What’s a Press Release?

Launching or announcing something?

A Press Release, also known as a Press Brief or Press Statement among other names, is basically a Formal Announcement about something that is shared with the Traditional or Social Media.

Knowing how to write a press release is important to individuals with businesses, brands etc., as well as for online freelancers who do multiple online jobs for different clients.

Appropriate time to release a Press Statement.

Any person or company can publish a Press release to make major or minor announcements regarding their achievements,  brands, products, or services.

How to Write a Press Release

An effective Press Release or Press Statement must:

• Have a grabbing title
• Be in present tense
• Answer the Key Questions about the announcement’s content: Use the SMART 5Ws (Who is doing what, where, when and why) and the H (How).

1.Write A Grabbing Title

Let’s face it: Most people are attracted an article by the first few words they see about it.

Whereas it is not necessary to capitalize every letter in the title, it is important to capitalize the first word, and every first letter of the other words.

Make your title as comprehensive and as representative of the entire content as possible. If you are launching a new product, do not just say “Launches New Product/ Service”. Go ahead and mention Who (person, company, etc.) is launching the product/ service, and mention the product in question. Again, since your Press Release may be circulated across multiple media platforms, you can chose to include the date with the title or the first few sentences of your content.

Title Example:

“16.12.2017: MAGGIE’S DIY Launches A New YouTube Channel for DIY Videos”

2. Present Tense

A press release must be written in the present tense. The pretense tense makes the announcement seem timeless.

3. Answer Key Questions

The mot important focus of a press release is that it answers the basic questions the readers will have as soon as they see the headline. Without making the announcement unnecessarily long, answer all the following questions.

The simplest, most effective formula of knowing and addressing the right questions in a press release is using the 5Ws and H

• The 5Ws – Stands for What (what is being announced), Who (who is responsible ‘what’), Where (where is the announcement taking place) When, and Why.
• H – stands for HOW, and answers the ‘how’ of the press release

4. Share a quotable quote for the media to run with

In the best case scenarios, it is best to add a little flavour to your Press Release. Sharing a direct quote, for instance, gives the media that will run with your press release an ‘authentic direct voice’ from you.