The Benefits Of A Well-Written Press Release
Why are press releases such a big deal for companies of all sizes? When a well-written and newsworthy press release is distributed to the right publications, it can boost a company's visibility and credibility. They are also beneficial for backlink building, as you generate backlinks every time someone features your announcement. The best press release examples show us that media coverage increases a brand's trustworthiness, especially when published on a highly credible website. This way, you stand out from the crowd and are seen by potential clients. Plus, the more backlinks you receive, the better your search engine rankings get.
If you want to know how to write a press release that shakes things up, you are at the right spot. We will discuss press release types, how to write them, and things to avoid. We will also share successful media release examples that engaged audiences and reached their goal. Stick around to read about all of them!
In This Guide, You Will Find...
- Most Common Types Of Press Releases
- 5 Tips To Write A Great Press Release
- 5 Steps To Distribute Your Press Release
- Why eLearning Industry Is A Great Choice For eLearning And HR Companies
Most Common Types Of Press Releases (And Template Links)
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Product Launches And Product Updates
Among the most popular press release types are product launches and updates. Companies utilize these when they want to create anticipation and excitement about a new product or update. These press releases are usually upbeat and positive, mentioning technical specifications, benefits, and usage of a product. Through them, you establish a problem and the solution your product offers. Product updates follow the same logic, underlining new features and how they enrich people's lives.
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Mergers And Acquisitions
Do you have major eLearning news involving a recent business move? This is one of the best press release examples you can use. In these cases, a press release announcement is necessary to inform competitors, business analysts, and industry players about recent developments, explaining how business operations will change and what customers should expect.
Merger And Acquisition Example
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Awards
Have you just won an award? It's a moment of pride that everyone should know about. A relevant press release article informs competitors and customers about your feat, boosting your brand credibility. It's easier to gain high-quality business leads when they can see how accomplished and trusted you are in your niche. Ensure to mention the name of the award, its value, and what made you stand out from the competition.
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Events
Organizing an event is hard enough for any company. Getting people to attend might be even more challenging. Whether the event is physical or digital, you should send press release announcements to various publications. Explain in depth what your event will be about and what's in it for attendees. It's important to start your promotion weeks, if not months, in advance.
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New Hires
This is one of the best press release examples to showcase the value and high level of professionalism your company offers. The people who work for you are a direct reflection of your values and culture. So, if you make a very important hire, let your industry know about it. Include that person's credentials and past experience to show what they will bring to the table.
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Charities
A professional charity press release has a double effect. On one hand, you increase participation in your event, whether it's a fundraiser or a live event. On the other hand, it sends a positive message about your company values and how much you love giving to those in need. Explain clearly what you want people to do. Is it to donate money? Buy something? Attend an event? Whatever it is, give them directions.
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Crisis Management
Online reputation management is one way of handling negative reviews before they turn into publicity crises. However, when things get worse, you should send a press release addressing the situation at hand and trying to calm people down. For example, if you've experienced a privacy breach, let your customers know what happened, how you are treating the situation, and why they shouldn't worry about it.
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Partnerships
Another example of the best press release types is about partnering up with other companies. Through them, you announce a strategic move and inform industry players how your collaboration will elevate customers' experience. It's best to release such an announcement with your partner and include a quote from a satisfied customer.
5 Tips To Write A Great Press Release
1. Write A Clear Headline
Like with catchy email subject lines, the headline you choose for your press release should be concise, jargon-free, informative, and attention-grabbing. It should focus on the key message you want to send out. For example, if you want to promote the new automation feature of your time-tracking software, let people know exactly what the benefits are. People should understand what your press release is about from reading your headline—even if someone chooses to move on and not click it, they will get the core message.
2. Make The First Paragraph Stand Out
Have you heard about the 5 W's and 1 H? One thing we can learn from the best press release examples is that the first paragraph should answer the who, what, where, when, why, and how. In our day and age, people's attention spans are very limited. If you spend your first paragraph discussing generic info, people will bounce. Instead, answer key questions and use the rest of your press release to talk in depth about information relevant to your announcement. The main body of your press release can include statistics, quotes, and anything you deem important.
3. Include Background Information
The purpose of a press release is to offer as much information to the reader as possible. Background information helps people understand your connection to the project at hand. For example, let's say you have created a new keyword research and AI Search Engine Optimization tool. This is a hot topic, and many people would like to know how you can make SEO AI optimization easier and more effective for them. So, mention how you began working on this project, your motivation, and what your initial goal was. Also, explain how this project or product of yours will help businesses in the near future. What should potential buyers expect to gain from it?
4. Add Quotes
Customer testimonials are invaluable not only for press release announcements but for all business functions. Quotes can be taken from high-value customers backing you up in your new endeavor, or they can be from your key stakeholders. In any case, it should be someone of high authority and industry trust because that's how people will understand the importance of your announcement. Don't just pick whoever from your company. And quantity shouldn't be over quality; one or three key figures are enough to spread your message.
5. Add Contact Information And Proofread
The best press release examples feature contact details of the person responsible for the press release. This is important because journalists may see your announcement in a publication and ask you if you are okay with them reposting it. Or they may request extra information and visuals. In other cases, they may request an interview to shed extra light on your project. So, be sure to add the person's name, email address, and phone number if possible.
Before you even publish your press release in an effort to generate targeted leads, proofread it and ask an editor to take a second look to identify potential grammatical errors. When writing, you don't always realize if a sentence is confusing. A second set of eyes can identify mistakes and confusing parts and double-check your formatting for better readability.
5 Steps To Distribute Your Press Release
Now that you know what a press release looks like and how to write one, it's time to craft a distribution strategy. You must do thorough research and identify publications and journalists who are relevant to your niche. There is no use in distributing through a popular website that has nothing to do with your industry.
1. Reach Out To Journalists
How can you find relevant journalists and media outlets? Tools like Muck Rack, Cision, and even LinkedIn can help you locate people and publications that have covered topics like yours before. Try to keep your media list short, including only niche-specific names. With publications, it's often easier, as you can submit or purchase your press release hassle-free. eLearning Industry, for instance, allows you to purchase as many press releases as you need and submit them easily.
Contacting journalists gets a little trickier. You want to convince them that your press release is relevant to their audience, so you need to create a connection between what they usually write about and what you have to offer.
2. Make It Locally Relevant
Regardless of whether you want to find local customers or not, a professional press release should try to create local relevancy. In that case, mention exactly the location that is affected by your PR. For example, your company may be hiring in a different country to expand its business practices. Or you may be organizing a live, in-person event in your country. The best local press release examples provide clear context regarding the location and get distribution in local publications. This SEO strategy is wonderful for strengthening your local Search Engine Optimization.
3. Choose The Right Timing
All online marketing strategies are well-defined, and your press release distribution strategy shouldn't be any different. For starters, don't send your press release to publications and journalists just one day before publication. Give them a few days' notice to organize their schedule and craft a compelling story. Aside from that, you can ask them to publish your PR at a specific time. Most companies choose to go live on the hour. If you follow the same logic, your story may get lost in traffic. So, it's best to publish at different times, like 10:12, 11:23, or 1:04. Additionally, the best days to send press releases and get them published are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 10 am and 12 pm.
4. Use A PR Agency Or Newswire
There are many well-known newswire agencies that cover a wide range of topics and distribute your PRs to many publications, including mainstream media. It's one of the least targeted lead gen tactics, as people irrelevant to your niche are exposed to your press release. However, these agencies expand your reach and strengthen your SEO with their backlinks. Keep in mind that this is a paid media example, not earned.
If you do want to invest money, you can hire a PR agency. Professionals working at these agencies can help you craft the right PR with storytelling elements and distribute it to the right publications. Their approach is personalized to your needs.
5. Build Relationships
Having a few great contacts can be way more valuable than reaching out to hundreds of publications. Yes, this approach takes time—maybe years—but it's worth the struggle to create a list of journalists and media publications and maintain contact. That's how the best press release examples receive traction and help businesses generate new leads. In cases where you send PRs to hundreds of people, there is a chance they get thrown in the trash since the recipients don't know you, what you do, or why they should care about your news.
Why eLearning Industry Is A Great Choice For eLearning And HR Companies
eLearning Industry is a leader in the eLearning and HR industries. This is why it is one of the ideal places to publish your press release. You can check our press release help page and discover how you can create a top-notch announcement that will turn heads. You can also check the guidelines and specifications.
We have to show you a few of the best press release examples that engaged audiences and successfully spread their messages.
Why it works: In this case, Arlo just wanted to communicate a new product feature. It wasn't a press release about a major award or brand-new product. The video featured in the PR increases user engagement and makes it easier for audiences to check out what this new feature is all about.
Why it works: This is a great example of press releases about how educational tools can be incorporated in local schools. This announcement does exactly what we mentioned earlier about local relevancy. It mentions all the schools this new tool is going to be used at, along with the benefits that learners and educators should expect.
Why it works: Who doesn't like to celebrate an award or accomplishment? This is actually a top press release example for new and older businesses that want to increase their credibility. That's why you should consider participating in eLI's Top List Awards and get featured among the best players in your industry.
Key Takeaway
Now that you know the press release format and have seen various samples, are you ready to create your head-turning announcement? It doesn't have to be about a groundbreaking company moment, like a new product release, merger, or crisis management. It can be about a new product feature, a new hire, or an online event. Press releases are wonderful corporate training marketing solutions, as they inform your audience and potential buyers of what you bring to the table.
The best press release examples show us that you have to structure your article carefully, starting with a catchy headline and a compelling first paragraph. Powerful quotes, contact details, and visuals are also extremely important. Once it's time to distribute them, find the most relevant journalists and publications in the eLearning and HR fields. Maintain a close bond with them and ensure your PR is published at the right time. eLearning Industry is here to help you expand your reach to targeted audiences and generate interest from corporate clients who are ready to buy.
