If you need a press release in a hurry or you don’t feel confident in your writing skills, you can ask a copywriter to craft it for you. Many PR agencies also outsource press release writing too.

Press Release Pointers:

1. Agree a deadline – if you’re promoting an event or have a seasonal offer, you’ll have a time limit on when you need the press release back, so make sure you tell your writer.

2. Have an (approximate) word count. Depending on what you’re doing with your press release, there may be a restriction on length. Make sure you share this at the start of the project.

3. Clearly define the topic – this is good advice for all of your marketing efforts. Be as specific as you can (e.g. a new product being released to improve productivity for small business owners).[ctt template=”3″ link=”5Uubt” via=”yes” ]If you outsource press release writing, provide as much detail as you can at the start of the project to make the process easier for both parties.[/ctt]
4. Know your target market – you’ll already know who your ideal customer is and the answer to point 3 will help, but if you’re writing an update for investors, the language used will be different to writing for customers.

5. Get as much information as you can ready before the writing starts. Getting all the facts, figures, names and dates together means that the writer can finish the press release quicker and doesn’t have to keep coming back to you for clarification.

6. Let the copywriter know if they need to write a quote. It can be easier to get your Managing Director or other senior staff to agree to be credited for a quote written for them, instead of waiting for them to supply one.

7. If they need to add in further information from their own research, point them in the direction of the best online or offline resources, or give them any raw data you have. This makes it quicker and guarantees they use the most reputable and reliable sources.