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Home Biz Notes

Writing Press Releases for Your Home Business

by Mary Emma Allen on April 2nd, 2007

One form of free publicity consists of press releases…sent to print publications, online media, news groups, and organizations.  You can write these yourself and send them out…generally by e-mail these days. 

When I worked as a reporter for a newspaper, we used press releases as a source of news.  If they were written well, the editor might use the release as is.  Sometimes he had me rewrite it as a news story.  In some cases, I’d follow up, with an interview of the business owner and write a longer piece.

Also, the press release might be shortened and merely listed with other local news and events.   Much of this depends on the format of the publication, the staff available for news stories, and the space for news that day or week.

Types of Press Releases

*Starting a new business

*An open house or special event

*Business merger

*Classes you may be teaching

*Recognition you or your business has received

*A new line of products

Format of a Press Release

*Write a catchy title but not cutesy

*Keep it simple and short

*Two or three paragraphs introducing the topic, then more details.  Use the newspaper format with the important information in the first paragraph.

*No prices… many publications consider anything containing prices as advertising for which you should pay.  Some even will leave off phone numbers and e-mails.

*Place your contact information [for the publication] at the top right hand corner or at the bottom.  This includes name, phone number, and e-mail.  Then if the newpaper editor or reporter has questions, they know how to contact you.  Also, if the reporter decides to follow-up and write a longer story about you and your business, he/she knows how to contact you.

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