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A press release is an important tool for attracting the interest of journalists and editors and for reaching a wide audience. A well-written press release can raise a company's profile, announce a new product or promote an important event. Below are steps to help you write a successful press release that can get into the press:
Step 1: Define target audience and message
Before you start writing, be clear about your target audience and message. Think about who your target audience is and what kind of message you want to convey. If you're announcing a new product line, your audience should be consumers and industry professionals. If you are making an important announcement, your audience may consist of the media and the public. It's important to make your message clear and concise.
Step 2: Choose writing style and format
Your press release should be written in a clear, simple style and focus on the most important information. Avoid jargon and use short sentences and paragraphs. Start with a strong headline that grabs readers' attention and put the most important information at the beginning of the text. Use a standardized format consisting of a headline, sub-title, introductory text, body text, and contact information.
Step 3: Refine your message
In your main text, you should describe your message in more detail and highlight important facts, figures, and details. However, avoid going too deep into details as you might lose your readers' attention. Focus on the most important points and make sure you present your message in an understandable and interesting way.
Step 4: Check facts
Before you publish your press release, make sure all the facts are correct. Check all the numbers, dates and facts and make sure you are not spreading false information. It is also important that you correctly spell the names and titles of all people mentioned in the press release.
Step 5: Headline and image selection
Your headline should be short, concise and meaningful. It should pique the reader's interest and encourage them to read the text. Also use appealing images or graphics to support and enhance your press release.
Step 6: Dissemination
Once you have written your press release, you need to distribute it to relevant media and journalists. There are several ways to do this, such as using press portals, contacting relevant journalists, or publishing directly on your own website.
One way to distribute your press release is to use press portals. These provide a platform where companies can publish their press releases and journalists and media can access them. These include, for example, press portals such as PR Newswire, Mynewsdesk or PresseBox. These portals allow you to send your press release to a large number of journalists and increase your reach.
Another option is to contact relevant journalists or editors. For this, you should create a list of journalists who might be of interest to your target group. You can research these via social networks such as LinkedIn or Twitter, for example. Make sure you only contact journalists who might actually be interested in your topic to avoid being perceived as spam.
You can also publish your press release directly on your own website. For this, you should set up a dedicated section on your website where you publish all your press releases. This way, interested parties, including potential customers, can easily find your latest news and announcements.
Step 7: Follow-up
It's important to keep track of the contacts you've reached with your press release. Think about how you can continue to keep your contacts in the loop to maintain interest in your company or organization. For example, you can start an email campaign to keep your contacts informed of future developments.
Conclusion
A well-written press release can help generate interest from journalists and editors and reach a wide audience. It's important to define your target audience and message accurately in advance and focus on the most important information. By using a clear writing style, appealing images and graphics, and fact checking, you can create a successful press release. By using press portals, contacting relevant journalists or publishing on your own website, you can increase your reach and spread your message in a targeted way.
A press service (also called a press agency) is a company or organization that collects, processes and distributes news and information. Press services work as an intermediary between news sources and the media (such as newspapers, magazines, television, radio, online media, etc.), providing news and background information to journalists.
Press services source and produce news on various topics such as politics, business, culture, sports and other areas. They then publish these news items on their own platforms or distribute them to various media houses. The main purpose of press services is to provide effective and fast information transmission to ensure that relevant news and information reaches the media and audience quickly and reliably.
Some of the best-known press services are the Associated Press (AP), Reuters, Agence France-Presse (AFP) and dpa.
Here are some steps you can follow when creating a press release:
Headline: The headline is the first impression the journalist will get from your press release. It should be clear, concise and summarize the essence of your story.
Introduction: the introduction should directly introduce the reader to the story and motivate them to read on. Put the most important information in the first paragraph and answer the questions: who? What? When? Where? Why? and How?
Body: The body of the press release should elaborate on the story and provide more detailed information. Make sure all the important details are included and your message is presented in an understandable and interesting way. However, avoid adding too much unnecessary material.
Quote: a quote from a relevant person can help legitimize your story and add credibility. It should be short and concise and summarize the gist of the story.
Background information: Include relevant background information at the end of the press release, such as information about your company or organization, to give the journalist additional context.
Contact information: Include your contact information at the end of the press release so journalists can contact you with further questions or for interviews.
Formatting: make sure your press release is well formatted and easy to read. Use a clear font and appropriate size. Do not add unnecessary graphics or images.
By following these steps, you can create an effective press release that will capture the interest of the media and successfully convey your story.
There are several online directories and databases that contain listings and profiles of freelance journalists. Here are some options:
Freeelancermap: An online platform that specializes in freelance workers in various industries, including journalism. It offers an extensive database of freelance journalists from around the world.
Journalist Directory: A directory of freelance journalists in Germany. The directory is sorted by state and topic and includes contact information and samples of work.
DJV-Freie: A database of the German Journalists' Association (DJV) containing more than 4,000 freelance journalists from Germany. The database is accessible to DJV members, but some information is also available to the public.
MediaBistro: A job board and online community for media professionals, including freelance journalists. The site includes a job database, a directory of freelancers, and a variety of resources for media professionals.
LinkedIn: A social platform for business and professional people, also used by freelance journalists. LinkedIn allows users to create their profile to showcase their skills and experience and connect with other professionals.
These lists are a good starting point for finding freelance journalists. However, it is important to note that many freelancers may not be listed on these lists or may not advertise their services publicly. In this case, it may be helpful to search social media or relevant groups and forums for recommendations.
A public relations service is a range of services provided by companies or agencies to support clients' public relations (PR) efforts. PR service providers help companies, organizations or individuals improve their public perception and build a positive relationship with their target audience.
Typical PR services include:
Media relations: PR service providers help clients place their messages in the media by creating press releases and press texts and forwarding them to relevant journalists and media representatives.
Crisis communication: In the event of crises or negative events, PR service providers help their clients develop and implement measures to minimize or avoid damage to the company's reputation.
Content marketing: PR service providers help develop and distribute informative and entertaining content (e.g., blog articles, videos, social media posts) to enhance brand image and increase reach.
Event planning: PR service providers can also assist with event planning and execution (e.g., press conferences, product launches, galas) to increase brand awareness and strengthen relationships with target audiences.
The services and offerings of PR services can vary depending on the provider and customer needs. As a rule, PR service providers work closely with their clients to develop and implement individual PR strategies tailored to the client's goals and needs.