Here are steps to take to avoid making the common press release distribution mistakes.
TAMPA, Fla. / Spelling mistakes, bad timing and just plain boring writing top the 5 Most Common Press Release Distribution Mistakes in 2010 from PR NewsChannel (prnewschannel.com), the press release distribution company.
PR NewsChannel created the list based on press release submissions and surveys.
“You dangle a carrot to get someone to bite. A press release is what you use to get the press to bite and a bad release sent at the wrong time won’t get you the attention you want,” says Patrick Flanary, director of operations at PR NewsChannel.
Flanary says he and his team advise clients on ways to avoid these pitfalls of timing or grammar issues. He says press releases are often submitted and include common mistakes. But he says these problems are caught and corrected before distribution on PR NewsChannel, which is part of the basic service afforded to every distribution client.
“In a job interview you have just a few seconds to make a first impression and it needs to be a great one,” says Flanary. “You get even less time with a press release. You have to hook the reporter or editor quickly otherwise the press release gets tossed in the trash or deleted. It’s as simple as that.”
Flanary says many companies are realizing the importance of a good press release and have turned to PR NewsChannel to write the release.
Newspapers and magazines get dozens, even hundreds, of news releases every day depending on their size.
Here are steps to avoid the common press release distribution mistakes, from PR NewsChannel:
1. Know your target audience.
You can’t generically make a pitch that will sell everything to everyone. Figure out the people you’re trying to target and write your release with them in mind.
2. Find an angle to pitch.
Look for an original angle to sell the story. Is it human interest? Is it a revolutionary product? Will it save people money? Answer the question: Why should people care about what you’re doing or selling?
3. Keep it simple.
Press releases need to be well written and articulate your message in a clear, straightforward way. It does not need to be long. Be careful not to kitchen-sink it with too many facts, figures and information. Edit yourself.
4. Timing is everything.
Be timely. Try to send your press release to coincide with events in the news that may be similar.
5. Be watchful of spelling and grammar.
Nothing says amateur more than spelling and grammatical errors. Make sure you proofread carefully for mistakes. Run the release through a spell check program.
“It’s not easy to write a winning press release, but it can be done,” says Flanary. “Quiet frankly that’s why so many turn to us to write the release for them.”
For more information about PR NewsChannel, please visit prnewschannel.com.
Direct Link: https://prnewschannel.com/2010/12/29/spelling-errors-bad-timing-and-boring-writing-top-the-5-most-common-press-release-distribution-mistakes-in-2010/SOURCE:
This press release is distributed by PR NewsChannel. Your News. Everywhere.
