Businesses have been using press releases for years to market their products or services.  If press releases can be used to increase sales for a business, then as bloggers we can certainly use them to increase our readership. As bloggers continue to want work with public relations representatives and the media, a press release can be used as an invaluable resource to get your blog noticed and your statistics increased.

But before you start writing one, it is helpful to understand exactly what a press release is and how it should be written. A press release is pseudo news story, written in third person, that seeks to demonstrate to the media the newsworthiness of a particular person, event, product, or service. Press releases are distributed to the media in a variety of ways, by e-mail, fax or snail mail, and also through a variety of online press release distribution outlets. They can be sent individually or be part of a full press kit, or they may be accompanied by a pitch letter.  At MomDot we love to provide bloggers with valuable information so I am excited to be able to write this how-to guide for writing your own press release.

1. Make it Newsworthy

Don’t write a press release just for the heck of it in an attempt to increase your stats. It HAS to be newsworthy or you should not waste your time or the media’s.  Make sure you have something to say before you begin the process. Did you just get included in the Hot Blogger’s Calendar?  Include that in a press release, Did your blog just achieve a major milestone? Include that in a press release. New bloggers can use press releases as a way to announce their blog to the media.

When thinking about how to make your press release newsworthy, you also want to think like a reporter.  And what is a reporter’s job?  To write a story that will serve their readers.  Think like you are the reporter rather than how you can toot your own horn about how great your blog is.

2.  Include Quotations

Newsworthy articles also include quotations.  Remember that magazines and newspapers often have limited space and time resources.  They may want to turn your press release into a small article.  You should always include quotations in your press releases because this makes the reporters’ jobs easier.  Here is an example paragraph from the Bloggers Give press release which includes quotations from Trisha:

Trisha Haas is the owner of MomDot.com, a community of bloggers which helped inspire her to create Bloggers Give. “As a blogger I frequently hosted product contests on my site where sponsors would donate an item to be given away randomly to one of my readers.  I started to realize the impact bloggers could have in our communities if additional products could be given to children less fortunate.” Haas has been a long-time volunteer at various charities in her community and knew first hand the effect donations can have to those in need.  “If every blogger hosting a contest could just take one minute to obtain a product for Bloggers Give, we could improve the lives of children everywhere,” she said.

Notice how it is integrated within the text of the press release and is told like a story. You should not just throw the text around on the page.

3. Pay Attention to Format

Before you start writing a press release, you should decide where you want to distribute it.  Are you just going to send it to local media or will you use online PR distribution services? Electronic press release distribution sites, such as PR Web, have their own formatting guidelines you should follow. Make sure you carefully read each site’s requirements before you submit your release.  Not following the requirements can get your press release rejected.

All press releases do have some common elements that should always be included.  For example, each press release should begin with the words “FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE” in all CAPS at the top.  Your next step is to create an attention-getting header that is clear and informative all in one line.  This is the headline which was used for the Bloggers Give Press Release:

Bloggers Give Back to Community Through Launch of New Web Site

You only have a few seconds to grab the reader’s attention so start strong. Your headline and first paragraph should clarify your news. The rest of your press release should provide the detail.

After the header, you should put the city, state, and date before you begin writing like this:

City, State – April 13, 2009 -

4. Don’t Forget Contact Information

It does not do any good to write a brilliant press release if you fail to include your contact information.  If the media has a question and they do not know how to get in touch with you, your press release will probably hit the trash.  You should always provide contact information at the bottom of the press release so the media can let you know if they have any questions or if more information is needed.  Format this section as follows:

Contact:

• Your Name (your real name, not just the name you go by on your blog)
• Blog or Company Name
• Address
• Email:  youremail@yourdomain.com
• Telephone:
• Web site:

5. Wrapping it Up

After the contact information you should insert three number signs to signify the end of your press release as follows:

###

But wait – you are not finished yet.  You should make sure your press release is FLAWLESS before sending it anywhere.  One typo and you can be sure no one is going to take you seriously. Remember to spell check your document but do not overly rely on your word processing software’s spell checker.  You should use an online dictionary like Merriam-Webster.  Edit your press release for bad grammar as well. Include that in your document and you are dead in the water.  And if all else fails you can hire an experienced press release writer like me to write your press release for you.  Tell me you saw this article on MomDot and receive $25 off the cost of a press release for your blog or business.

Christy aka The Write Gal is a Feature Writer for MomDot and is the owner of The Write Advice, a business writing and consulting Web site, where she writes press releases, Web site content, brochures, and other marketing materials.  You can also find her blogging at www.writegal.com.

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GIVEAWAY

Christy is offering a giveaway of a press release to one lucky MomDot reader.  Take your blog or boutique to the next level with an expert!

To enter, leave us a comment saying why you would like to win.

Extra entries:

Visit Christy’s blog, The Write Gal, and comment on any post.  Come back here and let us know in a comment (5 extra entries).

• Write about this contest on your blog.  Please use the keywords “Mom Blogs” and link to MomDot and “writing press releases” to The Write Advice.

Contest ends Friday April 24th. This “How To” Tuesday has been brought to you by a featured guest writer.

Want to enter unlimited on every contest in April on MomDot! See Here for Details.