As press release distributors, we’ve seen numerous press releases come across our desks, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we invite you to join us on an insightful journey as we explore the do’s and don’ts of writing press releases from an editor’s perspective. By adhering to these invaluable guidelines, you can significantly enhance your chances of capturing attention, securing publication, and effectively conveying your message to your intended audience.
The Dos and Don’ts For Your Web 20 Ranker Press Release
Let’s begin by delving into the Do’s
Maintain a Third-Person Perspective
When writing a press release, it’s crucial to adopt a third-person perspective throughout the entire document. Avoid using first-person pronouns like “I” or “we/us/our” and second-person pronouns like “you.” Instead, focus on presenting the information objectively, as if you were a neutral observer reporting the news. This approach helps establish credibility, maintains a professional tone, and ensures that your press release can be easily repurposed by editors without requiring significant modifications.
Additionally, incorporating the third-person perspective into your press release not only contributes to a stronger professional tone but also aligns with SEO best practices, improving the chances of your press release being discovered and ranked favorably by search engines.
Keep the Title Concise and Informative
The first impression matters! Crafting a title that grabs attention while accurately summarizing the content is essential. Readers appreciate succinct and descriptive titles that capture the essence of the news being presented. Aim for a title that is no more than 20 words long, avoiding unnecessary fluff or vague wording. A concise title helps editors quickly grasp the main message of your press release and entices readers to delve deeper into the content.
Improve SEO with a Great Title
In addition to making a strong first impression, a great title also plays a crucial role in improving search engine optimization (SEO). Search engines rely heavily on titles to understand the context and relevance of an article. Here’s how a great title can enhance SEO:
- Keyword Relevance: Including relevant keywords in your press release title helps search engines understand the topic and relevance of your news. Research and incorporate popular keywords that align with your target audience’s search queries. This increases the chances of your press release appearing in search results when users search for those keywords.
- Increased Visibility: A compelling and succinct title grabs the attention of both readers and search engines. When your press release title accurately reflects the content and is engaging, it increases the likelihood of users clicking on it in search results. Higher click-through rates (CTR) indicate to search engines that your press release is valuable and relevant, leading to improved search engine rankings.
- News Syndication: Journalists and media outlets often search for news stories using relevant keywords. By optimizing your press release title with these keywords, you increase the chances of it being discovered by journalists and potentially getting picked up for wider coverage. This helps to expand the reach and visibility of your news.
- Social Sharing: A well-crafted press release title is more likely to be shared on social media platforms, blogs, and other websites. When others share your press release using the title as the headline or anchor text, it improves your press release’s visibility and potentially generates backlinks. Backlinks from reputable sources further enhance your press release’s SEO rankings.
- Online Press Release Distribution: Many online press release distribution services and platforms index press releases based on their titles. By optimizing your title with relevant keywords, you increase the likelihood of your press release being indexed and found by users searching for news on those topics.
Here are a couple of additional tips for enhancing your press release title:
- Include Your Brand Name: Including your brand name in the press release title can help strengthen your brand recognition and association. It also makes it easier for readers and search engines to identify the source of the news. Place your brand name at the beginning or end of the title to ensure it stands out.
- Add Location if Relevant: If your company operates locally or the news has a specific geographic relevance, consider incorporating the location into the press release title. This helps in targeting local audiences and improves the chances of your press release appearing in location-based searches. Including the city or region can make the title more specific and attractive to readers in that area.
Here’s an example to illustrate how these tips can be incorporated into a press release title:
“XYZ Company Launches Innovative Product Line in Austin”
In this example, “XYZ Company” represents the brand name, “Launches Innovative Product Line” highlights the key news, and “Austin” adds the location aspect. This title not only grabs attention but also improves search engine optimization by including the brand name and location.
At Web 20 Ranker, our team can help you optimize your title for search engines while considering the user experience. Balancing SEO requirements with user-friendly and engaging titles will ultimately lead to better search rankings and increased organic traffic.
Stick to the Word Count Range
Maintaining an appropriate word count is crucial when writing press releases. Journalists and media outlets receive a significant volume of submissions, and adhering to the specified word count range ensures that your press release can be easily reviewed and considered for publication. Aim for a minimum of 300 words to provide sufficient information, while keeping the content concise and engaging. Avoid exceeding the maximum limit of 1000 words, as lengthy press releases may lose the reader’s interest or require significant trimming.
At Web 2.0 Ranker, we understand the importance of word count and optimizing press releases for SEO. Our team of experienced professionals can help you craft compelling press releases that are within the recommended word count range while effectively conveying your key messages. We specialize in creating engaging content that captures attention and maximizes the chances of your press release being noticed by journalists and media outlets.
Focus on Newsworthy Information
Media outlets are primarily interested in publishing press releases that contain genuinely newsworthy information. While it’s natural to want to promote your brand or product, ensure that your press release delivers valuable insights, updates, or announcements to readers. Include pertinent details such as key milestones, industry trends, upcoming events, or significant achievements. This approach increases the chances of your press release being considered relevant and valuable to the target audience, improving its prospects for publication.
Added Value for Readers: When your press release provides valuable insights or updates, it becomes more than just a promotional piece. It offers useful information, analysis, or news that can benefit readers and provide them with valuable content. By focusing on delivering such value, you establish your brand or organization as a credible source of information, which can further attract media interest.
Establishing Thought Leadership: Including insights, trends, or analysis in your press release positions your brand or organization as a thought leader in the industry. This can pique the interest of journalists and media outlets seeking expert opinions or industry perspectives. By showcasing your expertise, you increase the chances of your press release being seen as a valuable resource worth publishing.
Speak to and about your audience, not only your brand
Use Hyperlinks and Keywords Appropriately
One common mistake that people often make when writing a press release is overlinking. It’s important to strike the right balance between incorporating keywords and links for SEO purposes while avoiding the pitfalls of spammy practices.
Overlinking can have negative consequences, as search engines may perceive it as spam. When links are excessive or irrelevant, search engines might disregard your efforts altogether, potentially impacting the visibility and effectiveness of your press release.
Use anchors relevant to your content;
Link only to relevant pages.
Our skilled team can help you identify the ideal keywords and relevant links that will enhance your press release’s SEO performance.
Uphold unwavering accuracy
Inaccuracies can seriously undermine the credibility of your press release. Always verify your facts and meticulously double-check your information before sending your release out into the world.
Accuracy helps Establish Trust and Reliability: Accuracy forms the foundation of trust between you and your audience. When your press release contains accurate information, readers, journalists, and media outlets perceive it as reliable and trustworthy. This builds confidence in your brand or organization and enhances your reputation.
Protecting Your Brand Image: Inaccuracies in press releases can negatively impact your brand’s image and reputation. Journalists and readers expect accurate and reliable information, and any perceived inaccuracies can harm your credibility. By upholding accuracy, you demonstrate your commitment to delivering factual and trustworthy content, which enhances your brand’s image and integrity.
Highlight the key selling points of your Press release in a concise and impactful manner.
Emphasize the main highlights of your press release in a succinct and impactful manner.
Identify what makes your story unique and differentiates it from others, such as a groundbreaking innovation, an exclusive interview, or a significant milestone. Make sure this distinctive aspect stands out.
Clearly communicate the benefits and value that your story brings to the intended audience.
Whether it’s a new product addressing a common problem or a charitable initiative making a positive impact, emphasize how your story can make a difference or provide solutions.
Incorporate quotes from key stakeholders or industry experts that support your key selling points. Quotes enhance credibility, offer additional perspectives, and make the story more engaging.
Provide supporting evidence or data to reinforce your key selling points, such as relevant statistics, research findings, or case studies. By presenting solid data, you strengthen your claims and enhance the persuasiveness of your story.
Add media elements associated with the story. This can be a photo report or the event’s poster, infographics, banners, promo photos, videos, and more.
Be Clear Why You are Sharing this News Now, Instead of Five Weeks Ago or Two Months From Now
Relevance to Current Events: Is your news connected to ongoing events or trends that are currently capturing public attention? Highlight how your story aligns with the present context to emphasize its timeliness.
Time-Sensitive Topics: If there are specific subjects or issues that require immediate attention or action, make sure to convey their urgency in your press release. This prompts media outlets to prioritize the dissemination of your news.
Leveraging Syndication Services and Publishing Outlets: Our syndication services and network of publishing outlets enable your press release to reach a wider audience across different locations. Emphasize that the goal is to have your news shared with the media, who can further distribute it to their clients in various locations.
Now, let’s cover the “don’ts,” highlighting the pitfalls to avoid when crafting your press release:
Steer Clear of Verbosity
Resist the temptation to be excessively wordy. Lengthy sentences and paragraphs can confuse and disengage your readers. Opt instead for concise and focused writing that delivers your message directly. Remember, brevity is the essence of wit!
Avoid excessive self-promotion
While it’s important to showcase your achievements, maintaining a balanced approach is key. Refrain from overwhelming self-promotion and instead focus on the value your story brings to your audience. Let your accomplishments shine naturally within the context of your press release.
Yes, the goal is to increase sales but be careful not to make it sound like a thinly veiled sales pitch.
Don’t bury the lead
The opening paragraph of your press release, known as the lead, should succinctly capture the most important information. Avoid using vague language or saving the key details for later in the release.
Avoid excessive jargon
While it’s essential to maintain a professional tone, excessive jargon or technical language can alienate readers who may not be familiar with the industry or topic. Keep your press release accessible and understandable by using clear and concise language. Explain any complex terms or acronyms that are necessary to understand the context.
Don’t overlook the target audience
Before writing your press release, consider who you are trying to reach and tailor the content accordingly. Personalizing your communication can significantly increase the chances of it being picked up and covered.
Avoid embellishments and hype
While it’s essential to present your news in a positive light, avoid exaggerations, unsupported claims, or overly promotional language. Journalists value accurate and unbiased information, so provide facts, data, and evidence to support your claims. Let the news speak for itself without resorting to hyperbole.
Don’t neglect proper formatting
A well-structured and visually appealing press release is more likely to grab attention. Use a clear and concise headline, subheadings to break up the content, and bullet points or numbered lists for key information. Include relevant contact information, such as a media contact or spokesperson, at the end of the release.
Avoid neglecting proofreading and editing
Errors in grammar, spelling, or formatting can diminish the credibility of your press release. Always proofread your content thoroughly before distributing it. Consider having someone else review it as well to catch any overlooked mistakes. Presenting a polished and error-free press release demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail.
Don’t forget the call to action
A press release should prompt the reader to take action or seek additional information. Clearly state what you want the audience to do next, whether it’s visiting a website, contacting a representative, attending an event, or scheduling an interview. Including a call to action increases the likelihood of a desired response.
Conclusion
Adhering to specific guidelines when crafting press releases is crucial for success. By maintaining a third-person perspective, crafting concise titles, sticking to word count limits, and focusing on newsworthy information, you can maximize your chances of securing publication and effectively conveying your message.