When you’re looking to attract media attention with your press releases, you want to be sure that you’re saying something new, talking about something newsworthy and making it exciting. The challenge for many people who are writing press releases (as well as articles and blogs) comes in finding a unique way of saying it; many fall into one of the worst traps out there - they use cliches.

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(Source)Clichés are the words and phrases that come to your mind when you write your first draft. They are the language you hear and use when gossiping with your pals. Put simply, in writing, clichés are bland and overused phrases that fail to excite, motivate, and impress your readers or prospective buyers. . .

What makes clichés so boring? The fact that clichés are so generic you can attach them to any idea makes them ineffective. Given that clichés are the phrases that have struck our eardrums uncountable times, we either don’t associate them with particular ideas and products, or we associate many products and ideas with a particular cliché.

Now, that particular passage was written for bloggers rather than press release writers, but all of the same points apply when you’re trying to attract media attention.

If you’re describing a new product, why talk about it in the same way that others have talked about their products? Why just say that something is “new and improved,” a phrase that people see so often that can even refer to the colors on the packaging?

Want to attract attention? Find the best, original way of describing your item, service or event. Original phrasing and exciting language will get you the media attention you’re seeking and more.

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When you’re writing press releases and your ultimate goal is getting sales, there’s one element that not everyone seems to consider: the use of testimonials. Including testimonials is a sure-fire way of showing that the product or service that you think is so great is something that others think is worthwhile as well.

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For example, let’s say that your press release is announcing an award or commendation that your customer service department has received. In your press release about the commendation, be sure to include (with permission) a statement from the group sponsoring the award or the person who nominated your company for it about what makes your service so great. It’s easy to convert interested prospects into paying customers when they feel comfortable with your service department - it takes away their reluctance to buy.

Or, as another example, let’s say that you’ve developed a new product and you’re ready to write a press release about it. If someone who has tested the product has an established reputation, their endorsement can lead to increased sales once the product is on the market. Chances are good that you’ve seen examples of this every day: go into any bookstore, and you’ll see that most novels by new authors have quotes from people who are established with a great reputation on the cover to convince buyers that it will be worth reading.

In order for testimonials to help with getting sales, you’ll want to be sure, of course that they are favorable. It helps to have the testimonial come for someone whose name will be recognized - at least to some of those individuals who will take that press release ad turn it into a story. Always be sure that you have permission to use the testimonial, and make sure that your product takes center stage - in other words, getting sales should be about the product or service, not just the endorsement.

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Press release writing and online press release submissions are meant to draw attention to your business, your products or services or major events that you want people to know about so that they’ll help you spread the word.

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Here are 4 pointers for press release writing that can help you make sure that you’re submitting the right press release - one that will attract search engine traffic and interest from writers and publishers that will go on to finish the story:

1. Use your keyword in the heading of your press release: not only does this serve to make sure that people know what the release is about, it also draws search engine traffic.
2. Make sure that the heading of your press release is easy to read: make sure it flows and isn’t written just to draw search traffic. The header is the first taste of your press release writing that readers will have - make them want more.
3. Make sure that you’re meeting the length requirements of the press release distribution site. If they limit you to 3000 characters, don’t try to submit 3004.
4. Submit your press release to reputable sites. PR Web, for example, has a more established reputation than a site that came up the week before. You’ll get more attention from a more established site.

Press release writing is something of an art and a science. Practice makes perfect; pointers like these about press release writing can help you get there faster.

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When it comes to press release SEO, you’ll find that your goals are going to be a little bit different than they are when you’re looking at search engine optimization.

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However, your goal with press release SEO should never be to stuff your press release with keywords. Your goal should never be thought of in terms of “if I send out [x number of] press releases every week, I’ll get to the front page of Google.”

Yes, focus on keywords. Be sure that you include them in your headline, and within the body of your release: consider press release SEO as a tool for increasing the likelihood that if someone searches for those keywords at a press release service, yours will be among the first that they see. That should be your primary goal.

Remember, in all cases, search engine optimization is a balance. The key to solid press release SEO is this: write for both readers and search engines and you’ll find the success you’re looking for.

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When you’ve embraced press release marketing as a tool for gaining online publicity, it’s key to have an effective press release management plan in place.

In other words, if you submit press releases to three different distribution services, the right press release management will help you to see which service was most beneficial for a given release (and you’re likely to find that different services are more effective for different kinds of releases). If you submit a press release and you have the right press release management, you’ll know whether or not the release brought in 5 sales, 50 sales or 5000 sales - and then you’ll be able to determine the best way of repeating those results.

Managing your press releases enables you to use them more effectively - and that means that, even if you’re putting a bit more effort into the process, you’ll find that you’re getting a lot more out of each and every release that you send out.

If you’re not following your releases from the time that they are simply ideas up until the time that they attract media attention and increase your sales, it’s hard to know whether or not you’re actually reaching your goals. That’s why press release management is so essential: it lets you measure your progress.

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Writing press releases isn’t just to attract publicity, ultimately, you want to be able to use your press release to get sales.

You’ll want to take the time to prepare carefully. Gain an understanding about your company, about what you’re hoping to accomplish. Focus on what you want people to know about your business and what really makes you “tick.”

Get organized. When your goal is to get sales, you’ll need to make sure that you not only have the right information readily available, but that you present it in a way that guides the readers to write an article and pick up your release so that it leads their readers as well.

Once you’re prepared and organized, you’re going to want to write a first draft. The first draft that you create is basically a chance to get out everything that you want to say. Then you’ll start cleaning it up in your second draft. Not only will you focus on creating a stronger headline, but you may find yourself moving some details around, re-wording.

Finally, before you submit the press release (or releases) that you’re hoping will bring sales, let some other people look it over and listen to their opinions. Ask them what it inspires for them, see if it gets them excited. If after talking with them you don’t feel that everything’s quite right, try again: it’s worth getting it right.

You first few press releases may not help with getting sales - or they may help some but not as much as you’d hoped. Be willing to learn, grow, and don’t give up: as you use press releases more successfully, the sales are sure to follow.

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It often seems easy to find press release writing tips - suggestions for which elements you need to pay the most attention to when you are writing a press release for online or print distribution. Sure, it’s important to focus on the positive and to find encouragement, but it’s also important to remain keenly aware of what not to do.

1. Do not get caught up in the excitement of the event of product launch that those of you at the company are experiencing; just because it may be your biggest launch ever doesn’t mean that it’s the biggest launch ever in history so don’t play it up as such. Too much hype often comes off as misleading information.
2. Do not write an article rather than a press release. Remember that you are writing a press release in hopes that others will pick up the information and write an article; don’t do their job for them.
3. Don’t write exclusively about things that have happened in the past. Let’s say that your press release is about an award that the company won; don’t focus so much on winning the award, instead make the emphasis of your press release the inspiration to keep exceeding and the renewed commitment you have because of the award.
4. Don’t get so caught up in your excitement and enthusiasm that you go on too long. Press releases should be short and to the point; whenever possible, keep your releases to one page.
5. Don’t assume that you’ve covered all the important details. In addition to making sure that you cover the who, what, where, when, why and how, have someone else read through the press release and make sure that the big details are there.

Take the time to make sure that you’re covering the basics; press release writing is all about the details.

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When press release distribution was done via the mail, it was possible to do a lot of different things that would help your press release stand out. For example, you could add a letter, include a bio sheet, a fact sheet about your company or even a sample of the product that your press release was designed to announce.

Focus on creating an attention-grabbing headline, but don’t hype things too much or make huge claims - stick to the truth. Likewise, stick with the truth while you’re writing your press release and be sure that you’re backing up your words with statistics and facts.

Focus too on the benefits of the product/service/event that you’re announcing - keep in mind that you’re not writing the release for you, you’re writing it for your target market. Remember the who, what, where, when, why and how, but try to shift your thinking: if you were the consumer, what would you want to know?

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When you write a press release, the goal is to attract media attention. Okay, you know that already, but what exactly does that mean?

The concept of attracting media attention with press releases isn’t new: from sending out a press release to local newspapers, TV stations and radio outlets in your area, chances are good that you knew that you wanted to at least get a mention of the product, service or event that you were announcing. Online press releases, however, for some reason seem to be a bit trickier.

The answer that may be surprising is no. Attracting media attention is attraction media attention. The goal of your press release - as it has always been - is to catch the reader’s eye, get him or her interested in your event and then to pick up the phone (or fire off an email) to get more information.

That’s why it’s essential that, when you send out press releases, the major details are clear, your tone is excited but professional and the event is newsworthy: it’s that combination of events that draws the attention you’re looking for.

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Press release distribution isn’t the first thing that many web marketers turn to as a publicity tool - but when you get right down to it, it’s far more effective than some of the tools that you’re going to come across. Provided your press releases focus on newsworthy events, product releases or service options and provided you distribute your press releases to the right venues, you’ll find that you’re able to attract the links that you’ve been looking for.

• Press releases are more valuable than posting sales information and news details into forums that are not related to the topics of the forums.
• Press releases are better for getting information out than simply setting up a website and expecting others to find it.
• Press releases can be more effective for announcing an event in an online classified community

In each of these cases, using press release distribution can give others access to the information by placing it where people will be looking for it. In forums, community members are often socializing or looking for answers rather than looking for sales materials - your ads in these places may be a turn off. Just setting up a website is rarely - if ever - going to be enough, and classifieds don’t assure that the right people, those who can further promote the information that you’ve put out there, will see the details (let alone be able to act on them).

On the other hand, developing a system for distributing press releases can ensure that you get your message out to the right people at the right time - and that can lead to the publicity your business is looking for.

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Most of you who have websites for your businesses (or websites as your business) have come to learn the importance of SEO - search engine optimization. Some of you are also starting to recognize that press releases can help you to achieve your SEO goals.

Most notably, press release SEO helps you to get links back to your website - one way links rather than reciprocal links - when online media outlets pick up the story and use your press release as a resource. Part of the equation, though, involves your creating the right content.

Your first press release may not be as great as it could be - it may only bring a few links to your site. Like every SEO technique that you hear about though, press releases take practice. Don’t give up when the first releases don’t bring the results you’re hoping for. Learn more about writing them, focus on the positive results that you have and keep an eye on the big picture.

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When you’re writing and submitting press releases for online distribution, creating a buzz should be among your top priorities. Fortunately, there are some easy steps that you can take to create a buzz without going over the top.

1. Issue press releases regularly. While it’s essential to have something newsworthy to discuss, having a regular schedule for your press releases isn’t the worst idea possible. Consider setting a schedule for your releases and then matching project releases and events to that schedule.
2. Choose to submit your press releases to an agency that will submit their listings to Google and other major search engines: this will help to get the word out most efficiently.
3. Consider including an audio file with your press release if the service you use allows it: this adds content and draws more attention to the press release.
4. Ensure that you are targeting your press release to your area.
5. Choose the right links in your press release - and the right anchor text to encourage others to click through.

These simple steps will all go a long way to creating the right buzz with your press release. Add them to your regular focuses - creating an eye-catching headline, using search engine optimization techniques and a great product, service or event to market - and you just might find that it’s hard to keep up with the buzz you create!

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When it comes to submitting press releases to boost your online publicity, the key isn’t just having something that’s newsworthy to say: the key is saying something newsworthy the right way. On a lot of levels, it really is all about press release writing.

Remember that your focus is on attracting media attention - which will be in the form of online news site reporters and bloggers: keep your message to the point; avoid distracting them with details that aren’t relevant to the press release. While it may seem like a great idea to include other details that weren’t, by themselves, newsworthy, chances are good that they’ll take the reader’s attention away from the main event.

By sticking to your point, knowing what you’re drawing attention to and keeping the focus of your press release narrow, you’ll find that the press releases that you write draw more publicity to your website and business (you’ll also find that it’s far easier to make sure that they are a reasonable length and take less effort).

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Do you have a press release management system in place?

If you have recognized the value of gaining publicity through press releases, you’ll probably have already figured out the basics. You know that you need to report newsworthy events, products and services. You know that you need to keep track of where you’ll submit press releases based on where you’ve found success before. Chances are good that you’ve also discovered a strategy for linking to your press releases so that you’ll spread the word even more effectively.

With the right press release management, you’ll be able to:

• organize the templates that you use so that you always know where to find them
• organize links to your press releases by category, by subject or another criteria that you set forth
• know which releases have been picked up where - and ensure that you tailor campaigns appropriately

Sending a press release isn’t enough (just as building a website doesn’t automatically ensure that you’ll get the traffic that you need); you need to make a consistent effort to get the word out, and to use your press releases more effectively.

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Press release distribution is less challenging now than it once was. Because many businesses are taking advantage of online press release distribution, getting the word out often can be done with a few clicks of the mouse - a big change from the previous need to send out multiple copies by mail or by fax to media outlets.

In order to get the attention your press release deserves, there’s been a rule of thumb that’s often followed; it can best be summed up as “keep it short, simple and straightforward.” The general purpose for this was that reporters and other media pros were going to see countless press releases each day; if yours was longer than a page, chances are good that the information on the second page wasn’t going to be read anyway.

With online press release distribution, on the other hand, there’s been a sense that length doesn’t matter as much. Word of advice: if someone tells you that your press releases can be longer when you’re distributing them online, feel free to laugh. Here’s why: there’s even more press releases that people will see online; short, concise, detailed information is still going to be the thing that catches the eye of online and print media folks with your press release.

Simply put: the length of your press release matters because it shows that you’re willing to get the point. Reporters, publishers - that’s what they really want to see.

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