News Release Writing & Distribution Tips
Are you news release savvy?
News releases aren’t dead, they’re evolving! Learn how to write a traditional press release when you need one and get news release writing tips to improve your craft. And a reminder? You still need “news.” Oh yeah. “Press” releases went out with typesetting, the typewriter and the dodo bird.
We also have a whole new section just on Social Media Releases (SMRs) where you can find out how to create, produce and distribute SMRs for maximum impact through new social media channels. Other PR Coach resources you may find useful include Blog Writing, Journalism Writing & Resources, Newsletter Writing Tips, PR Writing Tips & Tools, Social Media and Web Writing Tips. Sites with a W are PR Coach “winners.”
PR TRAINING
Take a look at Marcia Yudkin’s terrific news release writing self-study course. Highly recommended! Marcia’s Makeovers: 24 Press Releases Transformed from So-So to Sizzling
4 Tools for Creating Multimedia Press Releases
Here’s a fresh look at social media news releases. W
4 Ways News Releases Boost SEO
Simple, practical advice.
4 Ways to Improve Quotes in Press Releases
How to solve the problem of contrived quotes and painful press releases.
5 Tips for Great Online Press Releases
RealWire offers five easy tips for better online news releases.
5 Tips for Writing a Great Press Release
Useful, practical press release tips.
5 Tips to Optimize Press Releases For Search
Good press releases can get great SEO.
6 Reasons the Press Release is NOT Dead
Still a good PR tool if used intelligently says PR Web.
7 Deadly PR Sins Committed on PRWeb.com
Dave Manzer serves up seven press release sins committed way too often. Read ‘em and weep.
7 Things I hate about press releases
Lots to learn from these press release pet peeves.
7 Timeless Press Release Tips from Around the Web
Great news release tips from PRWeb.
9 Press Release SEO Questions Answered
Valuable news release SEO tips from Cision.
10 Essential Tips to Press Release Success
10 things to consider before sending your next news release from Mickie Kennedy.
10 Press Release Alternatives
Heather Whaling suggests other options for sharing the news. W
10 Tips for a Killer Press Release
Just the basics for news release success.
10 Words I Would Love to See Banned from Press Releases
Banned by Robin Waters: leading, best, innovative, revolutionary, award-winning, disruptive, cutting edge, next generation… and more from Tech Crunch.
15 Dos and Don’ts for a Powerful Press Release
Susan Young shares 15 essential tips to make your news release more powerful. W
15 Online Press Release Distribution Sites
A mix of free and paid news release distribution services from Alyssa Gregory.
17 Impact Factors of Online Press Release Performance
Terrific tips to tune up your online press release for best results. W
20 Free Best Press Release Distribution Sites
Navneet Kaushal reviews 16 free and four paid news release distribution sites.
38 Reasons to Do a Press Release
38 press release tips. Count ‘em!
50 Tips for Press Release Writing
Lots of useful ideas in these 50 press release tips.
60+ Free Press Release Distribution Service…Really?
Careful what you pay for advises Jeremy Porter. Even some free services won’t help.
62 Ways to Improve Your Press Releases
Matthew Stibbe shares 62 great news release improvement tips. W
100th Birthday of the Press Release
We know the future of press releases is linked with SEO. But there are some valuable lessons from its history too.
2009 Banished Words List
These trite, hackneyed, overblown and overused words should not be in your news releases. From Wall Street to Main Street, these mavericks, icons, first dudes and game changers should stop leaving green carbon footprints, seeking bailouts and undertaking desperate searches. Kudos to the folks at Lake Superior State University. W
A Letter from a Press Release
Is the news release reborn, recycled or still on life support?
A Social Media Press Release: What It Is and How to Write One
Useful basics on how to write a social media news release.
Anatomy of a News Release
Here’s a visual snapshot of an effective SEO news release. A valuable template from PRWeb. W
Bad News Releases: Yokohama Tire Gets a Flat
8 tips for a better press release and why Yokohama’s news was flat. W
PR TRAINING
Learn how to launch a powerful, effective online PR program using guerrilla tactics from Marcia Yudkin’s report Powerful, Painless Online Publicity.
Bad Press Releases: 20 Worst Headlines Ever
Lots of news release learning from these stinkers! W
Bad Press Releases: BS + Bafflegab = PR Fail
When you mix BS with bafflegab all you get is bad news. W
Bad Press Releases: Mixing Marketing Up With News
Bad news releases usually result when mixing marketing with news.
Bad Press Releases: Weight Loss News Loses Credibility
This news release was a definite PR fail. Learn why.
Best Practices: Writing Press Releases for the Web
Good media relations and news release tips.
Boost Your Press Release Optimization To Get In With the Cool Kids
Good SEO can help your news be more easily found in search engines.
CES: Portraits in Purple Prose (Part four: leftovers)
Oh those Consumer Electronics Show press releases really suck; 4-pt series.
Childish Press Release of the Day
Badvocate lacks credibility on nuclear told-you-so.
Creating the Desire for News
This post by Valeria Maltoni will make you rethink the social media release, best practices and the importance of creating real value.
Does the Press Release Need Rebranding?
Fresh thinking about press releases from Brooke Nolan.
Eleven Questions About Press Release Writing
Kelle Campbell offers 11 tips to more effective news release writing.
Five Tips for Tweeting Press Releases & Other Content
Really useful ways to use Twitter to enhance news release results. W
Formatting Press Releases for Maximum Effectiveness
New rules, great reminders.
Four Kinds of Public Relations News Releases
A really useful look at four basic news release types by Rodger Johnson.
Four Steps to Optimize A News Release For Google News
An optimized news release is smart PR.
Free Press Release Distribution Roundup
Mickie Kennedy of eReleases takes a look at the more reliable of the free news release distribution services. W
Good Press: 6 Steps to Writing Killer Op-Eds and Commentaries
Six tips to get your press releases primed for prime time.
Headline Appreciation 101
Learn the art of the headline and how to make them sing.
Here’s a Handy Checklist for Writing Press Releases
11 points to cover with your next news release.
How Many Press Releases Are Sent Out Each Day?
Thousands? Jeremy Porter looks at the issue and value of news releases.
How Press Releases Work
How they work, suggested positive and defensive releases and distribution tips.
How to Create the Optimal Press Release in Social Media
Quick, outside the box thinking on press releases.
How to Distribute Effective News Releases
Some quick tips on making your news releases more effective from PRWeb. Includes length of headlines, number of words, how many links and more.
How To Extend the Life of a Press Release Online
Smart media relations tactics.
How to Format Your News Release
Valuable formatting tips from PRWeb will help make your online news release more SEO and search-engine friendly.
How to Keep Your Press Releases from Getting Rejected by Google News
What works, what doesn’t.
How to Optimize a News Release (brief tutorial)
Corinne Weisgerber shares tips.
How to Optimize a Press Release for Search
Here’s how to structure your news release for search engine success.
How to Write a Press Release?
Jeremy Porter shares three great reasons why press releases are still useful.
How to Write a Press Release
Forbes offers all-you-can-eat press release tips.
How to Write a Press Release People Will Read
Inc shows how to craft a news-worthy release that will pique reporters’ interest – and stay far away from the recycle bin. W
How to Write a Press Release People Will Read
Useful basics from Beth Monaghan.
How to Write a Press Release that Gets Attention
Solid basics to help write a better news release.
How to Write a Social Media Press Release
Excellent primer on social news releases. W
How To Write A Social Media Press Release
Useful social media press release from Sarah Hartshorn. W
How to Write a Successful News Release
114 tips from PRWeb that will get your news release started on the right foot.
How to Write a Winning Press Release: The Step-by-Step Guide
Ten terrific tips for DIY news releases. W
How to Write an Effective News Release
A set of straight forward news release writing tips.
How to Write a Must-Read Press Release [Video 2:31]
Jeff Crilley tells how to write an irresistible news release. W
How to Write a Winning Press Release: The Step-by-Step Guide
A good news release primer from Shira Levine. W
Industry Opinion: Is the Social Media Press Release Here to Stay?
Experts look at the social media news release and its role in new PR.
Insanity: Very Pleasing Press Release Quotes
How to get better quotes for your news releases by Frank Strong.
Instant Press Release
Use this form and coaching notes will help you write your next news release. From John Jantsch at Duct Tape Marketing. W
Is Your Media Release Twitter Ready?
Twittercues: Very smart social media PR release tip. W
Is Your Press Release Guilty of Information Overload?
No excuses. Write tight. Edit. Give them news essentials.
Journalists Find Some News Releases Useful
75% of journalists still like news releases if they’re targeted and done right. W
Just Say No To “Social Media Press Releases”
Good counterpoint from Bob Scheier.
Knight News Release Workshop
This self-guiding news release workshop is an excellent resource. W W
Leverage the Power of the Press with News Releases
News release pros and cons and solid basic tips.
Link Love
Shame on you if your press release lacks Link Love
Long Live the Press Release
Five reasons why the news release is still useful.
Make Up Your Mind to Make Some News
Barbara Rozgonyi shows why news releases should be part of your marketing mix.
Media Advisories Top Ten
Learn how to write and use media advisories effectively.
Media Relations 101: How to Write a Good Press Release
An in-depth guide to writing a good news release and pitching it well.
Most Confusing Press Release Ever
This was one confusing news release.
Multimedia Still Makes Better Press Releases
Here’s how to use multimedia for better news release results. W
Need Press? Repeat – ‘Green’, ‘Sex’, ‘Cancer’, ‘Secret’, ‘Fat’ – NYTimes.com
What do the media want? This NYTimes.com story quotes several experts to help put it simply.
New Journalist Survey Zooms in on Images in News Releases
Consider adding pics for better media relations results.
New Rules of Press Release Distribution
The old rules still apply, but these new rules from BurellesLuce will help your social media results as well.
News Releases
Michael Turney shows how to write a traditional news release.
Not So Fast, AdAge: “RIP, the Press Release (1906-2010)”
Maybe the news release is just on life support?
Only 13 per cent of press releases include multimedia according to RealWire research
Hard to believe more PR pros aren’t taking advantage of multimedia in their news releases, particularly because the media usage increases dramatically when multimedia is featured. W
Only 18% of News Release Headlines are Optimized for SEO
This is a helpful analysis of headline writing for news releases.
Optimized Press Release Services – Generate Traffic in Hours
Thomas Petty shows how a proper SEO news release can get readers within hours.
Optimized Press Release Services – Which Gives Results?
Three SEO press release services are reviewed and recommended by Thomas Petty. W
Optimizing press releases for SEO – a secret nobody will tell you
SEO can increase the effectiveness of your news releases.
PEJ Study Shows Print Still Primary Source of Original News Reporting
Adam Sherk notes that while traditional news sources still matter, the study also showed press releases have a vital role as well.
PR Firms and the Link-less News Release
Basic social media smarts ignored by PR people writes Tom Foremski.
PR News and PRWeb Study Shows Big Shift in PR Pros’ Perceptions and Use of Press Releases
Study shows: digital delivery has changed how PR pros use press releases to reach media and directly to consumers and other audiences. W
PR Peeps Poll: 43% Cite Driving Traffic as Primary Objective in Optimizing Press Releases
As well as news, your press release can drive traffic to your website or business.
PR Pros: Stop Cramming Everything into the News Release Headline
Excellent analysis of news releases with tips for improvement. W
PR Strategy Tip: Nine Rules for Writing News Releases
Nine solid tips to get your news releases in shape.
Pay Attention to the Structure – A Diagram of Advice for Your Press Release
Skip Wood’s visual shows the news release format from top to bottom.
People Are Talking in Press Releases, But Is Anyone Listening?
Six tips to help you improve your news release.
Press Release: Alive, Well and Kicking
More news releases are sent than ever. The traditional release is still valuable, as long as it has news.
Press Release Basics
All the press release basics, all right here.
Press Release Buzzword Bingo
Buzz words to avoid in your press release.
Press Release Generator
Lead Optimize offers a helpful news release template.
Press Release Template
PRW provides a handy press release template.
Press Release Tips: Hook Editors With Strong Openings
If you want to get past the editor’s delete key or the wastebasket, you’d better open strongly says eReleases.
Press Release Titles – Critical to Getting Your News Release Read
Great news release titles make for greater media interest and better results.
Press Release Writing Tips
24-7PressRelease.com offers a solid 12-part series of news release writing tips as well as suggestions on editing, images and distribution.
Press Release Writing Tips
Mountain Eagle Marketing provides 14 useful writing tips.
Press Release Writing Tips & Guidelines
A good series of tips from Malcolm Atherton.
Press Release Writing Tips (from Journalists)
A team of journalists and Jeremy Porter share news release writing tips. W
Press Releases as Marketing Tools
Lee Odden offers 10 important tips to maximize news release content. W
Press Releases Do Get Shared on Google News
Adam Sherk says that sometimes news releases really do get traction.
Press Releases Made Easy
Jennifer Mattern’s free 20-page eBook offers all you need to know about news releases. W
Press Releases vs Social Web Content
Here’s a public relations lesson worth noting.
PublicRelations: The Best Press Release is No Press Release
Agree or disagree?
Publicity…Everything Changes but the Tool
Fresh look at the old news release.
Quick Twitter Tips for Press Releases from @prweb
Useful tips for better news releases.
Reasons Why Reporters Hated Your News Release
Good advice for better media relations.
Reporters Want Press Releases by Email, New Report Shows
News release tips and advice; and send it by email. W
Rethinking the press release: A content marketing & SEO view of a proven tool
Good news ahead.
Reuters Distributes Press Releases in Editorial Feed
Very odd and disquieting trend.
Second Irrelevant Press Release eMail Survey Data
Superb, eye-opening survey shows who does news releases right and wrong. W
Seven Press Release Ideas That Really Work
Megan Tsai shares seven helpful news release ideas.
Shaking up the Press Release, Will Like, Get You Xtra Attention
Groupon news release observation to consider.
Sharing Content: How Releases Impact Perception
Rich Becker offers an in-depth analysis of a biased news release and how it was shared, not questioned and treated as fact the farther it traveled on the web. W
Social Media News Releases and Social Media Newsrooms – Just Good PR
Sally Falkow looks in-depth at the social media release and online newsroom. W
Social Media Release: Evolution
Current state of social media releases from PR Squared. W
Social Media News Release is an Example of Curated Content
SMNRs are valuable complements to traditional narrative news releases.
Social Media News Releases Achieve Double the Editorial Coverage
A study by RealWire finds that social media news releases get double the media coverage and suggests guidelines to maximize your effectiveness.
Social Media Tipping Point vs Press Release
The evolving news release still has a few more lives argues Geoff Livingstone. W
Social or Not, Are Press Releases Worth Your Time?
Jeremy Porter answers the question.
Some Examples of How to Write a Press Release
Three news release examples to help you get started.
Surviving the First “Delete”… Focusing on the Frame
Framing a story to make it relevant and compelling is critical. News editor Skip Wood shows how using a case study.
Take Control of the News Release
Ken O’Quinn shows how to take control of the news release process for better results.
Ten Invaluable Tips for Proofreading Your News Release
These 10 tips will help improve your proofreading.
The 6 Essential Steps to Writing a Killer Press Release
Jiyan Wei has six great tips to help you write a great news release.
The Best Free and Paid Press Release Websites… and When to Use Them
Nice review of free and paid news release services and when to use them by the folks at SubHub. W
The Most Overused Buzzwords and Marketing Speak in Press Releases
Adam Sherk shows why “pr speak” just doesn’t get media interest. W
The Press Release (A Rant. For Immediate Release)
News release RIP or still useful?
The Press Release is Not Dead – It’s Not Even Sick
So there! It’s still a useful tool if you use it properly.
The Social Media Press Release Leads to the Social Media Newsroom
Pete Codella looks at the social media release, its advantages and how the social media newsroom is an underutilized tool. W
The Top Twenty Press Releases of 2011
Valuable media relations lessons in these good news releases.
Time to Kill the Press Release?
It’s time if you’re vendor focused says Bob Scheier. W
Top [15] Free Press Release Distribution Sites
Ranked and useful if you’re considering a free service.
Tracking Your Press Release
7 ways to track your media coverage from PRW.
Transforming the Press Release
To break out of the mold, Ephraim Cohen says rethink the “type” of release and your distribution.
Twitter vs. News Releases – Tired False Argument Revisited…Still Wrong
Excellent post that reinforces the value of news releases, especially when used with other social media. W
Two Web 1.0 Favorites Still Have Enduring Value
Paul Gillin makes an excellent case for the value of the press release and email. W
Upside Down Triangles Make Better Press Releases
Useful PR news release refresher.
Use Hyperlinks in Press Releases: Here are 19 Ideas
Joan Stewart offers 19 ideas for links in news releases.
Use News Releases for More than PR
Smart thinking and great news release tips and tactics from Jeremy Porter. W
Use Online Press Releases to Jump Start Your Business
Online press releases generate targeted readers writes Brad Shorr.
Use Your News Releases to Drive Search Visibility
News releases can add to SEO and visibility.
Wake Me Up When Your Press Release Is Over
Excellent press release tips from Jonathan Grieb. W
What Makes a Press Release Newsworthy?
Here’s how to make your news releases more newsworthy.
What Press Release Distribution Service Should You Use?
Jeremy Porter reviews and compares the traditional and some of the newer services. Useful. W
Where Next for the News Release
It may not be dead but the news release is changing fast. W
Why Fifth Third Bank Flunked Press Release Test From Hubspot
Lots to learn about news releases and what mistakes to avoid no matter how big your business.
Why I’m Deleting Your Press Release
Five tips to keep your news release out of the circular file.
WidePR, Free Press Release Submission and Distribution Service
Newest free newswire worth a look.
Working Words
Why craft better news releases? Because the payoff can be really big.
Worst. Press. Release. Ever. is Baaack… & It’s a Battle!! Paddy Johnson Vs. Lyra Kilston
In a word, numbing.
Write a Press Release Top Ten
Green Media Toolshed has 10 tips to make your press release even better.
Write a Winning Press Release
Learn how to craft a news release with everything the media want and need.
Writing Powerful News Releases, Part Two
For best news releases, know your agenda, your targets and your plan.
Yes, You Should Still Optimize Press Releases
Want your news to be found? You’d better learn from Rob Garner’s 10 tips to optimize your news releases.
You Lose When Your Press Releases Makes Everyone Snooze
Smart news release and media relations advice.
Your Copy Sucks: The Press Release Mad-Lib
Check out this tongue in cheek template for a news release from PR Breakfast Club. W
