It is always essential whenever you are launching a new product or service of your company to communicate to the general public and inform them about the new development of your company. Sometime we don’t have to communicate with the public simply because we have a new product or service, but responding to a crisis or fighting the ever spreading rumours about your company or products. The best way to keep the information flow between your corporate and the public is through the use of press releases. This is the official way of communication, and the only way to maximize coverage through other media outlets is by the use of a press release.

So what is a press release? Just as the name suggest, a press release is any official statement that is being release to the media outlets for the public consumption. Period. In a well organized and well established corporation, it is the work of a public relation manager to prepare these press release, but never mind, incase your organization has not yet attained this level of having a public relations manager, then you too in your own capacity as the proprietor of your company can carry out the task of preparing clear and comprehensive press releases. Always bear in mind that, a good press release is essentially a good source of a news story.

Upon the release of your press release, journalists and internet writers would use it as it is or rewriting it in their own fitted style in order to correspond with their angle of the story. Journalists would rely more on your press release while writing about your company because it is the only officially statement they have that has been release by the company. So they will use part of the words as quotation. In return to releasing your press release, is the publicity, credibility and a stream of customers who by then would be well informed on the availability of your products or services.

Below are some points to consider when writing a press release.

• Press releases have three essential parts, the headline, the introduction and the body.
• The headline must be something catchy and attractive that would grab the readers’ attention instantly. A lot of thoughts should be sacrificed to the headline.
• Make your introduction as short and interesting as possible.
• The body of the press release should answer all the readers’ anxiety as to who, where, how, when and who. These are what we call, the five Ws and H.
• The press release should be timely, relating to something that has just happened or will happen.
• Press releases should be brief and straight to the point, with length ranging from 400-500 words.
• Before submitting the release for distribution, go through it again and double check for possible spelling mistakes, grammar and most importantly, facts and truth.
• Use simple language and short sentences. This make it easy for anyone to read it and rewrite it into a fresh article.
• Press releases mostly are not accompanied by photos, but you can direct anyone interested in photographs to check on your website.
• After summing up your release, provide some useful additional information at the end of the release. It is normally called Editors’ Notes, and this includes additional information of the company and its activities.
• At the end of it all, make sure you put your contacts so that, anyone could get back to you incase seeking for any clarification.

So if you never thought about using press releases, then you better think about it now, because, press releases are more valuable than advertisement.