Make Money Writing: Marketing With Press Releases
To make money writing you’ve got to become known as a writer. One of your primary marketing tools to help you to achieve that is the press release. Few writers make good use of press releases; they’re a very valuable tool however and you should become familiar with them for two reasons.
The first reason is that press releases will get you known as a writer. Every release you write will get new clients for you and will remind current and previous clients that you’re still in business. The second reason is that once you become familiar with writing press releases, you can write them for others: it’s another writing service you can provide to your clients.
1. What’s a Press Release?
Essentially a press release is simply a document which is released to the media about something which is newsworthy. Did you know that 75 per cent of all newspaper articles are derived from press releases? New stories are often based on press releases and in some smaller newspapers may be used as news stories completely as written, in their entirety.
2. Topics for Press Releases
Although the terms “news release” and “press release” can be used interchangeably I usually use “news release” because it reminds me that a press release must contain something newsworthy.
Here’s a list of the elements of a news release. Your news releases should contain at least one of the following elements: timeliness, public interest, conflict, tragedy, humor, sex, money, human interest, the future, or animals.
As a writer this gives you a wide field for topics for your news releases. As a marketing tool for your writing, almost anything can provide a topic for a press release.
For example, if you’re adding a new writing service (such as a news release writing service for example) to the services you provide, this is a great topic for a press release.
Winning a new contract, a client’s success, business tips, and expanding your writing business are all great topics for press releases too.
Almost anything can make a topic for a press release.
Get a press release template so you know the format for your releases, and remember that all press releases are written in the third person — “Jenny Smith, a local writer says_______”.
3. Distributing Your Press Release
Your press releases should always be sent to your local media: that is to local newspapers,radio stations, and TV networks.
The web has opened a whole new arena for press releases. Nowadays many press releases are simply written as an online marketing strategy. They’re written to attract a business’s customers, and provide high-quality links, rather than being directed at the media.
Press releases get credibility, publicity and clients for your writing business. If the media pick up on any of your releases you’ll get a story in your local paper. This happens often.
So write a press release today; it’s an easy and powerful way to market your writing services business.
Discover the secrets to marketing your writing services with Angela Booth’s video series and marketing ebook. Give your writing business a marketing boost today – you’ll be thrilled with the results.
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