Hey! Are you getting tired because of your unnoticed press release?
Do you want your press release to grab the reader’s attention instantly?
Writing a press release that captures attention is one of the common problems many business organizations face. Although they put a lot of effort and time into writing press release copy, but they fail to craft a compelling narrative because they use outdated methods.
Remember that a press release is not just a news announcement. It is a strategic tool designed to persuade, inform, and engage.
In this guide, I will discuss with you how you can write a press release like a pro that grabs attention and drives results. I have covered each element needed to make your press release attention-grabbing.
In this guide, I am going to discuss with you:
- Essential components of a press release.
- How can you craft opening paragraphs and body copy?
- The proper way to write headlines and subheads.
- Right way to add contact info and additional details.
In short, this guide will give you enough knowledge to write a press release like a pro.
So, let’s dive in and discuss how to transform an ordinary press release into an extraordinary one.
Anatomy Of Press Release
In this section, I will discuss the eight essential components of a press release.
Headline
The headline is the first touch point, which means it is the first thing readers see when they interact with your press release.
Sub Headline
A subheading provides additional context and complements the headline to clarify the main message and encourage readers to read more.
Opening Paragraph
It is also known as the lead, and an opening paragraph summarizes the most important information to hook readers.
Body
The body of the press release is used to expand the information you have given in the opening paragraph. It provides additional details, such as supporting facts and background information.
Quotes
Press release quotes add credibility to press releases. You can incorporate quotes from key individuals, such as CEOs or Industry experts.
Contact Details
Contact details help interested parties and journalists follow up about media inquiries or for other relevant information. Always include your contact details in your press release. They may include your email, phone number, etc.
Boiler Point
A boiler point is a brief description of your organization. It should be consistent throughout all press releases.
Extras (Optional)
Extras are used to enhance engagement factors. It may include multimedia elements, links, etc.
Opening Paragraph
In this section, I will discuss how to write a compelling opening paragraph that delivers important information upfront.
Use an opening paragraph to answer essential questions of who, what, when, where, and why. According to your needs, not every press release includes all these elements, but cover as many as you can because these will help you provide readers with a concise overview of your press release.
When crafting your opening paragraph, aim to make it easy and quickly understandable for your reader.
There are five key elements of a robust opening paragraph:
5 W’s:
It is essential that in the opening paragraph, you should clearly communicate your five W’s:
- Who: Mention who you are mean to write about. Are you a company or an individual?
- What: Be concise and describe what the press release is all about. Is it for the product or an event?
- When: Mention when your event is happening, and specify the date and time.
- Where: Mention the location of your event.
- Why: Focus on the event’s impact and why it is significant.
Tips to Follow when writing an opening paragraph
Tone of voice
Use a tone that emphasizes clarity. The best approach is to write in a journalistic tone, which should be natural and well-crafted in an objective style.
Keep in mind that do not use promotional language. Instead of this, just focus on factual information.
Example: A spokesperson for EcoDrive stated that the new battery technology is expected to revolutionize the electric vehicle market.
Conciseness
Make sure that your opening paragraph is concise and to the point. Do not bother your reader with jargon and unnecessary details. Make it powerful and use active verbs.
Example: EcoDrive and BatteryTech are collaborating to develop a new battery technology that will double the range of electric vehicles.
Newsworthiness
Build interest by highlighting the key angle that makes your press release compelling for the public and journalists. Mention the consequences and impact that will happen to create differentiation.
Example: The partnership between EcoDrive and BatteryTech marks a significant step forward in the race to achieve sustainable transportation.
Headline and Sub headline
The headline of your press release should be engaging and descriptive because it is the first thing that captures the reader’s attention.
On the other hand, a sub-headline is used to support your headline and provide additional depth and context.
In this section, I will discuss tips for crafting the heading and subheading of your press release.
Let’s discuss those tips one by one:
Tips for writing a headline for a press release
- Keep your headline concise. The best practice is to use a maximum of 10 words.
- Make sure that your headline is descriptive and conveys your core message.
- To make it search-friendly, incorporate relevant keywords.
- Use strong verbs and write in an active voice to create a sense of urgency.
- Do A/B testing and craft different styles.
Tips for writing a sub-headline for a press release
- Provide additional context to support your headline.
- Include relevant keywords or key phrases to improve search visibility.
- Keep it concise, and do not use more than 20 words.
- Craft your sub-headline in a way that should improve the reader’s understanding of press release content.
Body Of Press Release
In this section, I will discuss with you how to write the body of a press release. The body is a place where you delve deeper into the details of your press release and expand your copy with supporting information.
A perfectly crafted body copy of a press release provides valuable information to the reader and helps you maintain the momentum you have built.
Five key elements help you write the body of a press release:
Expand key information
It should expand on the key details you mentioned in the opening paragraph. In the body part, provide more context about the information and add background to give your reader a complete picture.
Include Quotes
Add quotes. They will help to enhance credibility and build interest because quotes provide unique perspectives or insights. Just make sure the quotes are relevant and reinforce your key message.
You can add quotes from the CEO or other Key stakeholders, such as industry experts, product designers, company executives, etc.
Provide Additional Details
Add additional information that enhances interest. For example, if you are launching a product, define the benefits, features, or any other relevant details. If you are going to announce an event, add additional details about it. Just make sure your information builds reader interest.
Logical Flow
Make sure that the information you are providing should be scannable by the reader, which means crafting information in an essay flow manner such as :
- Use transition words and phrases
- Jot down clear paragraphs, and each paragraph should focus on a single idea.
- Avoid sentence repetition,
- Maintain one consistent tone of voice throughout.
Powerful Conclusion
Finally, write a powerful conclusion summarizing all the key points you have covered and reiterating your main message.
Contact Details + Extras
This section is all about final touches because I am going to discuss with you how to write contact details and the Extras that will help to enhance the engagement factor.
Let’s discuss key elements of Contact Details:
- Primary Contact Information: Add primary contact information here. Provide a number for the person who can handle media inquiries and provide other information, including their full name, email address, and phone number.
- Company Website and Social Links: Add the company website link and other social media links so that interested parties can follow up on their additional requests or questions about the event or product.
- Provide Press Kit: If you have a press kit available, you must include it because it will help journalists who want to cover your event access the resources they need to cover the event, such as high-resolution videos, logos, images, and other relevant resources.
Now let’s discuss about Extras what you can add as Extras:
- Add a Boilerplate as an extra. It is a brief introduction to the company. You can summarize the company’s mission, vision, history, and key achievements here.
- If applicable, add a legal disclaimer and Look forward statements to ensure those statements should comply with legal requirements.
- Add high-resolution images to enhance engagement.
Conclusion
Press release writing requires a strategic approach. To write a press release like a pro, you should know several key components.
You have to understand how to write headlines, subheadlines, body copy, quotes, contact details, and extras that will build interest in readers and make your press release impactful.
I have discussed guidelines for each key component with you in this guide. With their help, you can effectively communicate your message.
Now, you just need to follow the structured outline approach I have shown you in this guide. Follow the steps and write the press release in a way that not only informs but also engages the reader and builds their interest.
And remember one thing: practice makes perfect, so write your press release and then analyze how you can refine it yourself.
So that’s it for now. If you still need clarification, you can ask me in the comments or send me an email.