Table of contents

• Ensuring a Press Release is Newsworthy
  • Timing
  • Significance/Impact
  • Proximity
  • Prominence
• The Anatomy of a Press Release
  • Headline
  • Summary
  • Dateline and Lead Paragraph
  • Body
  • Boilerplate
  • Contact Information
• Press Release Tips
  • Avoid Typos and Poor Grammar
  • Fact over Fiction
  • A Beautifully fictitious quote from a relevant Spokesperson can go a long way
  • Like a CV, no more than 1 page
  • Do Your Research
  • It’s not about you, it’s about the reader
  • Round it back to a Current Event
  • A Press Release is Just the Start
• Where to Promote Your Press Release?
  • Send to Targeted Journalists
  • Target Local Online Bloggers
  • Share on Social Media
• Two Free Small Business Press Release Templates

So you’re starting a business. You have got the usual channels like Facebook, Twitter and a new website running and now you’re thinking about press coverage. For many small businesses the prospect of getting a little article in the local newspaper or getting a hot event on the radio is exciting. Not only can it provide you with a business boost, but it’s always nice to get a little coverage and have people talking about you!

But how do you get press? How do get on the radio? How do you find a journalist? These are questions that trip up many businesses and make the prospect of getting press coverage a little off-putting. Yet, journalists crave quality stories. Their jobs depend on it and if you have  a story worth sharing, a press release to a journalist may be a way of getting your story out there. Continue reading The Small Business Guide to Press Releases →