Press release writing is a valuable tool which is used by businesses of all kinds all around the world. But are they just for big businesses? The answer is certainly not because any business in any sector can benefit from this type of document. There are many benefits which come with writing the perfect press release, and if business owners can fully grasp the concept then they can embrace all the benefits which come with them.

Who Can Do It?

A PR article can be produced by anyone and this is one of the benefits because businesses can either hire the work out to a professional PR writing service to get the best results, or they can do it themselves. Naturally, Press release distribution have to adhere to very strict standards so before business owners try it themselves they have to make sure that they can adhere to those standards. But getting the writing right means that businesses can save money whilst also getting a professional PR service.

The Main Benefits

If a journalist or other type of writer looks at a press release and they see that it's suitable for their publication then they may write an article or blog piece about it. This means that companies can effectively get other people to work for them for nothing as it passively gets the company name out there.

Everybody knows that press releases are extremely sensitive documents. One mistake can blow the whole thing out of the water, so a professional job has to be done. But if done correctly then this projects a great image for the company itself because those who read it will know that the firm in question is extremely professional.

Just like with many types of writing, it will drive web traffic to the website of the company. This is important for building a brand and getting one's name out there. When it comes to press releases, the best way to handle this is to make sure that the service used to release the PR article uses Google News and other popular news channels.

How to Achieve

When looking to achieve all of these major benefits, it's important to not make a journalist's/writer's job harder than it needs to be. If a PR notice contains lots of advertising text and lots of complicated formatting then the chances are they're going to give it a miss because they can quite easily find someone else's Best press release distribution service who won't have all of these things in.

Always add a link to a press release. This link should go back to the company website where readers can find out more about the company. Ideally, the link should come at the end of the notice for the best results. Remember, this is not an advertising text.

Try to avoid talking about the future with words like "expect" and "possibility" because this is not what press release writing is about. A distributed PR notice is designed to be based on facts and figures whilst focusing on current news. It's not a speculative piece.

Top 10 Press Release Mistakes

There are good reasons why some press releases generate a journalistic frenzy and others fall flat. You can learn a lot about how to write and distribute great press releases by examining some of the common public relations mistakes companies make. Don't let your press release fall victim to any of the following pitfalls.

1. A Bad headline

Why ruin your news release before anyone's even had the chance to read it? Your headline is your chance to make a first impression. This is what will draw in the journalist to want to know more. Many press releases are quickly dismissed simply because the headline wasn't intriguing enough or didn't give the reader enough valuable information. A good headline should give the reader enough information to know the general idea of the pr wire services, but leave unanswered questions that require the reader to continue down the page.

2. Written in third person

A press release is supposed to be representative of the company or individual about whom it is written. Releases written in third person using words like "He," "She," "They," and "It," not only show a lack of professionalism, but also appear very cold and impersonal.

3. Spelling errors

Spell check is your friend. So is good, old-fashioned proofreading. Read over your news release with a fine-toothed comb and ensure that no spelling mistakes or grammatical error exist. Remember, this document is supposed to be representative of your company and personal brand. You don't want your release to be dismissed as amateur simply because you were careless in the editing process.

4. Too long

In the world of PR, brevity is your friend. Journalists and news desks are busy. They want their information quickly and delivered in a nice, bite-sized package. Chances are, if you can't write a compelling story in less than 500 words, perhaps a press release isn't the right method to disseminate your message. A news release that is pages and pages long is very likely to be ignored.

5. Using company jargon or overly technical words

Write your press release so that anyone who reads it can understand the basic premise of the story you're pitching. A person shouldn't need a post-doctorate education in physics to decipher the words of your release. Make it an easy read.

6. Too sales-y

Nothing turns off a new editor like a sports event press release full of sales copy. Yes you are trying to gain media attention and promotion for your product, company, or service, but it's important that your press release provides value to a journalist. Why would they want to write about this topic? Is it interesting and does it have a good angle? There needs to be an angle beyond you trying to pitch your product.

7. Bad-mouthing competition

Under no circumstances is it ever good form to make a jab at or say something defamatory about another company or individual in a news release. A release should be about you and your company and no one else. Keep the focus in the right place. The Internet is irrevocable so once your press release hits the virtual newswire, it's nearly impossible to take those words back. Choose your words wisely.

8. Run-on sentences

Sentences with more than 25 words become difficult to comprehend. The reader can end up confused and completely miss the message you are attempting to communicate. Keep your sentences brief and succinct. Don't overly complicate things by packing your release with over-stuffed sentences.

9. False claims or half truths

Always under promise and over deliver. There are ways to communicate the excitement and grandness of your message without making exaggerated claims. Claiming your product is the most amazing product ever created doesn't exactly instill confidence in the reader. Always be honest in your release.

10. All caps

The only place in your press release that should ever be all caps is the city and date. Beyond that, it appears unprofessional to include excessive caps in a news release. Remember to use words to express excitement, not caps.