Rembrandt’s Blog

If you are in the process of writing a press release, here are a few quick things to keep in mind when writing your  quotes:

• Provide value.

How many times do you see a press release where the CEO is “thrilled” or “excited” about the news item? Of course he or she is! Otherwise, the company wouldn’t send out the news in the first place!

With this in mind, please remember to provide valuable information in a quote. Have your CEO or spokesperson provide new data or a personal opinion about the news that media members and perspective customers will want to hear.

• Add SEO keywords.

Quotes are often pulled-out of press releases and inserted into various media venues “as is” so why not make the most of them?

Include search engine optimization (SEO) keywords in your quotes for extra publicity. Who knows? A potential customer may be looking for certain keywords online, find your press release and make a purchase!

• Keep it short.

When inserting a quote into your release, try to keep it short and sweet. Get your message across as succinctly as possible. This will help make your press release more reader-friendly and help build more buzz.

• Who are you quoting?

When writing a press release, try to have a business executive give the quote. People want to hear from the leaders of an organization or business, not the communications person. You’ll add more credibility to your release and possibly get more interviews.

These are just quick tips to remember when writing your press releases. Since you’re spending the time and effort to distribute the news, why not get the most out of it as possible?

Need more help with your press releases, SEO copywriting and PR activities? Just let me know here or at www.rembrandtwrites.com. Thanks!

Happy Thursday!

I have a special, “almost Friday,” treat for you! I’ve collected a new list of current sites where you can post your press release at no cost.

Check it out at http://www.rembrandtwrites.com/FreePressReleasePostingSites.htm.

And if you have others to share, please let me know!

Thanks, and have a great day!

Melanie

P.S. If you need help getting people to your site with SEO copywriting and public relations activities, please let me know. I’m here to help!

If you are contacting reporters and mailing media packets on a regular basis without getting responses, are you:

1. Sending information all about your company’s products and services rather than offering valuable information to each media member?  

2. Focusing on features and not benefits?  

3. Bothering reporters with repetitive phone calls, e-mails and mailings?  

4. Sending hundreds of packets without targeting each media venue and reporter?  

5. Spending a lot of time and money?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to stop and revise your strategy.

Before you contact any media members, it’s important for you to know what they focus on and how you can provide them with unique and interesting information.

For example, you can:

-        Prepare information that offers benefits specifically for their audience.

-        Offer yourself as an expert resource for future stories.

-        Give them an exclusive case study specific to their readers.

-        Write a press release that focuses on the benefits of your products and services and more!

These are just a few ideas, and there are many ways to capture media attention. It’s a matter of always asking “What’s in it for them?”

By targeting a unique pitch to a specific media member’s needs, you’ll establish yourself as a valuable resource and get more press mentions.

But if you continue to focus on simple selling your products and services alone, you’ll be waiting a long time for your phone to ring!

For help with your media relations and copywriting, feel free to write to me below or contact me at www.rembrandtwrites.com. Thanks!