Press releases can provide companies of all sizes with a platform to share their latest news and promote their exceptionality. But if you’re new to the concept, you may be unsure about when they’re appropriate to use, how exactly to write them, and where and how to submit them. This resource will guide you through the process, from the basic use cases, guidelines, and instructions all the way to templates to help you write and send out your own press releases.
What is a press release?
A press release, or news release, is fundamentally a ready-to-publish news story written according to journalistic standards on behalf of a business or organization. It is proactively sent to media outlets for their consideration in the hopes that they will publish or broadcast your story.
News releases are most often announcements of new initiatives or straight news stories about updates to a business or organization. If your business is hosting a ribbon-cutting event, launching a new product, partnering with a non-profit for a relevant cause, or has just won an award, you might want to consider writing a news release.
How press releases can benefit your business
As a business owner who is seeking to gain publicity for their business, writing press releases is a great skill to add to your toolkit. Using local media can be an effective marketing strategy to promote your business by working to create a positive relationship with your company’s community while appealing to local interest.
Proactively sharing press releases with journalists and other publishers can have a multitude of positive effects on your business. This includes the potential to increase business and foot traffic, expand online visibility, demonstrate expertise and professionalism, attract investors, engage the media, generate company authenticity, build brand awareness, and gain attention for advocacy campaigns.
Understaffed newsrooms and busy journalists need new, intriguing, ready-made stories, so the facts you can provide in a news release simplify their process and create a win-win situation. If your business has a genuinely newsworthy story, you have a strong chance of receiving the media coverage you seek.
How to write a press release
Press releases are not extremely difficult pieces to write, but they do have a certain language and set of rules to follow for the best results. Read our full guide on How to Write a Press Release to get a crash course on this process and start writing your own.
How to submit a press release
A press release is only useful if it’s seen and acted on by the right people. Once you’ve written yours, the next step is to find the right places to send it. Read our full guide on How to Submit a Press Release for a primer on what to do with your finished news release in order to get it in the right hands.
Find a professional.
For more complicated news releases or for higher chances of success, you may want to consider contacting a public relations specialist with experience and a press contact list. If you are interested in amplifying your company’s general marketing efforts on a more professional level, hiring an experienced marketing, advertising, or public relations specialist can help.
Cyrena Guyot is a Public Relations Manager, overseeing PR, internal communications, advertising, graphic design, web design and event planning for small businesses, prominent corporations, and organizations local to Orange County, California. Cyrena is available for PR inquiries.
Cyrena Guyot is not affiliated with Block, Inc. This article is only for informational purposes. The information provided in this article solely reflects the author's views and is endorsed by Square. This article is limited in scope and is only intended as a high-level overview of the topics mentioned. For guidance or advice specific to your business, you should consult with a qualified professional.
