Here are some press release writing tips. They are specific to Business Wire. Some can be used on other wire services but others lack these features.

  1. Bold your company name and put it in the first paragraph with your company URL. That way if a news web sites republishes your news and it doesn’t allow links at least they can read your web site address. Also, it means getting the most important information right up front. People skim online and may not read past the first paragraph, so be sure they know how to find you.
  2. Include “calls to action” within your press release text. For example, if you have an iPhone app, you can insert a line in the 2nd paragraph telling people where they can buy your app. Make it it’s own paragraph. For example: “Buy the ____ iPhone app at iTunes for $9.99″ and link to the app web site. Later you might insert another call to action.
  3. Insert a Resources section. This can be before the “About Us” section at the end. It can be a bulleted list of links and descriptions. Put your Twitter account, your Facebook Fan Page, your company profile on LinkedIn and other related links. Consider linking to stories that give more information, videos, images and other resources. You can also link to your product page, downloads, etc.
  4. Include descriptive quotes in your press release. Anything in quote marks that are between 5-50 words will be rotated in a larger font in a box in the press release. Make sure if it’s all someone reads it packs a punch and is not so generic that it could be a quote about any company or product.

Look for enhanced reporting in the new year.

Press Releases are Referral Engines! Learn How to get business leads and traffic with the Killer Online Press Releases book & DVD combo

  • Share/Bookmark

3 Responses to “Press Release Writing Tips from Business Wire”

  1. Rahman Mehraby Says:
    December 30th, 2009 at 1:58 pm

    There’s no doubt a PR needs to have a “call to action”, but do you think it could be so direct and at the 2nd paragraph? Can you explain a bit more?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  2. onlineprbook (Janet Thaeler) Says:
    December 30th, 2009 at 5:25 pm

    New blog post: Press Release Writing Tips from Business Wire http://www.onlineprbook.com/press-release-writing-tips-from-business-wire/

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

  3. Sylvester Burk Says:
    January 26th, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    I started twitter a few weeks ago, since then I’ve begun to love it. When I started I hated Twitter it’s allowed me to network with people in my life alot easier. News and updates happen in real time which makes for a great social communication app.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0

Leave a Reply