Choose benefits, news and feature leads
Are you still using the fact pack — cramming who, what, when, where, why and how into the first paragraph of your news release?… Read the full article
PR writing
Six press release leads to avoid
How many of these have found their way into your releases?
Are you still using the fact pack — cramming who, what, when, where, why and how into the first paragraph of your news release?… Read the full article
What’s the best press release length?
Journalists spend less than 1 minute reading releases
Tick tock.
In the time it takes you to wash your hands, buckle your seat belt or start the dishwasher, your favorite journalist can finish reading your news release.… Read the full article
How to structure a press release
Toyota takes on feature releases
When PR pros at Toyota American Motor Sales needed to announce record-level production recently, they started with a traditional announcement release:
Toyota’s North American vehicle production at record levels in 2013
Toyota announced record level North American vehicle production for 2013 surpassing last year’s output.
Press release boilerplate best practices
Boil your company down with boilerplates
Boilerplates: Can’t live with ’em, can’t get a decent one through approvals.
What is a boilerplate in a press release?
… Read the full articleHow-to story example: The American Egg Board
Tipsheets are an eggcellent idea, demonstrates this Silver Anvil winner
When Americans bought more plastic and candy eggs and fewer real eggs for Easter 2012, the American Egg Board turned to Edelman to take back Easter.… Read the full article
How to write short quotes
Put the bite in the sound bite
Mark Twain once defined a sound bite as “a minimum of sound to a maximum of sense.”
So this quote, from The New York Times’ “Riches to Rags for New York Teenager Who Admits His Story Is a Hoax,” makes a lot of sense.… Read the full article
How to write a good testimonial
Help clients put in a good word for you
Too often, communicators use first-party testimonials. That is, they quote their own VP of product development on how great the new product is.… Read the full article
How to write good press release quotes
Add passion, personality to your sound bites
A frustrated PR pro in one of my workshops said:
“Most quotes in press releases sound like the teacher in Charlie Brown cartoons: ‘Wah wah wah wah.’”
… Read the full articleDefine target audiences in public relations pitches
They chew gum, don’t they?
Famous story about a pitch gone bad:
A PR pro at Warner-Lambert Company calls an editor at Inc. magazine. When, she asks, is Inc.… Read the full article