Thursday, June 7, 2012

Ideas for Press Releases

 A few press release topics:
 
 1. New product or service
 
 2. New website or significant upgrade to existing website
 
 3. Involvement with charity work
 
 4. Making a charitable contribution
 
 5. Free shipping offer or change to shipping rates
 
 6. Releasing findings of new study or research
 
 7. Helpful tips related to your business
 
 8. News of the weird (e.g. Coffee shop offers excusive $200
    gourmet drink)
 
 9. Commentary on or tie-ins to current events
 
10.  Interesting trends
 
11.  Starting a new sister company
 
12.  Receiving an award
 
13.  Being singled out for an accomplishment
 
14.  Offering free information: ebook, newsletter or white
     paper
 
15.  Celebrating an important company anniversary (e.g. 50
     years in business)
 
16.  Opening a new office or relocating your office
 
17.  Changing the company name
 
18.  Changing a product name
 
19.  Signing a large, well-recognized client (make sure you
     have their permission to publish this)
 
20.  Announcing a media appearance
 
21.  Inspirational stories of overcoming major challenges
 
22.  Hosting a seminar or teleseminar
 
23.  Sponsoring an event or team
 
24.  Partnering with another business or organization
 
25.  Hiring a new executive or changing ownership of the
     company
 
26.  Announcing personnel change: retirement, resignation or
     death
 
27.  Changing the way your products are made
 
28.  Changing the prices of your products or services
     (particularly if you're reducing prices)
 
29.  Developing a new technology or unique procedure for
     your industry
 
30.  Rebranding your business
 
31.  Reorganizing your company
 
32.  Hosting a major contest, sweepstakes or promotion
 
33.  Making an outrageous claim (be careful not too sound to
     gimmicky or salesy)
 
34.  Revealing industry scams
 
35.  Announcing holiday-related sales and events
 
36.  Making predictions for your industry
 
37.  Provide expert opinion on important subject within your
     industry (think sound bites when creating quotes in your
     announcement)
 
38.  Publishing findings of a recent report, survey or poll
 
39.  Filing of a lawsuit
 
40.  Responding to being name in a lawsuit
 
41.  New uses for your products
 
42.  Receiving endorsements from a major celebrity or public
     figure (make sure you have their permission to publish this)
 
43.  Offering internship program with local schools
 
44.  Establishing a scholarship
 
45.  Hosting a tour of your facilities
 
46.  New certifications and credentials achieved by your
     staff
 
47.  Providing pro bono work
 
48.  Responding to accusations against your company or
     industry
 
49.  Setting a major goal
 
50.  Launching a referral rewards / affiliate program
 
51.  Speaking at a conference or event
 
52.  Providing free consultations or a free sample
 
53.  Taking major steps to go "green"
 
54.  Debunking common myths
 
55.  Taking your company public
 
56.  Discontinuing a product or service
 
57.  Filing or Being Awarded a Patent
 
58.  Merger or acquisition
 
59.  Celebrating an important milestone (e.g. one millionth
     customer)
 
60.  Exhibiting at a trade show
 
61.  Stock offering
 
62.  Financial or earnings update
 
63.  Securing business funding or credit (e.g. VC or angel
     investment)
 
64.  Tips sheet or feature story (e.g. Top 10 Valentine
     Gifts, Effective Tips to Land a Job in 30 Days, Turn That
     Brown Lawn into a Suburban Oasis)
 
Keep It Focused
 
Once you find the perfect angle for your story, you need to
keep your press release tight and focused. Remember, your
reader has only a limited amount of time to view your story.
This means you need to get your message across as quickly
and clearly as possible. Any details that are unnecessary or
that don't add value to the story  ...  get rid of them.
 
Focus on answering the who, what, when, where, why and how
questions, use good quotes to enhance your story, and let
the reader know why your story is relevant and why they
should care.
 
If you have any details that don't seem to fit within your
story, you can always publish a separate release later on.
This will allow you to enjoy the benefits of a steady press
release distribution plan, and it will allow you to target
different audiences more effectively with each specific
release.
 
As far as the actual press release length goes, it varies
depending on the story you're telling. However, keep it at a
single page or less (about 500 words or less) so you don't
lose your reader's attention.

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