10 Rules to Writing Attention-Grabbing Press Releases

Attention-grabbing press release

Introduction

A press release is an official statement delivered to the media to provide information about an important event or make other announcements. It is related to a product launch, a new partnership, or other major company events.  Writing attention-grabbing press releases is part of an organization’s media strategy to reach a wider segment of society. Press release is an old but tested method to market your brand and it has stood out in the modern world despite the emergence of the latest means of providing information. 

However, writing a powerful and attention-grabbing press release that captures the attention of relevant persons is not a simple task. It is necessary to know how to write a press release effectively. You need your press release delivered at the right time with proper planning. The following are the 10 rules that make your press release grab attention. 

Target Your Audience

The first rule for an effective press release is to identify your target audience. Understanding your audience is necessary to know their preferences and then shape the press release according to their expectations. It is a key point for writing attention-grabbing press releases. 

Media outlets usually target different audiences according to their preferences. Some outlets may focus on local news, while others target those related to business, technology, or the entertainment industry. Therefore, it is necessary to use the right media outlet for your press release. It will enable you to target those people interested in news related to your industry. 

Write a Captivating Headline

The headline of a press release is the first part that media persons and readers will see on the press release. Therefore, it should be informative and engaging without unnecessary details. A good press release headline encourages the audience to read further and reach the details. 

You can write a compelling headline by following these tips:

  • Keep it short and limit it to around 10 words
  • Use strong and to-the-point words that focus on the action
  • Highlight the main part of your headline
  • Avoid unnecessary technical language

Most Critical Information in the Beginning

After a captivating headline, the next thing to consider is how to start press release? The headline should follow a strong first paragraph that answers all the relevant questions. This part should include the key information that increases the interest of reporters so they can understand your main message. After understanding the first paragraph, the reporters can assess the fitness of this press release for their audience. Your audience will also decide to read further after understanding your key points in this paragraph. 

press release headline

Detailed Information in the Text Body

After presenting key information in the first paragraph, expand the details of these key points in the body of your press release. The information entered in this part may include key details, company background, and other relevant information. You can make this part engaging by following some rules: 

  • Expand your information with several short paragraphs.
  • Like other parts of the press release, keep information in this part simple and easy to understand.
  • Provide verifiable data to prove your claims.
  • include quotes from industry experts, company administrators, and other relevant persons 

Add Multimedia

You can make your press release more engaging by including multimedia (images, infographics, videos. etc.). These images and other graphics highlight major details and assist you writing attention-grabbing press releases in front of your audiences. You can also add multimedia with media snippets as it can make your press release more digestible and easier to understand. 

Describe its Significance

Media reporters receive numerous press releases about companies and their products daily and generally do not give importance to ordinary pieces. Therefore, it is necessary to stand out and convince them why this announcement matters at this specific time. Also, emphasize its significance in the industry. Another important point is to elaborate on your target audience. Your press release content must be adapted for media outlets as they are the ones to publish your press release. 

Take Specific Approach

Press release is an old marketing method but it has changed significantly in recent times according to the current requirements. For writing attention-grabbing press releases, there is no single template that fits all press releases. You can have a common outline for all or most press releases, but your approach must be specific to each story you cover. It is the only way to compete against your competitors and get more benefits than other mediums for a perfect press release. 

Share Original Stories

Simply elaborating on a new event or presenting features of a new product is an old approach. It no longer produces desired results while facing intelligent competitors. In this situation, a wise approach is to share testimonials of real people to increase authenticity. When releasing a new product, include the story of people and how it positively changed their lives. If announcing new partnerships, tell people how it can benefit people related to both companies. These testimonials and true stories work more effectively than simple details about a product or event. 

Build Relationships

Writing a suitable press release according to its requirements can only bring partial success. A better strategy to ensure timely publication of your press release is by establishing relations with key journalists. Such relationships not only work as an approach but they also become familiar with you and your companies. It increases the chances of publishing your news earlier and more often than those without these relationships. 

Use Other Mediums

Relying solely on media outlets for publishing your press release is not a wise approach in the presence of other mediums with a wider audience in a specific industry. You can share the press release on your personal blog and social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Linkedin, Instagram, etc.). You can tag press outlets on social media to get their attention. Another smart technique is to use paid media, social channels of influencers, and affiliate marketing to share your press release. All these mediums can increase the value of your press release in the presence or absence of a media outlet. 

Conclusion

Press releases are still significant for companies to share announcements or new events. However, writing attention-grabbing press releases and delivering them in time in front of the target audience is a difficult task. You can maximize your chances of creating and delivering a powerful press release. This attention-grabbing press release can assist you in presenting your message to your target audiences conveniently. 

 

FAQs

What are the features of an attention-grabbing press release?

The key features of an eye-catching press release are compelling headlines, a precise first paragraph, a detailed body text, an engaging writing style, useful quotes, and a clear call to action.

What is the process of distributing a press release?

The first step is locating media outlets most interested in the topic you cover. They will distribute your press release conveniently. You can reach a wider and relevant audience through a press release distribution service.

Why are quotes important in a press release?

Quotes from influencers, industry specialists, and other relevant and authoritative persons play a vital role in building credibility in a press release. Prefer those quotes that support the message on your press release.

What are some common mistakes in a press release?

Committing these mistakes can ruin your press release:

  • Writing a general headline
  • Missing necessary details in the body
  • Distributing press release to an irrelevant media outlet