A press release is just a handy tool used to tell the media about something newsworthy. A comet dropping on your front lawn is newsworthy. The President popping into your place of business is newsworthy.
The fact that you believe your product or service is the best available in the market is NOT newsworthy.
A newsworthy press release has to grab the attention of the reporter or editor and the intended audience trend press news. So if your company creates gift baskets you need your press release to grab the attention of certain reporters and your target market (e.g. Christmas gift shoppers, parents, etc.).
Now that we're clear on which we mean by newsworthy let's examine how to make a press release a magnet for your audiences.
Find your News Hook
First you've got determine the angle for your release. Simply because what you're selling isn't on its own "newsworthy" doesn't mean you can't tie it into something that's newsworthy.
I'm planning to illustrate this aspect with our gift basket example. Gift baskets are often filled up with items which are comforting, tasty and/or visually attractive. Again, that alone isn't newsworthy.
But if a press release was discussed how students and parents struggle with end-of-year gifts for school teachers the release may just get the attention of education and lifestyle reporters looking for interesting angles for the education or lifestyle beat.
The purpose being made this can be a significance of the current environment when buying a news hook for your media release. Think of holidays, local festivals, political activity, trends in the economy and any number of environmental news factors that you can use to give your media release a news hook.
Share Objective Data
Along with describing a fascinating aspect of your product or service and why it's important to your target market, try to include some objective statistics. Reporters love facts, as do readers.
As an example, if our hypothetical gift basket business owner was to share some statistics concerning the popularity of gift baskets and recent trends in the kinds of gift baskets preferred by consumers, the release becomes more than simply a marketing and instead a supply of useful information for any number of people.
Facts that support whatever you assert in your press release helps to build interest and credibility in the information you share. An appealing and credible release is more prone to attract reporters who will write articles that will attract YOUR target market.
The goal of your press release is to help grow your company so you ought to make the creation and distribution of the promotional tactic an integral part of your marketing plan.