Press Release - Part II

As previously related in Part I – The Power of Press Releases, this important element of your promotional campaign not only helps in driving traffic to your website but also in generating lots of back links and so it kicks your Google Page rank higher and gets you picked easily by other major search engines.

This article will go into the fine details of creating a succesful Press Release and what it means for your business as a whole.

I. Choose Topic

The main distinction between an article and a Press Release is that the Press Release announces a specific event. An article describes an opinion or simply shares information about a specific topic. For example, “Company ABC Launches a New Web Portal.” In this example, you are announcing a specific event (the launch of new web site or portal).

Understanding this difference now, will save you time and energy, as many distribution sites will not submit releases that are not formatted and written like a proper release.

Ideas for Specific Events:

• The launch of your new business
• The launch of your new website
• The launch of your new team
• The launch of your new blog

II. Choose Keywords

The focus of a Press Release should be not only to inform other people about your event but using keywords within the Press Release in order to gain high ranking positions with the search engines. In order to produce the proper
keywords follow the steps:

• Make a list of 5-10 keywords that are related to the topic you chose
• Go to http://freekeywords.wordtracker.com and type in your keywords, one by one.
• Choose the top three keywords that have the highest number of searches

III. Write the Press Release

This is where everything happens. Remember – the organization where you send your Press Release isn’t interested in helping you make money or driving visitors to your site. All they look for is a story – an interesting one so more readers will flock to their articles. So it’s up to you to make it interesting and make the cut.

Here are the steps to accomplish this:

Step 1 – Outline

Create an outline by answering the following 5 questions:

• What specific event am I announcing?
• When did this event happen?
• Who did this event involve?
• Why would other people be interested in reading about this event?
• Where can people find out more information?

Step 2 – Quotes

Make sure you write 2-3 personal quotes to use in your press release (as if someone was interviewing you about this event). These quotes should be what you think or feel about this event.

Step 3 – Release

Write your release Notes along these lines:

• This is where the news reporter should shine. Your press release should read like a news story, as if someone else wrote it
• Be sure your keyword is used at least 3-4 times in the body of your press release and in the title of your release, without feeling like you are stuffing or forcing them upon the reader
• Do not use one keyword more than 4 times in the body each release

Step 4 – Review

• Check your entire text for spelling, punctuation and grammar errors
• Check if your web site URL is the correct one on the bottom of your Press Release – you won’t get a second chance at this
• Double-check everything as you want the release to be as professional as possible
• Have others read it and get feedback
• Modify accordingly is the majority of your feedback points to a specific item in your Press Release

IV. Distribute the Press Release

Once your press release is finalized, distribute it to the search engines ASAP!

Here’s a resource list where you can distribute your Press Release:

• www.free-press-release.com
• www.webwire.com
• www.prweb.com
• www.24-7pressrelease.com
• www.prlog.com

Note: You will have to signup for each of the resources listed above. Once you do –do not forget to save it in your Favorites should you return back to them. Each distribution site distributes your release to many other websites.

Important Notes:

• Keep your Press Release at an effective rate of 400 words or less
• Your press release should contain your keyword 3-4 times in the body, and once in the title
• Always use your personal business name when distributing releases
• Some distribution sites will make your press release live immediately; some will require up 72 hours for approval
• The distribution site will immediately reject you if your press release sounds more like an advertisement, or a sales pitch and not a newsworthy event
• Press releases are impossible to edit after they have been distributed; make sure you are 100% sure of the content you are about to release
• Make sure you submit the same press release to a distribution site only ONCE
• You can distribute the same press release to all the different distribution sites

Even More Important Notes:

• Whenever possible, add a video into the distribution with your press release. Google loves press releases with video in them
• Some distribution sites will give you the opportunity to have your website displayed right beneath your press release. Take advantage of this option when possible. It looks very professional and adds credibility to your release
• If you follow the instructions in this article, your release will begin to appear more and more on the search engines over time

For other helpful infomation Self Promotion, please see 7 Powerful Laws of Self-Marketing

Great Headlines + Superb Press Release = Traffic to Your Site

Release The Power of Press – Part I

Besides establishing your website, blog and social media accounts you can also write Press Releases. They are a superb way to position yourself as a leader and add instant credibility and presence for your business.

A press release is similar to a new story, except you can submit your “news story” to many sites on the internet, through press release distribution sites.

The key to writing a press release is to search and insert specific keywords that pertain to whatever your business is selling. These keywords should be your personal name, business name, or other industry-specific keywords directly related to your business.

Your Press Release will show up every time someone goes to Google (or any other search engine) and type in the keyword. As a result, prospects will have the opportunity to read your press release, and click through to your website. And that folks, is money in the bank, because traffic means clicks to your site and clicks means people being interested in you and your business.

The main difference between a press release and an article you write for your blog, is that a press release should be geared towards announcing a specific event, such as the launch of your new business or blog, a new service or product, even a launch party. An article shares opinions or information, a Press Release lets people know about an event. Keep this in mind, as you create your Press Release.

If written professionally with lots of CTAs (Calls to Action), the Press Releases can bring very high quality web surfers to your site. Most people reading your Press Release already want a business opportunity. After all – that’s why they are reading it. Now it’s your job to lure them in and simply mystify them with your exciting and new opportunities.

Be creative, honest but most of all razzle dazzle them and soon they will become loyal customers. If you want to be more of a web 2.0 guy or gal, include a video and Google will love you for that.

Note:
Part II of this article will dissect and display the elements of a successful Press Release in detail.