (if you want it to be seen). …
  • Pitch to everyone (right away). …
  • Pitch the wrong audience. …
  • Forget to include context and personality.

How much should I charge for a press release?

For a press/news release for advertising and public relation purposes, your rates as a professional writer should be:

Per hour: high $182, low $30, average $80

.

Per project: high $1,500, low $125, average $700

. Other: high $2/word or $750/page; low 50₵/word or $150/page; average $1.20/word or $348/page.

How long should press releases be?

A press release should have somewhere in the

neighborhood of 400 words

. That’s roughly one printed page. There’s no crime in falling a little short or going over by a bit but if you have significantly fewer or more than that amount of words, something is wrong.

Who should I send a press release to?

In the media, individual journalists have their own specializations (referred to as a “beat”). Instead of sending your press release to the general email address of a news outlet, it is best to address it

to the person most interested in whatever subject you’re writing about

.

Can you put links in a press release?

Unfortunately, links are seldom used to their potential and they are not always fully supported.

One to three hyperlinks should be included in the body section of every release

. The links should go back to your site and provide more information on the topic.

Do press releases have logos?

A

press release contains your business logo

, a headline, a lead paragraph summarizing the announcement, and a newsworthy angle. Your press release will have three to four paragraphs of text within the body, hyperlinks, social media links, quotes, and multimedia.

Why use video in a press release?

For potential customers, it offers a peek into what they would likely experience if they choose to purchase from the company. While companies could just offer a written statement from a customer, a video

offers more information through body language, voice, and tone

that adds further credibility to the testimonial.

Can social media be considered press?

Social media press

releases live on the web in an online newsroom

, rather than inside a pitch email. This means that journalists and other influencers can: … Share them on social media.

How do you tell if an article is a press release?

A news article, on the other hand, can be about any topic that is deemed newsworthy. News articles generally do not talk about a single current event, but rather a subject in detail, whereas a press release

typically focuses on one specific subject

, e.g. an anniversary, event, grand opening, milestone, etc.

What is a press release?

A press release is

a piece of news or information that companies send out to inform the public about something noteworthy or of material significance

. Press releases are often handled by a company’s public relations (PR) department.

Do you put your name on a press release?

Your brand as a selling point (it isn’t one)

When writing titles, people are often tempted to do exactly what Yousector did above:

start the press release with their company’s name

. After all, that’s the name you’re trying to publicize! … This is not to say that you shouldn’t include your brand name in the headline.

Can you edit a press release?

As the journalist writes their article, there’s an

editing process

. You must make every sentence count and focus on your messages to ensure they make it into the final edit. If you don’t, you won’t communicate the points important to your brand.

What tense should press releases be written in?

The release should include a headline, or title, which must be in

present tense

even though the story is in past tense. When beginning the body of the release, a dateline should be inserted first.

Are press releases single spaced?

The length of a press release should be limited to

~ 500 words of single-spaced text

of 10-12 point font. If sending hard copy, the text should be double-spaced. The more newsworthy the press release copy, the better the chances of it being selected by media for wider dissemination.

Does a press release cost money?

Distributing your press release

locally or to most states will cost $350

. Targeting your top markets or regionally will bring the price up to $575, and sending your press release nationally will cost around $805. PR Newswire also has international distribution options.

Are press releases free?

On the

free plan

, press releases are submitted to search engines, news sites, and RSS feeds. Free and paid options. Online PR Media is a reputable service that offers a free plan and several media visibility packages to suit your business needs. The free plan is very limited and includes ads.

Is press release paid?

Paid press release sites usually have a

press list

that they will send your press releases to in addition to posting your release on their website and in their RSS feed. Many paid sites also offer extra SEO benefits like tagging, the option to edit your meta data, and grammar checking.

Can a press release be too short?

It’s really easy to write a press release that is too long.

However, it’s also

not uncommon for a press release to be too short and therefore incomplete

. There is a generally acceptable length for a press release, and within that length, there is a general structure that will help you focus on what’s important.

How long should a press release be 2021?

Typically spanning

400-500 words

, press releases are read by journalists and editors. With the right kind of media pitch, your press release may be published in magazines, newspapers, and journals and find a larger audience. You can write a press release for the following events: Breaking company news.

Why is 30 at the end of a press release?

-30- has been traditionally used by journalists in North America to

indicate the end of a story or article that is submitted for editing and typesetting

. … This raises the question of why the number 30 was chosen by 19th century telegraphers to represent “the end”.

When should a press release be sent out?

The best time to send a press release is

between 10 am and 2 pm

—this is when editors open about one-third of all the emails they’ve received. Early mornings are less effective: open rates drop to 20.5% between 6 and 10 am.

Why do companies supply news outlets with their own photos?

Photos

drive news release visibility and trust

. Images and infographics are an excellent way to provide context to your news story. In a single graphic, you can walk audiences in and through your data, your product or showcase your impact across your audiences.

Why photos and videos are important?

Eye-catching visuals captivate us, then we use that focus to get a better idea of what a message truly is trying to say. Visuals give us a better understanding of not just the message, but what’s behind the message — explained easier, faster, and clearer than just a cluster of written words.

How do press releases work?

That’s where press releases come in. … Concisely written and targeted, press releases draw media attention to newsworthy events. Mainly used by public relations specialists, press releases are

written to gain free publicity

and contain enough information required to write a compelling news story.

How do I publish a press release for free?

  1. PRLog: Overall Best Free Press Release Distribution Service.
  2. OnlinePRNews.com: Best for Free, Short-term Release Publishing.
  3. 1888PressRelease.com: Best for Distribution to Search Engines.
  4. PR.com: Best for Free Industry Targeting for a Published Release.
  5. NewswireToday.com: Best for Wide RSS Feed Reach for Nonprofits.

Should I include hyperlinks in a press release?

Press release directories often have rules for how many links you can include in each story, and even if a directory doesn’t have any limitations, you don’t want your press release to be crammed with links because it will look spammy. In general,

you should aim for 2-3 links in the average press release

.

How many links should you have in a press release?

The general rule of thumb is to put

two to three links

within the body of your press release and that does include your call to action at the end. Keep in mind that within a social media press release you will have videos and images and social sharing buttons that are potentially clickable, and that’s fine.

Should you put press releases on your website?



Companies should absolutely post their press releases to social media

–but only if they have identified where their key audiences (customers, prospects, shareholders, investors, etc.) are and if they can reach them.

What are press images?

Press photos refer

to any photograph taken for public release

. Taken by a professional photographer, these photos exude quality and capture the desirable traits of a subject. Given the significance of photos in achieving coverage goals, it’s crucial to highlight the importance of press photos.

Where does logo go on press release?

Logo. The company logo or related brand or event imagery should be

prominent at the top of the press release

.

How do you credit a photo for a press release?

  1. Make sure you have copyright permission and written authorization. If you are using an image a photographer took, you need their permission in writing.
  2. After you have permission, write a caption in the following format:
  3. Photo: From L to R: (name, town). Photo credit: Photographer name of Company XYZ.

Is press release a traditional media?

Historically, traditional press

releases targeted reporters at newspapers, magazines, television stations, and radio stations

.

Is press release the same as news release?

They research the background facts, interview individuals involved, eyewitnesses, and experts on the subject, and relay the facts. As opposed to press releases — which are marketing tools announcing an upcoming event —

news releases can be about any topic a community would find relevant or newsworthy

.

How do you announce a press release?

  1. The first step is to acknowledge and evaluate whether the press release’s topic or angle is relevant to the target media. …
  2. After the headline, the first paragraph of the press release must answer the 5W+1H questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how.
Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.